Fears coach could walk as Roar standoff drags on
Brisbane Roar’s embattled owners have been given yet another chance to show why they should remain in charge of the A-League club.
Brisbane coach John Aloisi could walk away from the embattled club amid an ongoing dispute with its owners. Photo: Joe Castro, AAP.
Football Federation Australia has granted the Bakrie Group an extension of one week to provide the governing body with a “comprehensive response” to serious concerns over the Roar’s administrative and financial standing.
“FFA has made it clear to the Bakrie Group that it needs to urgently demonstrate its capacity to rectify the Brisbane Roar’s situation,” an FFA spokesperson said.
It comes after FFA chief executive David Gallop initially demanded the Bakries outline their plan for Brisbane’s future by 5pm on Monday, or be potentially in breach of their A-League licence agreement.
That deadline wasn’t met, and while the Indonesian conglomerate now has until the close of business on Monday, June 6, it is Wednesday, June 15 that looms as the key date – payday.
Having only just paid players and staff on time last month, it’s believed if the Roar defaults again, it will be an insolvency event that will trigger an A-League licence breach.
Brisbane fans will well remember circling the 15th of every month on their 2015 calendars, after the Bakries missed several payments last year but still managed to keep hold of the club.
It leaves the Roar in a holding pattern for another week, with the three-time A-League champions rudderless off the field following the departure of CEO David Pourre in early May, and unable to plan and recruit for next season.
Pourre actually tendered his resignation in March, after repeatedly warning the Bakries he would leave if they didn’t pay closer attention to the club, but only stayed longer after forming a pact with coach John Aloisi and football manager Craig Moore to see out the season.
That means the Bakries knew for three months that Pourre would be resigning, but are still yet to replace him – not even in an interim capacity.
There are fears Aloisi and Moore will soon follow Pourre’s lead and also quit in frustration.
FFA is understood to be furious with the conduct of the Bakries, who for the last three months have not recapitalised the club as they had agreed to do.
Meanwhile, speculation is mounting that the sale of the FFA-owned Newcastle Jets to a Chinese investor is imminent – a move that could free up FFA funds to take over the Roar and nurse them back to full health.
-AAP
