FFA deal averts Jets strike

Football Federation Australia averted a Newcastle Jets player boycott on Monday,
providing a short-term deal to help prop up the beleaguered club.
The A-League's latest crisis was poised to worsen dramatically after Jets players
warned they would not line up against Adelaide this weekend if the FFA failed to
ensure their contracts were honoured.
A morning meeting between cash-strapped Newcastle owner Con Constantine and chief
executive John Tsatsimas and A-League chiefs failed to reach a resolution, which
angered the players and their union.
After missing two pay days, players told the Professional Footballers Association
boss Brendan Schwab they were prepared to strike.
But the FFA's late afternoon announcement of short-term financial assistance to the
club avoided a potential forfeit at Adelaide's Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday night.
FFA chief executive Ben Buckley admitted there were a "range of complex issues"
being discussed with various stakeholders and Monday's deal would allow talks to
continue while ensuring entitlements were met.
"The club has a proud history and great spirit evidenced not the least by the
players' approach to the current issues and their strong performance on the
weekend," Buckley said of the 2007-08 champions.
While the Newcastle players admirably aimed up in a scoreless draw with Brisbane
Roar on Sunday, Schwab said there was a limit to their generosity and living costs
were taking a toll.
Players chipped in to ensure two foreign recruits, Iraqi international Ali Abbas and
Chinese striker Zhang Shuo, could buy food.
"That shows two things: How strong the spirit is in the playing group and how
difficult the economic situation is for the players," Schwab told AAP.
"The players are an outstanding group and they are determined to act as a collective
unit, but for the players it's a situation of extreme difficulty.
"There's obviously a limit as to how much the players can bear. That's why the FFA
have to bring a resolution to this matter as soon as possible."
While falling crowds have hit the club hard, Schwab put the onus on the governing
body to give players a two-pronged assurance that Newcastle continue to be
represented in the A-League and all Jets contracts are honoured.
"It's not appropriate for the players to have any doubt over that situation and the
urgent step that needs to be taken is that the FFA ensure that the club's
participation agreement and all player contracts are complied with," he said.
"We have faith in Newcastle.
"It is a club that at its best attracts wonderful support and has achieved very
considerable on-field results so there's no reasons why the FFA cannot ensure we
have a viable team in Newcastle."



Delete & Prev | Delete & Next