Bakrie Group representatives "will be sent to Australia to help speed up the sale" of A-League club Brisbane Roar as Football Federation Australia "continues to resist calls to take over the financially-embattled club," according to the AAP. But FFA's hand "may soon be forced after the second time in three months that Roar players and staff were not paid on time." Monthly wages "were supposed to lob into bank accounts" on Monday but instead they will be distributed "progressively" this week -- although it is understood "only partial payments will be made in the next 24 hours" to coaches and administration staff. Roar Chair Chris Fong said, "Owners are injecting funds this week to meet salaries and are sending representatives to Brisbane to evaluate the situation with stakeholders." The Roar's failure "has intensified the war between FFA and Professional Footballers Australia over a new collective bargaining agreement." PFA CEO Adam Vivian slammed the late payment of players as "completely unacceptable" and damaging to the A-League's reputation. He said, "The situation must be resolved immediately." FFA has told the Indonesia-based Bakries that resolving the club's ownership situation is now a "matter of urgency." There are "just two days until a legal deadline that threatens to have the Roar liquidated" (AAP, 8/17).
