Glory out of finals
Perth Glory will not play finals this season after they accepted Football Federation Australia's sanction for a salary cap fiasco.
After chief executive Jason Brewer quit yesterday, saying the decision was his choice and should not be seen as an admission of the A-League club's guilt, Glory said last night it had been given a fair hearing by the independent disciplinary committee.
FFA found the club guilty of breaching the salary cap for this season by about $400,000.
"Following this process the club has reached the view that it was within FFA's power to make the decision and apply the sanction and that it is in the interests of the club and the game to bring the matter to a resolution," Glory said.
The club said it had accepted the FFA sanction that excludes it from the finals series and imposes a $269,000 fine. It would also discontinue Supreme Court action and proceedings before FFA's disciplinary committee.
"Perth Glory recognises the importance of the total player payments rules and regulations to the integrity of the Hyundai A-League and undertakes to comply strictly with the rules in the future," the club said.
The club's acceptance of the sanction means it will not be issued with a third show-cause notice, scheduled for today, for undisclosed player payments and benefits of more than $100,000.
Mr Brewer yesterday apologised for the events leading to the club's expulsion and fine but said there had been no secret or third-party payments.
"As CEO, at the end of the day that responsibility of where the club lies today is with me," he said. "The decision by the FFA should also be taken into the context that it detracts from an awful lot of hard work and effort which has been undertaken by the coaches, by the players and everybody involved in this club.
"For those who know me, they know just how much I love this sport and how much I love this club," Mr Brewer said.
"I stepped into this role two years ago believing I could really make a difference and take this club back to where it should be. However, if this club is going to move forward, it's clearly in the best interest that I resign from my position as CEO."
Several groups of fans demanded Mr Brewer resign after Friday's 3-0 defeat to Sydney FC.
