Queensland Rugby Union moves to wind up Brisbane Roar over rent

Brisbane Roar's financial crisis looks set to come to a head after the Queensland Rugby Union filed an application to have the A-League club wound up.

The QRU are one of the many creditors allegedly owed money by the Roar and on Friday submitted documents in the Queensland Supreme Court in relation to nearly 12 months of outstanding rent payments at Ballymore, the club's former training base.

The application gives the Roar and their financially-stricken owners, The Bakrie Group, until August 19 to settle the debt or else liquidators will move in and the company, Brisbane Roar Football Club Pty Ltd, will be wound up. A hearing has been set for the same date.

"It is disappointing that, not for the first time, the QRU is owed money by the Brisbane Roar," said QRU chief executive Jim Carmichael.

"Maybe the FFA need to examine the ownership model of their A League franchises and now provide some level of comfort to organisations who have supported this franchise over a number of years and through their difficult times off the field."

It's understood the QRU was poised to file the documents last week but decided to wait so as to not overshadow the Roar's friendly against Liverpool.

However, Carmichael wrote to Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop last week asking the governing body to intervene.

It is not the first time the Roar has been in debt to rugby union. The QRU has previously written off unpaid rent cheques in the past but has grown fed up with waiting.

A Brisbane Roar spokesperson said the club has not yet received any legal documents and therefore would make no comment on the matter.

The Roar moved into Ballymore in 2008 and their agreement to use the QRU's facilities only expired last month.

Ballymore was Liverpool's temporary home during the lead-up to their exhibition match at Suncorp Stadium under a generous arrangement that poured much-needed funds into rugby's coffers.

The development comes two weeks after chairman Chris Fong declared the club would be sold after reaching an agreement with a new buyer that would see "all creditors paid and stability restored."

Fong did not name the interested party and while there was initial skepticism over the validity of his claims - including from Roar patron Gary Wilkins - it's believed talks with the mystery buyer are progressing and an announcement the club has changed hands could be made as early next week.