As the New Year's Eve deadline looms for A-League club player payments "to be brought up to date, the four clubs in question have been scrambling to sort out their finances," according to Sebastian Hassett of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Earlier in the month, it was reported that Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar, Central Coast Mariners and the Newcastle Jets had until the end of '15 "to catch up on overdue payments." Should those clubs "fail to pay the outstanding balances owed to their players," the players could declare themselves free agents and seek to join other clubs immediately. Under the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, recently negotiated between Football Federation Australia and Professional Footballers' Australia, "a provision also exists for clubs to risk losing competition points if they do not pay wages and entitlements on time." All four clubs are at different stages in dealing with addressing the payment shortfall, but the PFA has warned it will "not hesitate to move against those clubs that continue to avoid their responsibilities." The spokesperson said, "Clubs honoring their contractual obligations to players is fundamental to the integrity and governance of the A-League. It is in the best interests of all stakeholders that this matter is addressed swiftly." There are "significant concerns about whether the Mariners will meet the deadline, given their history of late payments." It is "not wages but in superannuation where they have fallen several months behind." Adelaide and Brisbane have "both given verbal undertakings" they are in the process of finalizing payments to players and "now appear safe from any repercussions." With both sides "in good form, it would be unlikely that a mass of players would be looking to leave either club." The situation at the Newcastle Jets remains "the most complicated as the owed superannuation payments are a hangover from the ill-fated ownership" of Nathan Tinkler. As FFA is the new owner of the Jets, it is understood it now bears "the legal responsibility for the outstanding monies" (SMH, 12/29).
