Wellington Phoenix captain Andrew Durante isn't against rebranding the club if it means the New Zealand franchise can continue to play in the A-League.
Outgoing Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy has been in talks with Phoenix owners and says the club should rebrand to the New Zealand Phoenix from 2016 to keep their A-League tenure intact.
The clubs A-League license isn't assured past this season, and Durante would jump at the chance to change the name if it guaranteed a future for the Phoenix.
"I'm not sure what the fans think of, but I don't think it would be too much of an issue, I think we are a New Zealand team at the end of the day," Durante said.
"When we go to Auckland or Christchurch we get really big numbers and everyone throughout the country has embraced us.
"If it's the sake of a name change to keep us in the league then maybe we look at that."
Durante dismissed suggestions that playing outside of Wellington feels like an away game, crediting the fans from around New Zealand for turning up in big numbers when they come to town.
"It feels like home, all the times we've gone to Christchurch and Dunedin we've had really big crowds. It's great support, it's more of a novelty for these other places because they don't get to see us all the time so they turn out in big numbers.
"It's great, we want to play in front of big crowds."
The seventh-placed Phoenix will be looking to jump back into the playoff positions when they host the winless Adelaide United on Friday.
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