McKay relieved to leave club crisis and join Socceroos

Australia midfielder Matt McKay is far from certain to start against Bangladesh on Thursday night, but the Brisbane Roar skipper is simply relieved to be in Socceroos camp enjoying a respite from the crisis engulfing his club.

Australia Matt McKay Socceroos

Australia midfielder Matt McKay happy to be back with Socceroos teammates as the crisis at Brisbane Roar remains unresolved. (Getty) Source: Getty Images

McKay, who leads a double life as president of Professional Footballers Australia, is aghast at the ongoing ownership turmoil wracking Roar, whose players have been paid late by embattled owner the Bakrie Group for two of the past three months and are owed thousands of dollars in unpaid superanuuation.

“It's on the players' minds ... anybody who goes to a job needs to be paid and we haven't been, so its difficult,” said Mckay, who is in the mix to fill the void left by injured skipper Mile Jedinak in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers Bangladesh in Perth and then in Tajikistan five days later.

“We are working hard at training, but off the field we are very grateful to have have the PFA in place helping players who haven’t been able to make (mortgage) payments (through its emergency aid fund)."

"From a playing perspective it's been a good pre-season with the new boss (John Aloisi), and there are signs we are evolving as a team but off the field it's not working and that’s quite obvious to everyone.

"It needs to be solved, hopefully before the season starts so we an move and be successful as in the past."

While disappointed to have lost team-mate Luke Brattan, who has won his release from Roar over unpaid superannuation, McKay has no qualms with the gun midfielder's stance, as the 25-year-old arrived in camp in Perth as an injury replacement.

“To lose a player like Luke with two years left on his contract is disappointing but we are supportive of him.

"He did everything by the book and hopefully his next step is a good one for him."

The long-serving McKay, though, won't be seeking to exit Roar, explaining: “Personally, I am happy at the club we have a great set-up playing wise.

"And I haven't heard of anybody else wanting to leave. It's been a successful five years for the club over the past five years and we want to maintain that.”

McKay is also committed to helping solve the impasse between the PFA and the FFA as talks continue over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement amid much wrangling and posturing from both sides.

“The CBA talks are a big issue for all the players," he said. "We want all stakeholders in the game to be growing the sport and we are very much a part of that.

“We want make sure we as players are for our part in promoting the game. It's been tough couple of months but I am seeing somelight at the end of the tunnel.

“We need to make sure that coming up to the season we get a deal over the line. We are very strong in what we believe, and so are FFA.

“We are always there to be at the table. If both parties had walked away it wouldn't have been encouraging but we are still talking, and hopefully an agreement can come.”


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3 min read
Published 31 August 2015 6:23pm
Updated 1 September 2015 9:47am
By David Lewis
Source: SBS

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