Brisbane Roar severs ties with playing squad, football department without pay in virus fallout
Brisbane Roar have joined Perth Glory in standing down their entire playing staff, with other A-League clubs expected to follow. The news comes on top of the code likely needing a new broadcast deal.
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Brisbane Roar will establish an “emergency fund” for staff in need after standing down every employee of the club on Monday.
And they likely won’t be the only ones. Several other clubs including Central Coast, Newcastle and Adelaide are considering the move.
Meanwhile, a media report on Tuesday claims the FFA is starting the hunt for a new broadcaster amid fears Fox Sports was preparing to walk out on its $57 million-a-year deal due to the league’s suspension.
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It’s claimed the governing body has warned clubs they will not be receiving a $900,000 quarterly payment as part of the broadcast deal following the decision to postpone the league until at least April 22.
In standing down their staff, the Roar followed the lead of Perth Glory, whose owner Tony Sage took similar measures last Friday. Professional Football Australia have already threatened legal action against Sage.
The entire Roar playing squad, the football department — including head coach Robbie Fowler — and all off-field staff were stood down until at least April 22.
The 80-100 Roar employees were told of their fate on Monday by club chief executive David Pourre, who will continue to work without pay.
Despite being stood down, Roar players have been told they are expected to keep training individually to stay fit in case the 2019-20 season resumes.
As revealed by The Courier-Mail, Liverpool legend Fowler and his right-hand man, Roar technical director Tony Grant, returned home to England last Thursday, and are unsure when they will fly back to Queensland.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that Brisbane Roar FC Pty Ltd, like all Australian businesses, are facing unprecedented economic challenges,” said Chris Fong, the Roar vice-chairman and advisor to club owners, Indonesian conglomerate the Bakrie Group.
“We are working through the specific decisions that have to be made to best preserve our future and that of the professional game in Australia.
“Until the 22nd of April, Brisbane Roar FC, as with other clubs, have stood down players and returned them to be with their families, and to train individually.
“If and when the season is able to resume all teams, will be ready and able to compete.”
Fong insisted the club would not abandon its stood down staff in need of financial assistance.
“We’re setting up an emergency fund and a hotline for any of our staff at any time,” he said.
Despite the worries, Sydney FC chief executive Danny Townsend is optimistic professional football will continue in Australia after the outbreak and its subsequent restrictions have passed.
The Sky Blues have placed all non-essential staff on paid leave until the end of April but Townsend admits the club will have to assess its position if the postponement drags on.
“Football in this country has come a long way and we’re not going to let this situation unsettle that,” Townsend said.
“Obviously it’s going to have an impact and what we look like coming out of this is probably different to what we look like going into it.
“That’s probably every business in Australia, not just football ... but I definitely think professional football will remain as it were before and we’ll just have to adapt with the necessary financial impacts that will come down the line.”
Originally published as Brisbane Roar severs ties with playing squad, football department without pay in virus fallout