Roars owners miss FFA deadline to clear debts with A-League licence under threat

BRISBANE Roar owners the Bakrie Group have not met Football Federation Australia expectations after failing to clear the club’s debts in time.

FFA officials were understood to be disappointed, having hoped the Indonesian conglomerate would meet Friday’s deadline to prove that they should not be stripped of the embattled Roar’s A-League licence.

Having been encouraged following a meeting in Sydney last week with two Bakrie Group representatives, the sport’s national governing body were expecting evidence of their intentions by Friday in the form of debts being paid and a detailed plan on how the owners would return the Roar to a viable position.

But apart from last Monday’s payment of overdue staff wages, the Bakrie Group provided very little in the past week to prove their commitment to the cause.

However, FFA is not ready to strip the Bakries of the club’s licence and remain hopeful that the owners will meet their commitments and deliver on their promises next week.

It’s understood that Bakrie Group want to retain ownership of the club — much to the anger of a host of disgruntled Brisbane fans — for at least another two seasons.

But urgent action is required, with Gambaro Pty Ltd having this week launched Supreme Court action to have the club wound up over an unpaid debt $30,424.

The application is listed for a directions hearing on September 16.

That’s a day after the club’s monthly wages are due to be paid.

Former coach Mike Mulvey is also taking legal action against the Roar, alleging the club has not provided promised remuneration following his sacking last November.

Meanwhile, the Roar on Friday lodged their appeal against an independent arbitrator’s decision to allow midfielder Luke Brattan to leave the club on a free transfer following the club’s tardiness in paying him superannuation.

Brattan, who on Friday left Perth for Tajikstan with the Socceroos squad, remains registered with the Roar.

“Our appeal is now with FFA’s appeals committee and we are awaiting further instruction,” a club spokesman said.

Brattan has stated his desire to move to an overseas club, but also that he would be content to stay with the Roar if he could not move abroad.

The matter may yet take some time to be resolved, with the Roar intending to exhaust every legal option in their bid to retain Brattan, or at the very least receive funds for the potential departure of the midfielder, who has two years remaining on his Brisbane contract.