The Roar
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Pressure mounts on FFA to take over Roar

17th August, 2015
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Bakrie Group representatives will be sent to Australia to help speed up the sale of Brisbane Roar as Football Federation Australia continues to resist calls to take over the financially-embattled A-League club.

But FFA’s hand may soon be forced after the second time in three months that Roar players and staff were not paid on time.

Monthly wages were supposed to lob into bank accounts on Monday but instead they will be distributed “progressively” this week – although it’s understood only partial payments will be made in the next 24 hours to coaches and administration staff.

“Owners are injecting funds this week to meet salaries and are sending representatives to Brisbane to evaluate the situation with stakeholders,” Roar chairman Chris Fong said in a statement.

The Roar’s failure has intensified the war between FFA and Professional Footballers Australia over a new collective bargaining agreement.

PFA boss Adam Vivian slammed the late payment of players as “completely unacceptable” and damaging to the A-League’s reputation.

“The situation must be resolved immediately,” he said.

“The effectiveness of the salary cap and the model which underpins the game must be reviewed.

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“The A-League is now approaching its 11th season and if the salary cap was achieving its objectives of financial stability and viability, we would not be witnessing the uncertainty that the Roar players currently face.”

FFA has told the Indonesia-based Bakries that resolving the club’s ownership situation is now a “matter of urgency”.

That’s putting it mildly.

There are just two days until a legal deadline that threatens to have the Roar liquidated.

The Queensland Rugby Union’s motion to have the Roar wound up is due for mention in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

The Roar owes the QRU more than $60,000 in unpaid rent for the Roar’s use of Ballymore as their former training ground.

The rugby body’s legal manoeuvre puts them at the front of a long list of creditors that also includes player agents, Suncorp Stadium, cBus Super Stadium and even a local laundry service.

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A previous sale attempt worth a staggering $18 million to a group of overseas and Australian investors reportedly collapsed.

QRU chief Jim Carmichael has twice lashed out at the Bakrie Group and in particular Fong for their conduct and suggested FFA should review its modelling for A-League franchises.

FFA is already in control of Newcastle Jets, following the dramatic demise of Nathan Tinkler’s Hunter Sports Group.

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