Phoenix want more Kiwis in squad

The Wellington Phoenix are set to introduce a scheme with an eye to seeing more Kiwis in the senior squad.

An announcement tomorrow will look to introduce a much-anticipated academy programme at the club.

Co-owner Gareth Morgan hopes it will capture up-and-coming New Zealanders.

"I would expect fully to see more New Zealanders in that Phoenix team coming through, we're not getting them through in enough numbers and we need to address that and we need to address it with a degree of urgency."

He says they need a strong player group outside the top side.

"If you think of the Phoenix as sort of the top of a pyramid, and we can build a pyramid below them, then I think you're getting close to the ideal."

Morgan says they're also looking at establishing a women's team.

And the Phoenix are out to find a top replacement for Tim Brown, but insist it won't be a marquee signing.

The centurion midfielder brought the curtain down on his professional career after the Phoenix bowed out in the A-League finals.

Gareth Morgan's vowing to find a capable player that won't break the bank.

"They will fill it with a degree of confidence that's at least equal to Tim. So we're definitely looking to upgrading our average talent level in our team, but the question is doing it in a variety of ways, not just one silver bullet."

Morgan insists spending half the salary cap on one player is not the way to win a championship.

He insists simply opening the chequebook isn't the way to win a championship and they don't want to become a club that spend half the salary cap on one player.

Morgan couldn't be happier with his side's A-League season and says being knocked out in the second stage of the finals is a great result considering the journey.

"To have come through like they have I think that's fantastic, I mean the spirit of these guys is amazing, what Ricki (Herbert) has built there."