The Roar
The Roar

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Brisbane Roar's on-field regeneration could already be doomed

2nd July, 2015
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Brisbane Roar's Brazilian, Henrique, is nationalised and ready to make his Socceroos debut.
Expert
2nd July, 2015
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2064 Reads

Unpaid player wages, snubbing competitive football matches, an uncertain financial future and corporate sponsors fleeing. No, Gold Coast United have not returned to the A-League, welcome to the current daily existence of the Brisbane Roar.

A club that appeared set to continue to build the A-League’s best and most entertaining dynasty looks like it is teetering on the brink. The premiership-championship double of 2013-14 feels much longer than just two seasons ago.

With it paramount that Football Federation Australia concentrates on identifying two new franchises for A-League expansion over the next few months – if they are to meet a predetermined 2017 deadline and maximise the value of a new TV deal – the Roar’s woes are another unwanted distraction.

As Mitch Grima pointed out earlier this week, A-League 11 represents the fourth consecutive year that the A-League has started a season with the same 10 teams, yet that is hardly reason to celebrate.

Brisbane Roar failed to pay players and staff on their June 15 deadline and have reportedly made losses of more than $2 million in each of the past two seasons. It it is well known that owners the Bakrie Group are desperately seeking investment, but could that fourth consecutive year of stable competition already be doomed?

Part of the renewed investment was hopefully going to come from the Brisbane community, yet major sponsor The Coffee Club’s decision not to renew their long-held contract is a sign of a fractious relationship with local business.

The Coffee Club’s owners’ reasoning was strange to say the least. Bakrie Group’s Chris Fong looks to have a fight on his hands to regain the trust of potential local investors. An internal memo leak citing “serious financial liabilities” at the club, and possible legal action against former managing director Sean Dobson, has further exacerbated the situation.

Possibly the worst development, however, was when Football Queensland confirmed that Brisbane Roar Youth, who compete in the National Premier League Queensland, had forfeited two fixtures against Northern Fury and FNQ Heat that were scheduled for this month.

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An upcoming fixture against Liverpool was put forth as a meek reason, with youth players required for the match day squad, yet it has been reported that finances were so bleak that travel costs could not be covered for trips to Cairns and Townsville.

Treating such an important competition, which gives Australian youngsters a vital path to professionalism, with such disdain is simply insulting.

New coach John Aloisi takes charge of his first training session on Friday and he appears to be taking a new approach with the club. Gone are the overpowering influences of Ken Stead and Dobson – reportedly responsible for Mike Mulvey’s sacking and the ‘football philosophy’ that never reemerged.

The dynasty that Ange Postecoglou conjured up has disappeared. Even one of the men shafted out of the Roar as Postecoglou kicked off his revolution, Craig Moore, has returned in an off-field role to help out former Socceroo teammate Aloisi. Postecoglou’s right hand man Rado Vidosic has been let go.

Yet a new era is not a bad thing, and is probably necessary. The regeneration is raring to kick-off – but only if it is allowed a football pitch. It remains uncertain whether Aloisi’s second stint in charge of an A-League club will be long-lasting, which could have nothing to do with his club’s on-field performance.

Even if the club’s finances are smoothed over, the pre-season has already likely suffered debilitating disruption.

The players are believed to have been paid, yet the transfer of remaining staff members’ wages is yet to be confirmed. July 15, the next pay date, is looming as a defining moment in the Roar’s history. FFA cannot put up with late payments in two consecutive months.

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Nathan Tinkler had form at the Newcastle Jets, and FFA were arguably too lenient on the former knight in shining armour.

Yet FFA have already taken charge of one embattled club, can they afford to bail out another? Giving the Bakrie Group more time to sort out their finances is beneficial for all parties, but how long is too long?

If FFA are controlling two A-League clubs at the start of A-League 11, they can forget about expansion plans.

Aloisi’s second chance at management is already looming as a disaster, and plans to reignite a forgotten dynasty could be prematurely derailed. If the Roar get their act together they have a decent base to be a force on the field again. Off the field is still in limbo, however.

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