A-League boss slams suggestions the Brisbane Roar’s owners, the Bakrie Group, will be stripped of licence
Australian Professional Leagues CEO Danny Townsend has called for ‘due process’ to be followed in relation to accusations made against Brisbane Roar.
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A-League boss Danny Townsend says Brisbane Roar’s owners are in no danger of having their licence stripped.
The Bakrie Group, the Indonesia- based conglomerate that bought 70 per cent of the Roar 2011 before assuming total control the following year, is under fire for terminating the deal of Brisbane player Corey Brown for alleged drug use.
The Roar are also being investigated for alleged JobKeeper irregularities and according to a report, at risk of also being thrown out of the NPL Queensland competition for alleged unpaid fees to Football Queensland.
However, the Roar has been in constant contact and consultation with Football Australia, the Australian Professional Leagues – which runs the A-League – and Football Queensland about all the matters.
Brown has appealed against his termination to FA’s National Dispute Resolution Chamber.
Until the matter is resolved, Brown must continue to be paid by the Roar.
However the club is understood to be confident to have sufficient evidence – which has been passed on to FA – for Brown’s contract to be terminated for serious misconduct.
The government’s Fair Work agency is investigating the JobKeeper irregularities accusations, while News Corp has learnt Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavullucci has been in contact with the Roar to deny the club would be booted from the NPL.
Cavullucci would not comment when contacted by News Corp, however it’s understood that following talks between the Roar and FQ, a “settlement repayment” process was agreed upon.
The talks came after the Bakrie Group commissioned an independent financial audit of the club in May 2022, which uncovered “serious issues” with FQ fees and JobKeeper.
It led to the Roar hiring an external senior legal firm to take control of the matters and the dismissal of an employee.
APL chief executive Danny Townsend questioned why there had been suggestions that the Bakrie Group had breached the terms of its A-League licence.
“The APL is doing what everyone should be doing, and that’s following the due process,” Townsend said.
“What have the Roar done to breach the club licensing agreement? You’ve got to breach your club licensing agreement in order for anyone to take any action. There hasn’t been any.”
Several changes are being made at the Roar.
Chris Fong, the Bakrie family’s senior advisor who is also on the APL board, now has the dual role of Roar chairman and CEO.
The club has also appointed former Adelaide United and Perth Glory football operations manager Ante Kovacevic as its general manager.
Kovacevic’s tasks will include running the Roar’s football department, with head coach Warren Moon and football director Shane Stefanutto to report to him.
Originally published as A-League boss slams suggestions the Brisbane Roar’s owners, the Bakrie Group, will be stripped of licence
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