Wellington Phoenix midfielder Chloe Knott quits mid season as playing isn’t financially sustainable

Wellington Phoenix star midfielder Chloe Knott has quit the A League just six rounds into the season as juggling football and a full-time job to make ends meet becomes too taxing.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 25: Chloe Knott of Wellington celebrates a goal during the A-League Women round six match between Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory at Go Media Stadium, on November 25, 2023, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

Days after scoring a matchwinning goal against competition front runners ever present Phoenix midfielder Chloe Knott is leaving the A-League's as it is not sustainable financially for her.

The 27-year-old who hasn’t missed a single match for the New Zealand based club announced on Thursday her plan to pack up her boots and shin pads and focus on her full-time job.

Knott has played a vital role in the Phoenix’s resurgence this season going from bottom of the table dwellers to sitting in third in the competition with four wins from six games.

Just days after scoring the match winning goal against Perth Glory on the weekend, Phoenix star Chloe Knott has sensationally quit the A League. Picture: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

She scored the match winner against the previously undefeated Perth Glory at the weekend.

Knott said the decision wasn’t one she made lightly but the joy she got from playing was heavily outweighed by the financial strain.

“The decision to leave the team has been the toughest one I’ve ever had to make and is not something I have taken lightly,” Knott said.

“I feel lucky for all the lessons and experiences I have had over the past three seasons, and mostly for the connections and friendships I’ll have for the rest of my life.

“I’m at a stage in my life where I feel free and empowered to choose the spaces that are most conducive to my personal fulfilment and becoming the person I want to be.”

Knott has been apart of the Phoenix since it’s introduction to the women’s competition in 2021.

The minimum A-League women’s salary is $25,000.

📰 | News - Chloe Knott departs the Wellington Phoenix

The Wellington Phoenix have agreed to release Chloe Knott from the remainder of her contract.

Read more 👉https://t.co/PdO4kdvQa2

Thank you Chloe! 🙌

💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/V656IIGTjb

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) November 30, 2023

It is a far cry from the men’s competition where the average salary is $150,000.

Knott isn’t the first player to have problems juggling life as a women’s footballer in the A-League's and a full time job.

The issue is the contract is only for nine months of the year - not a full-time gig.

Players are left to juggle their work commitments, study, training, games, recovery and travel in order to play.

A-League's’ stalwart Cassidy Davis is also studying a Bachelor of Primary Education, works as a teacher’s aide and in the Newcastle Jets office in order to make ends meet during the competition’s long off season.

“This season is 22 rounds so it’s that bit harder for players that are working full time or may need to cut back work for training purposes or to make sure their body’s recovering and they are getting enough sleep, eating the right foods and doing all the things that go in to preparing for training and games,” Davis told this masthead earlier this year.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 25: Chloe Knott of Wellington (C) competes for the ball during the A-League Women round six match between Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory at Go Media Stadium, on November 25, 2023, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

Wellington Phoenix coach Paul Temple said she would not be easy to replace.

“I want to thank Chloe for the fantastic service she’s given this team and the club,” Temple said.

“Her attitude and commitment have always been incredibly professional. She’s an amazing person and we will certainly miss having her presence around the training ground.

“It’s without doubt disappointing to lose a player like Chloe, but we have to respect her decision and support her with finding a better work-life balance.

“In a way, it’s fitting she was able to finish up scoring the winning goal in her hometown on Saturday night.”

Her departure will leave a massive hole in Wellington’s midfield with the side already losing Grace Wisnewski to an ACL injury earlier this season.

The A-League women’s signing window is open until December 26.

Originally published as Wellington Phoenix midfielder Chloe Knott quits mid season as playing isn’t financially sustainable