Asian/Australasian Football Discussion

Brisbane Roar owner Bakrie Group told Football Federation Australia two weeks ago it would not invest another cent into the cash-strapped A-League club.

AAP understands the head of the Indonesian conglomerate, Nirwan Bakrie, delivered the news to A-League chief Damien De Bohun in person at a meeting in Jakarta over the Roar's ongoing financial issues.

The revelations raise fresh questions over Brisbane's solvency and underline the importance of negotiations with a mystery investor over the sale of the club, which are unfolding against a backdrop of legal action taken by a rival code.

Roar has until 19 August to pay close to 12 months of outstanding rent to the Queensland Rugby Union relating to its use of Ballymore or liquidators will be engaged and the company, Brisbane Roar Football Club Pty Ltd, will be wound up.

But with the Bakries unwilling to inject any further money into the club it's unclear who will pay players and staff when wages are due on 15 August, if the sale cannot be completed by then.

Wages were paid on time last month but it took more than two weeks for the club to deliver June payments to players.

In an open letter to Brisbane Roar members on Monday, chairman Chris Fong said the QRU's actions could scare off the unnamed buyer, who Fong claims has agreed to a sale price.

"Hopefully the reported actions of the Reds have not damaged this position to the detriment of all creditors," Fong wrote in the letter.

"The fact remains that the club's owners, the Bakrie Group, have poured more than $15 million into football over the past four years and most of this has gone into the Queensland economy - which includes the Queensland Rugby Union which has been paid significant amounts for the use of its facilities.

"When the sale is finalised, all debts will be cleared. We are awaiting confirmation on financing and an outcome associated to Football Federation Australia's governance requirement on new ownership."

The QRU views Fong's letter to members as hugely misleading.

Contrary to Fong's assertions, it's believed Roar has never discussed its outstanding debts with the QRU and did not even inform it when the club moved away from Ballymore, its old training base.

In fact, some equipment belonging to the Roar is still under lock and key at Ballymore.

QRU chief executive Jim Carmichael said in a statement on Saturday that Roar's ills should prompt FFA to examine the ownership model of A-League clubs to provide a "level of comfort" to creditors which allow it to function.

The QRU has previously written off unpaid rent from Roar but has grown tired of the Bakrie Group's conduct.

They are far from Brisbane's only creditors, with the club also known to be behind in Suncorp Stadium rental payments and fees to player agents.

SOURCE: theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/07/27/brisbane-roar-owner-unwilling-back-club-financially

Football Federation Australia (FFA) has confirmed significant changes to the Hyundai A-League Salary Cap and Player Roster framework with the release of the 2015/16 Hyundai A-League Player Contract Regulations.

The changes are aimed at giving clubs more flexibility in assembling and retaining squads, rewarding youth development and long term player loyalty while significantly increasing the capability of clubs to invest more money on its Player Roster.

The following changes have been implemented:

· A Loyalty Player allowance has been included to give clubs a sliding scale of Salary Cap relief for players who have played between 5-10 years at the club. The total amount that can be spent on Loyalty Players is $200,000 outside the Salary Cap.

· Clubs can pay a Mature Age Rookie outside the Salary Cap to encourage talented players in the National Premier Leagues. This player must be over the age of 21, not played in a fully professional competition for the last 18 months and last played football in Australia. This player must be paid at least the Minimum Salary.

· The existing Home Grown Player allowance outside the Salary Cap has lifted from $150,000 to $200,000. Each Club can include three players who started their careers with the Club, either through the Youth System of the Hyundai A-League squad.

· The two Marquee Players (which sit outside the Salary Cap) can now be two foreigners, two Australians or one Australian and one foreigner. This has changed from Two Marquee Players whereby at least one must be Australian.

· Salary Cap Banking will allow clubs to carry over money not spent inside the Salary Cap in the previous two seasons to the following season, up to 105% of the Salary Cap in the relevant contract year.

· The Salary Cap floor (minimum amount that needs to be spent) lifts from 85% to 90%.

· The length of the maximum stint for a Guest Player has increased from 10 to 14 weeks.

· The Minimum Annual Salary for players aged over 21 years has risen from $51,000 to $55,000.

“The Player Contract Regulations changes offer significantly increased salary opportunities for players as well as providing flexibility and rewards for clubs who plan their roster around Marquee Players, youth development and long term loyalty to its players,” said Head of Hyundai A-League Damien de Bohun.

“These changes will allow clubs to bring talented players through their expanding youth systems, retain cult heroes like Melbourne Victory’s Archie Thompson and continue to search for Marquee and Guest Players that can add impact to the continued growth of the Hyundai A-League.

“We believe these changes allow flexibility for the Hyundai A-League clubs with different objectives and structure the opportunity to build their rosters to suit their individual needs, while adding benefits at both ends of a player’s career.

“On top of these changes, FFA continues to work with the PFA to finalise a Collective Bargaining Agreement that will ensure player salary growth increases in line with the growth of the sport.”

Read more at www.a-league.com.au/article/ffa-makes-changes-to-hyundai-a-league-salary-cap-regulations/1wotlw01hpsbh1ig6tb3cjgxzg#HZoIumtxbYfOxH76.99