Brisbane Roar don’t want to be dragged into fight for FFA Cup spot because of lowly A-League finish

Inactive Brisbane Roar could drop into the bottom two if results don’t go their way this weekend. With poor seasons now being punished by FFA Cup exclusion, they are not positions they want to fill.

Aaron Amadi-Holloway of the Roar reacts during the Round 9 A-League match between Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Sydney, Saturday, December 7, 2019. (AAP Image/Jeremy Ng) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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The threat of being excluded from next year’s FFA Cup has given Brisbane Roar further motivation to lift themselves out of the A-League doldrums.

With relegation not being a factor in the A-League, clubs have never had to pay the consequences for poor seasons since the competition’s inception in 2005.

But there will now be a price to pay.

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Brisbane Roar just haven’t fired almost one third into the A-League season.

The clubs that finish in the A-League’s bottom two this season will compete in a playoff, with the loser to miss out on round of 32 berth in the 2020 FFA Cup.

The following year, after the A-League expands to 12 teams, the four bottom sides will be involved in the playoffs, with two top-flight clubs to miss Cup spots.

After a poor start to the season, the Roar are sitting in ninth place, just one spot above the bottom two.

And with not playing this weekend because of a bye, Brisbane could be overtaken by one or both of the current sides below them, Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners.

“We’re all for it,” Roar chief executive David Pourre said.

“We’ve always taken the Cup seriously and we want to be part of it every year.”

Pourre was confident the Roar would not be involved in next year’s bottom-two playoff despite the club’s thus far disappointing campaign.

“It’s up to us ensure we won’t fall into that situation and I’m sure we’ll move up the table,” he said.

Robbie Fowler has a big job on his hands to get Roar back in the hunt.

The Roar return to action next Saturday when they visit McDonald Jones Stadium to meet Newcastle.

Brisbane coach Robbie Fowler said his side would continue to play the “right way” in their bid to improve their ladder position.

“People say it’s all about winning games, scoring goals and winning points but you’ve still got to play the right way, moving teams around trying to break them down,” Fowler said.

Meanwhile, the Roar’s W-League team are aiming for a third successive win when they meet Melbourne Victory at Epping on Saturday.

The match was scheduled for Friday but was moved to Saturday because of the extreme heat in Melbourne.