The new owners of the Wellington Phoenix football club say they will keep coach Ricki Herbert and players on, but won't guarantee they'll pay any outstanding wages.
A consortium called Welnix, a group of seven Wellington-based business people, have taken over the Phoenix franchise from the financially troubled capital property developer Terry Serepisos, who's relinquished his A-League licence.
Welnix has been granted a five-year licence.
Herbert is reportedly owed $100,000 by Serepisos and players' wages have been paid late on several occassions.
But the chair of Welnix, Rob Morrison, won't give an assurance any money, Herbert or the players might be owed, will be be paid.
However he says Football Federation Australia, which runs the A-League, will investigate whether players or club staff are owed any outstanding wages.
The Phoenix kick off their season two weeks on Sunday away to Gold Coast United.
