Brisbane Roar owner unwilling to back club financially

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.

Brisbane Roar

Brisbane Roar's owners still reportedly owe money to Suncorp Stadium. (AAP) Source: AAP

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.


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3 min read
Published 27 July 2015 6:56pm

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