Legal stoush over rent could scupper Brisbane Roar sale

Brisbane Roar chairman Chris Fong warned that the Queensland Rugby Union's (QRU) legal action over unpaid rent could ruin plans to sell the embattled A-League club.

Roar

Brisbane Roar players thank the crowd after their pre-season match against Liverpool. (Getty) Source: Getty Images Asia Pacific

Roar has until 19 August to deliver close to 12 months of outstanding rent payments to the QRU relating to its use of Ballymore or liquidators will be engaged and the company, Brisbane Roar Football Club Pty Ltd, will be wound up.

Fong said the rugby body's application to the Queensland Supreme Court could scare off the mystery buyer supposedly lined up by ownership The Bakrie Group, leaving Brisbane's many alleged creditors holding the can.

In an open letter to Brisbane Roar members, Fong wrote: "Hopefully the reported actions of the Reds have not damaged this position to the detriment of all creditors."

"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."

Fong said the club has been "honest and transparent" since details of Brisbane's financial crisis began to emerge several weeks ago, and maintained that a sale price has been agreed with an unnamed buyer.

"We are awaiting confirmation on financing and an outcome associated to Football Federation Australia's governance requirement on new ownership," Fong said.

"When the sale is finalised, all debts will be cleared."

It's understood that in the past 10 days, a Football Federation Australia (FFA) official has travelled to Jakarta and met with Bakrie Group head Nirwan Bakrie to discuss the sale.

An FFA spokesman said: "As part of on-going discussions, Brisbane Roar has advised FFA that the club is looking at investment opportunities which would address the current issues and offer a long term solution for the club."

It appears a sale is the only outcome in which all of Roar's creditors will be repaid.

Should the club not change hands by 19 August and the debt with QRU is not settled by that date, FFA will be forced to take over the Roar's licence.

However, there are genuine concerns over whether FFA has the financial nous to control two A-League clubs at once, with the Newcastle Jets also without an owner.

Last month, Jets creditors were told the majority would be left out of pocket following the removal of controversial mining magnate Nathan Tinkler as chairman.

QRU chief executive Jim Carmichael said Roar's ills should prompt FFA to examine the ownership models of A-League clubs to provide a "level of comfort" to creditors which allow them to function.


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Published 27 July 2015 11:38am

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