A packed Suncorp Stadium may provide more than just moral support for the cash-strapped Brisbane Roar in Sunday’s A-League grand final.
Roar coach Ange Postecoglou is keeping his fingers crossed it also helps provide what would arguably be more precious than a championship for Brisbane – a financial backer.
It has been revealed Football Federation Australia (FFA) will take over the Roar as early as Monday – a day after Brisbane’s maiden grand final appearance against Central Coast.
The FFA will take over the licence handed in by Roar directors Emmanuel Drivas, Emmanuel Kokoris and Serge and Claude Baradel and will keep the club afloat as they look for new investors.
“We don’t want to blow it out of proportion,” an FFA spokesman told AAP.
“We have a grand final that is selling out fast up there which will be a showcase of the two best clubs – that’s our focus at the moment.
“We’ve been in talks with the owners up there for some time with a view of broadening their capital base, bringing in more owners – that’s an ongoing process.
“Planning for a transition will continue after the grand final and coming weeks and months potentially.”
But the FFA spokesman was confident of finding backers sooner rather than later.
“Having qualified for the Asian Champions League next season, having an unbeaten 27 game streak – they have a great future and will attract investors,” he said.
Postecoglou hoped an expected grand final crowd of around 50,000 would prove a catalyst in the search for a new backer.
“I tell you what, if I had bucketloads of money and I rolled up on Sunday and saw 50,000 there I would be thinking ‘there is something here’,” he said on Tuesday.
“Regardless of the outcome (of the grand final) the club has shown the potential it has.
“From the moment I came here I thought there was massive potential in this place to make it a huge club.”
Not much could discourage the buzzing Roar squad just days ahead of their season decider.
Even the sight of Henrique limping off at training on Tuesday could not wipe the smiles off their faces.
Postecoglou said the dangerous Brazilian had been cleared of a quad injury and was expected to resume training this week.
After their record unbeaten run, cynics would suggest the bubble has to burst for the Roar at some stage – but Postecoglou is not one of them.
“I have always been a glass half full kind of guy,” Postecoglou said.
“I am not going into this grand final thinking ‘what could go wrong’.
“I am really feeling good about the season we have had and our form – if we play to our ability we will go well.”
But classy German import Thomas Broich added: “You don’t want to end a streak at a grand final, you have to protect that.”
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
I'd like to leave the Roar ownership issues alone and focus on an interesting aspect of the grand final. Have a re-read of Broich's quote above. What he says about not wanting to end a winning streak in a grand final,is spot on. The interesting bit is the ease with which he refers to the grand final, makes an intelligent comment that summarises very well the importance of a grand final, a term that he would not be overly familiar with. I noticed the same thing with another non-Australian during the week, maybe it was Hoger himself - I just found it interesting. At a time when many of us question the merit of having a grand final, we have these non-Australians who appear to have a very good feel for the occasion - maybe many of us are guilty of being too dismissive of the concept?
asanchez
Roar Guru
Ian, I know you're right, but that's just how it is. It has always been that way, and it is expensive, but take it as a positive. Parents fork out so much for their kids, but if you look at the participation rates, they're only getting higher and higher each year! The prices aren't actually turning people off the game. Our game doesn't make much cash from anything else, it has to get it from somewhere.
Roon
Guest
Perfectly timed announcement by the FFA - riding the popularity wave created by the successful call on the Fury. Perhaps Buckley is saving up the BAD news for after the Final!!!
ian
Guest
Jtg , you are exactly right, kids pay some $300 plus to play football a year, over half of this goes to FFA. They have so many people on the pay roll it is unbelievable. FFA travel in Buisness class and first class and the kids of aust are paying for that, well actually mums and dads are. The management of ffa are less than competent.
Angry Birds
Guest
Who in their right mind would invest in a club in the environment the FFA provide? What are you investing in? I mean the clubs don't have any assets, they don't own their own grounds, they don't even own the rights to the club name or logo! The FFA is hell bent on micromanaging every aspect of the game, tell me who wants to invest in that kind of environment?
The guru
Guest
The other codes have much more tv revenue, which allows them to trickle funds to their grass roots. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
jtg
Guest
FFA are a joke. It is amazing owners would want to bail out on a successful club. They must be losing money hand over fist. Buckley then appoints another AFL mate to look for new sponsors. Go and grab the ones from Townsville. They had the 3rd most sponsors in the Aleague. Time the FFA showed some transparency with their finances. How much does it really cost Buckley to run his team for a year?? How many staff does FFA have on the payroll?? How much did FFA spend on gifts for the FIFA team? Football in Australia is the only code where the funds go from the kids registration up to the top monkeys. NRL & AFL the money trickles from the top down. They support the junior levels not the other way round.