Wellington Phoenix general manager David Dome has expressed frustration over the club's uncertain path back to Australia for the imminent resumption of the A-League.
The NSW authorities are yet to grant the squad permission to enter the state, despite teams being cleared to return to training later this week in preparation for a July 16 return to play.
Dome says the situation is "disappointing" and will immediately put the playoffs-bound Phoenix behind the 8-ball.
"Extremely disappointing we can't get the team into Australia to start training," Dome tweets.
"We're making more of a sacrifice than any other team in the A-League and we're getting blocked - so we won't have the same training window as every other club."
The squad are still unsure when they'll be able to return and the lack of certainty is starting to take its toll, says Dome.
"We haven't got any rationale," Dome tells Stuff.
"It has taken a long time to get through the bureaucracy. All we’re asking is for the same process the Warriors went through and to expedite the process.
"We're not getting contact. It's being managed through the league and the league can't get the NSW authorities to push it any faster.
"All the FFA is saying is they are pushing it through as hard as they can, but they’re not getting any traction."
When they eventually travel back across the Tasman, the Phoenix will still need to undergo COVID-19 testing on arrival and a subsequent 48-hour layoff before they can begin training.
On Monday, Football Federation Australia announced a deal had been struck with the players' union, with all players agreeing to a reduction of pay for the additional three months of the campaign, which will extend until August 31.
