The national league has undergone more facelifts than Zsa Zsa Gabor and strategic plans change with the wind. Coaching programmes come and go while other activity appears or disappears at the whim of funding agencies or sponsors.

It seems the only consistent aspect of the current era is that we are continuing that trend. We lack certainty in our game and it is frustrating to say the least.

The Oceania Champions League is a new and wonderful concept courtesy of Tai Nicholas and the OFC. Clubs in New Zealand and around the OFC aspire to win a competition that is growing in status and reputation. Last year’s final against Ba attracted a total of 18,000 fans and extensive media coverage.

Both Auckland City and Waitakere United have represented the region at the FIFA Club World Cup and while neither was able to force a result, participation has clearly led to improved standards within each club.

It is supposedly due to Sepp Blatter’s insistence on improved performances at the tournament that New Zealand Football is moving with alarming speed to introduce the Phoenix to the equation (when in the past they said ‘no’ to a similar request from the Knights).

This despite the fact they play in an Asian Confederation league, pay nothing in the way of levies or contributions to the local game or national body and operate on a financial level that NZFC franchises can only dream about.

And don’t be misled by talk that this is driven by poor results and performances. People considering that alone are overlooking the huge impact that such a move might have on our domestic showpiece, one that for four years has been fighting for some semblance of ‘certainty’ on the football landscape.

Any moves to include the Phoenix in the O-League are in my opinion short sighted and a knee jerk reaction to the mutterings of the FIFA President. They have their place in the greater scheme of things but it is not being pitted up against the amateur NZFC sides that are striving to slowly but surely improve the standard of our game in our premier domestic competition.

New Zealand Football has for years now sung from the hymn sheet that reads something like: “Improved performances at international level will take time and cannot be expected overnight. What we need is more games against quality opposition, through this sort of exposure we can and will improve but the public and media must be patient.”

Well how about we apply that same logic to our NZFC sides and not crumble at the first mutterings from the FIFA President?  

FIFA made it clear at the pre Club World Cup press conference that they were 100% committed to Oceania enjoying continued direct entry to the tournament, that it ‘wouldn’t be a true FIFA tournament without their representation.’ Instead of rushing off to include the Phoenix and in the process threaten the NZFC, how about New Zealand Football fights for our clubs, our players and our league?

What are your thoughts? Whether you agree or disagree, have your say by sending us your column by clicking on the column and comment page.