Football: Wellington Phoenix coach Paul Temple takes aim at Oceania Football after scheduling clash decimates squad

Wellington Phoenix will be forced to field a severely depleted side for their next A-League women's clash against second-placed Western United.

The timing of the Football Ferns' Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament means Michaela Foster, Brianna Edwards, Annalie Longo, Kate Taylor, Macey Fraser, and Mackenzie Barry likely won't be able to make the trip to Melbourne for the match, which is scheduled for February 18.

On Wednesday New Zealand will play the first match of the tournament against Samoa and are highly favoured to make the final on February 19, which would rule the Phoenix contingent out of contention.

While other clubs are feeling the pinch of the Oceania Football Confederation's decision to stage the tournament outside the international window, the Phoenix are comfortably the worst affected, with over half of the starting side which took the field in Sunday's 3-2 loss to Newcastle Jets unavailable.

Coach Paul Temple put the blame squarely on OFC's shoulders for the predicament faced by both his his team and the wider league.

"It's not the players' fault, it's not New Zealand Football's fault and it's not our fault - it's OFC's fault," said Temple.

"They put the tournament on a different date so there's nothing we can really do about it."

The mass absence is far from ideal for temple's squad. Currently placed ninth in the competition standings, they've lost five of their past six matches.

That includes a stretch of six straight losses away from home.

But Temple is confident his reshuffled side are capable of stepping up to fill the void.

"We've got a big squad and we had two players make their debut last weekend, so we're building underneath as well," he said.  

"It's now their opportunity when the Ferns are away to stand up.

"We're pretty confident we can do the work that’s needed but it's going to look like a different team than what people see, for sure."

The A-League has mitigiated the damage for the Phoenix somewhat - shifting their match against Adelaide United from this Sunday to March 20, meaning they'll be without their NZ players for one match rather than two.

"Obviously we would love to have those Football Ferns available for all the games," said Temple.  

"But they also want to go and help their country qualify and they're looking to get into the squad for the Olympics this year."

Wellington Phoenix will be forced to field a severely depleted side for their next A-League women's clash against second-placed Western United.

The timing of the Football Ferns' Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament means Michaela Foster, Brianna Edwards, Annalie Longo, Kate Taylor, Macey Fraser, and Mackenzie Barry likely won't be able to make the trip to Melbourne for the match, which is scheduled for February 18.

On Wednesday New Zealand will play the first match of the tournament against Samoa and are highly favoured to make the final on February 19, which would rule the Phoenix contingent out of contention.

While other clubs are feeling the pinch of the Oceania Football Confederation's decision to stage the tournament outside the international window, the Phoenix are comfortably the worst affected, with over half of the starting side which took the field in Sunday's 3-2 loss to Newcastle Jets unavailable.

Coach Paul Temple put the blame squarely on OFC's shoulders for the predicament faced by both his his team and the wider league.

"It's not the players' fault, it's not New Zealand Football's fault and it's not our fault - it's OFC's fault," said Temple.

"They put the tournament on a different date so there's nothing we can really do about it."

The mass absence is far from ideal for temple's squad. Currently placed ninth in the competition standings, they've lost five of their past six matches.

That includes a stretch of six straight losses away from home.

But Temple is confident his reshuffled side are capable of stepping up to fill the void.

"We've got a big squad and we had two players make their debut last weekend, so we're building underneath as well," he said.  

"It's now their opportunity when the Ferns are away to stand up.

"We're pretty confident we can do the work that’s needed but it's going to look like a different team than what people see, for sure."

The A-League has mitigiated the damage for the Phoenix somewhat - shifting their match against Adelaide United from this Sunday to March 20, meaning they'll be without their NZ players for one match rather than two.

"Obviously we would love to have those Football Ferns available for all the games," said Temple.  

"But they also want to go and help their country qualify and they're looking to get into the squad for the Olympics this year."

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