Roar Get Owned

Dali Tahir, Ange Postecoglou, Aga Bakrie and Matt Smith

Don't worry folks I haven't jumped forward in time and started reporting on a bad match result for Brisbane Roar.  This post in fact is in response to the long awaited announcement that Brisbane Roar finally has new owners.  And I think we can all say it's about bloody time.

Cash strapped is a phrase that has sadly dogged the boys in orange for far too many years after the initial investors from Queensland Lions never really laid the financial foundation needed to set the club on the right path forward.  The follow up owners from the Coffee Club and Luxury Paints never really improved the situation and it was ultimately only a matter of time before the FFA took over the licence again.  But after a good six months or so it's good to have real owners back in place, although the FFA continues to hold a 30% stake as a search for further investors continues.

So who are our new owners?  As had been predicted it is an Indonesian Company known as the Bakrie Group.  They have a diverse investment portfolio but most interestingly they have ownership of a number of football clubs with Brisbane Roar adding to that stable.  Aga Bakrie is the head of the investment arm that is involved in sport while Dali Tahir will take the role of chairman.  The Bakrie Group has taken a 70% stake in the club and hold a 10 year licence.  This now gives the Roar the solid financial foundation that they need.

Sadly SBS pre-empted the announcement earlier in the week and sadly took their usual approach of promoting unfounded and inaccurate information.  They claimed that the Bakrie Group had plans to recruit Indonesian players into the squad.  Thankfully Aga Bakrie quickly moved to quash these lies and maintains that Ange Postecoglou has the final say in all things football at the club.

It's going to be interesting to see how the Bakrie Group begin to invest in the club.  There are spots available for new players still but they would have to be Australians.  While the opportunity to invest in infrastructure is also there.

Anyway it is awesome to kick off the new season tomorrow with new owners.  So welcome aboard Bakrie Group and thanks for taking the opportunity to invest in our club.