Perennial easybeats now hottest act in town

Good news travels fast as the Wellington Phoenix look to bolster their squad for a run at the finals.

A fired-up Roy Krishna of the Phoenix, centre, celebrates scoring a goal against the Brisbane Roar. Picture: AAP

Start spreading the news.

The players’ grapevine says the Wellington Phoenix are the real deal and coach Mark Rudan wants new blood in the club.

And if there is a side benefit to the feel-good story of this season’s A-League, then Phoenix’s remarkable resurgence could pay off in a big way during the January transfer window.

While there isn’t a great deal in the kitty, the Phoenix coach ­believes there will be players looking to join the club now that they are making an impact in the competition. Tuesday night’s last-gasp 3-2 win over Western Sydney at ANZ Stadium pushed the Kiwis into fifth spot and cemented their place in the top six.

Finals football is looking a real possibility for a club many experts suggested would finish with the wooden spoon while others have continually predicted a worse fate — extinction.

In the past few seasons, Phoenix have been a club to avoid like the plague for some players with travel issues, poor results and a lack of fans biting hard.

But a successful culture can change things and that is what Rudan is banking on as he looks to shore up his squad as the season approaches the halfway mark.

“The news is spreading and that’s what happens when you have a real good environment, good culture and start getting ­results,” Rudan said. “It does get easier (to attract players).

“I’ve asked all the players to talk to (ex) teammates and the funny thing is, word spreads out very quickly.

“If they are coming here for the wrong reasons then I don’t want them”: Wellington Phoenix coach Mark Rudan on players. Picture: Getty Images

“A lot of other players at other clubs talk to our players and ask ‘Does Mark want to have a chat’. In saying that, it is still hovering over heads in terms of players we are looking to bring in, whether now or next year, and re-signing players as well … it’s a funny old time.

“Agents are involved and players start to question things.”

Rudan said he could understand why Phoenix had trouble ­attracting decent players, which is why he has been very careful and meticulous in the transfer market.

“Everyone tipped us to get the wooden spoon at the start of the season, and that’s fine. So I can understand why it’s hard to convince players to come here,” he said. “It’s been a hell of a ride (to get some of the players he eventually signed), but beneath all of that you find a way. You sell a vision and a belief, and I have been clear about that to them. If they can see part of the bigger picture then good and well. Now they are seeing it.”

Rudan, who is surely in the frame for the coach of the year award, said he is talking to several players to bring in this month but admitted he might have money constraints.

“We are talking to a couple … some take a little longer than ­others,” he added. “Whatever little cash we have got, the spare change, we are trying to make good use of it.

“If you look at the players that have come in, we got them at cost price. They have bought into this journey and what we are trying to build and create, and credit to them.

“If they are coming here for the wrong reasons then I don’t want them. Simple. I want good stern, honest people who are going to put in a good shift.”

Despite their impressive season to date, they sit fifth on 19 points and are just four points off second place, Rudan is keeping a tight lid on expectations.

Is he daring to dream about what might lay ahead, especially towards the end of the season?

“No, no. You know me better than that,” the former Socceroo said.

“We are still very much a work in progress. There is a certain way I planned the whole season.

“We started with 10 players in the pre-season and I wanted to make sure we took our time with the signings.

“That means it is all taking time. It’s a very delicate situation.

“There’s obviously a long way to go and I can’t fault them over the past seven weeks or so.

“You saw against the Wanderers the way they kept coming. Earlier in the season they could have dropped their heads (after Wanderers twice equalised), but that doesn’t happen any more.

“That’s a very good sign.”