{"id":323929,"date":"2024-12-17T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/?p=323929"},"modified":"2024-12-17T10:45:25","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T21:45:25","slug":"all-whites-fullback-sticks-with-the-nix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/news\/all-whites-fullback-sticks-with-the-nix\/","title":{"rendered":"All Whites fullback sticks with the Nix"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tim Payne has recommitted to the Wellington Phoenix through until the end of the 2027-28 Isuzu UTE A-League season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The All Whites fullback has signed a new three-year contract with the Phoenix, extending his stay at the club to the better part of a decade.

It follows a career-best year. The 30-year-old scored three goals and created four others during the Nix\u2019s record-breaking 2023-24 A-League campaign, and was named in the Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) men\u2019s team of the season.

\u201cI\u2019m very happy here and very settled,\u201d Payne said. \u201cI believe in what Chiefy (Giancarlo Italiano) and his coaching staff have done.

\u201cThey have given me the opportunity to play consistently at right back and I feel like they got some of the best football out of me last season.

\u201cWe had a very successful last season and we\u2019re looking to build on that and hopefully go one better this season. And if it\u2019s not this season then the year after, or the year after that.

\u201cAll of the players and all of the staff believe that we can go on and win the whole thing. That\u2019s our aim and that\u2019s what we\u2019re going to try and do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Wellington Phoenix director of football Shaun Gill (left) shakes hands with Tim Payne ahead of a media conference at NZCIS to announce his three-year contract extension. Photo: Priyanka Rao\/Wellington Phoenix.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

His form for the Nix at right back has also helped the versatile defender become a regular for the national team.

\u201cI\u2019m really looking forward to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

\u201cI\u2019m in a good place to be in that squad and playing for New Zealand, should we qualify next year.

\u201cI\u2019m enjoying playing right back a lot. Prolonged time in one position has probably helped me push forward and play better.

\u201cI think my performances last season and the start of this season have shown that.\u201d

Payne was born and bred in Auckland and concedes the idea of returning home was tempting.

\u201cIt\u2019s an interesting one. Auckland FC are doing fantastically well at the moment so there\u2019s that aspect and I have a lot of friends and family up there.

\u201cIt\u2019s a good thing for us players that there are now two professional clubs in New Zealand, but I\u2019ve weighed up all possibilities, all of the pros and cons and I think the Phoenix is a very good place for me at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 26: Tim Payne of the Phoenix celebrates a goal during the round two A-League Men match between Perth Glory and Wellington Phoenix at HBF Park, on October 26, 2024, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Phoenix director of football Shaun Gill is delighted Payne is remaining in the capital.

\u201cIt has been one of our priorities to re-sign Payney,\u201d Gill said. \u201cHe\u2019s a key member of the starting XI and an important part of the dressing room, and we didn\u2019t want to lose him.

\u201cSo I\u2019m thrilled we\u2019re going to get to continue to see Payney bombing up and down the right flank for the Nix.

\u201cAnd I\u2019m looking forward to seeing him score and create more goals for the Phoenix over the next three and a half years.\u201d

Tim Payne is the 16th<\/sup> player in the Wellington Phoenix men\u2019s squad contracted to the club beyond the 2024-25 season.<\/p>\n\n\n

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