Brisbane Roar's
under-siege owners have been given yet another extension by Football Federation
Australia after tipping around $1 million into the A-League club's empty
coffers.
The money won't
land in bank accounts until Wednesday - meaning players and staff have once
again been paid late - but it has satisfied FFA and helped Indonesian
conglomerate the Bakrie Group dodge the immediate threat of losing control of
the three-time champions.
This is despite FFA
chief executive David Gallop's warning that any "slippage" by the
Bakrie Group in paying wages by close of business on Tuesday would prompt the
governing body to revoke the Roar's A-League licence.
"We have
sighted bank documents that indicate that the Bakrie Group has today
transferred a significant amount of funds to the Brisbane Roar, in line with
FFA's direction," Gallop said in a statement issued on Tuesday evening.
"The funds are
sufficient to pay the monthly salaries and begin the process to recapitalise
the club business.
"FFA's current
warning to the Bakrie Group on the status of the A-League licence remains in
place until we are satisfied all undertakings are met."
It's understood
Bakrie Group representatives have also told Gambaro Pty Ltd and Beecroft
Laundry Service, the two local businesses attempting to liquidate the Roar over
unpaid debts, that they'll have their money within 24 hours.
A court hearing on
the matter is going ahead as scheduled on Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, it's
believed the Mantra Group is set to begin a wind-up motion of their own against
the Roar.
The A-League season
kicks off in three weeks, with the sport already in turmoil due to the FFA's
bitter war with Professional Footballers Association over a new pay deal.
Money can't do anything for a team that's already in trouble so no matter how much money those Brisbane Roar's owners are going to put in there, if the team doesn't shape up, it's not going to make a difference.
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