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Brisbane Roar pressures W-League players to take pay cut

The W-League is set for a big 2016-17 season. (Image: Camw CC BY-SA 3.0)
17th October, 2016
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Professional Footballers Australia is again at loggerheads with Brisbane Roar after the club pressured 14 W-League players to take pay cuts.

The controversy centres around the club’s former managing director Daniel Cobb, who served in the job for two months before he was sacked by owners the Bakrie Group in August.

Seven days before he was dismissed, Cobb presented increased contract offers to the W-League players, among them Matildas co-captain Clare Polkinghorne, Katrina Gorry and Tameka Butt.

The offers were accepted and signed by the players, some of whom turned down other opportunities to stay in Brisbane under those terms.

But a month later, Cobb’s replacement as managing director, Mark Kingsman, told the players their new contracts were deemed to be excessive and would not be honoured, with one import told she was no longer required.

Last Monday, the players were issued revised contacts on terms that would see their salaries drop by 40 per cent and contract lengths reduced by a month, amounting to total savings of $45,000 for the Roar.

The PFA has been working to resolve the dispute for the last fortnight and informed FFA chief executive David Gallop and head of W-League Greg O’Rourke of developments last week.

“The PFA is working very closely with the players and Greg O’Rourke to ensure the impasse is resolved,” PFA chief executive John Didiluca said.

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“We have successfully navigated a number of issues with Brisbane Roar during this pre-season and expect this matter will also be resolved sensibly.

“As always, our number one priority is safeguarding the interests of the players.”

It is an awkward situation for the Roar at a time when other women’s sports like netball have taken huge strides forward with pay and conditions.

However, the club has been working to reverse some of the decisions taken by Cobb in his short reign as managing director.

The Melbourne-based businessman was employed by the Bakrie Group in June, claiming he was the leader of a consortium that had agreed to buy the club.

But he clashed numerous times with coach John Aloisi and football director Craig Moore and was later shown the door by the Bakries after they learned more about his conduct in the job.

Comment is being sought from Brisbane Roar and Football Federation Australia.

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