Bakries bat away $18 million bid to buy Brisbane Roar

Brisbane Roar’s Indonesia-based owners have rejected three offers for the troubled club from overseas interests over the past month, as they hold out for a figure of around $20 million.

Matt McKay

Source: Getty Images

The Bakrie Group, which took a controlling interest in the Roar in 2011, claims to have spent $30 million in the intervening period.

And the conglomerate is seeking to claw as much back from its investment as possible.

The recent bids for the ailing three-time champions are believed to range from $12-18 million.

It’s unknown whether they were three separate parties making the bids, or one upping its opening gambit twice.
It’s understood the offers were delivered direct to Nirwan Bakrie, co-chairman of the Jakarta-based group which owns the club.

They come 15 months after a consortium of Russian businessmen had an offer in excess of $12 million rejected by the Bakries, whose controversial control of the club has attracted widespread criticism over under-funding and resultant instability.

A significant number of the club’s fans have long called for a change of ownership, amid on-going disquiet over the Roar’s operating model.

However, it appears the Bakries are holding firm, despite the recent sale of Adelaide United for around $11 million providing a benchmark on how much an A-League club can be worth.

That said, it’s believed that new entrants Western Melbourne Group paid in excess of $15 million for their license.

The Roar’s stocks are at a low point - both on and off the field - with attendances at Suncorp Stadium down and the Roar yet to appoint a full-time replacement for coach John Aloisi, who quit just after Christmas, claiming he could take the team no further.

Brisbane are second-last on the ladder, with just nine points from 16 games and a solitary A-League win to their name this season.

Vice-chairman Chris Fong declined to comment when contacted by The World Game over the latest offers to acquire the club.


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2 min read
Published 27 January 2019 1:32pm
By Dave Lewis

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