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.
“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.
MatthewSkellett
Guest
Apparently BR Management have largely backed down from this move and will honour the newly signed contracts with a couple of exceptions notably the NZ Import player - i'm sure we haven't heard the end of this schemozzle .
Midfielder
Guest
MF If the rumours I have heard are correct, the deal is already done, just waiting to see if anyone ups the current top offer.
Waz
Guest
Thanks Mid, it's a bit messy but the headlines seem worse than the reality. My take is the club are asking the girls to help out, the rights and wrongs of that are debatable, but it's not as bitter as some journos are making out; so let's see how this goes. Bit of a test for Mr. Kingsman though
Waz
Guest
There's reason to believe it's getting better but we do score the odd own goal and this is one of them. Sounds like a resolution is not far off though listening to some of the players Doral.
Waz
Guest
lol because finishing third last season is "under performing" ???
marron
Guest
Flare fines and halal tax.
punter
Guest
Very sad news coming out Brisbane, I do feel for you fans.
Lionheart
Guest
just out of interest RBB, what does WSW play its W League players?
RBBAnonymous
Guest
The solution is simple. Just don't sign the new contract. It will then go to the courts. Just what Brisbane need at this point. Of course they would lose the court case and made to look even worse. Pathetic from the club.
Nemesis
Guest
The whole FFA marquee fund this season is $1m, so funds are available for other suitable marquees. From what has been reported, Tim is costing the FFA around $500,000 for this season only. Next season he will not be an FFA Marquee. But you are spot on, I'm sure Tim has increased the TV rights. All he has to do is increase the TV deal by more than $500k (over 4-5yr deal, probably around $100k per year for the whole deal) and the FFA will get a positive return on the Cahill Marquee Investment.
punter
Guest
Forever WRONG!!!! Stay forever young!!!
Mister Football
Roar Guru
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2016/10/17/league-seeking-bumper-tv-deal TWG is quoting Gallop as saying that the A-League will receive a massive boost in TV money off the back of Timmy's wonder strike. There is good reason for optimism. If Timmy is costing around $4 million per annum, arguably, he has already earned that in the form of a similar increase in value for the TV deal. Surely the FFA should be saying to the Roar: honour your existing player contracts, we can promise you that much plus some from next season onwards because of the improved TV deal.
Midfielder
Guest
Waz Sorry to read on the SBS site again issues around the Roar... may I commend you reasoned response .... I am and have been for a while quite annoyed at the manner in which SBS portray issues and as I posted to you a while back from experience they keep it up. The new media deal as you suggest will solve most things and if the rumours i have heard are correct the media deal will quieten a lot of anti Football folk.
Waz
Guest
jb. I think it's best to avoid the hysteria that sites like these generate and some of the lazy reporting that surrounds it. My reading of this is pretty much as it appears: the girls have got contracts, they are binding, which leaves the new CEO in a difficult position, the club though is trying to reduce the salary expenditure but doing it cooperatively. At this stage both sides appear to be in a cooperative frame of mind suggesting there is a middle ground in sight. The thing to remember is the sums involved are quite small - even if the full cap was being spent which I fount it would amount to $7,500 per player so while the girls will rightfully be annoyed but it's not life changing to drop $3k, but it does reveal how little they get paid. Hopefully the next tv deal puts aside $500k per club for salaries and some more for Matilda's players :)
Waz
Guest
Mate, it sat in moderation for 3 hours so they thought about it lol ?
j binnie
Guest
Waz - Just a question, If contracts have been offered and signed where or what does that leave the present CEO who is trying to alter the terms of that existing contract. There has to be something we are not hearing either that or the "strange" management practices continue.. Any clues???? jb
anon
Guest
I can't understand where the money comes from to pay women soccer players? If you look at the stadiums there's no-one inside watching them. If you look at the TV ratings, the audience is very small. I can't imagine TV rights being worth anything at all.
Nemesis
Guest
How do the moderators allow such abuse? I've been respectful.
Bob
Guest
They had a crowd of 5,000 turn up at Broadbeach for their match V Melbourne City last year, admission was $10 each plus Gold Coast Council provided some sponsorship
Bob
Guest
its a public relations disaster for BRFC .... again .... if they had any feet left they'd have shot themselves in the foot again LoL