KUALA LUMPUR: Felcra FC vice president, Datuk Hazian Murad explained that the team’s management will settle the players’ salaries even though it has been recently confirmed that The Rivals will not be competing in the Malaysia League (M-League) next season.
Hazian said that the amount includes the balance of salaries up till the end of this year and arrears of close to three months which is estimated to be in the region of RM2 million for all the team’s players and officials.
In fact, Hazian promised to help all the players and officials in getting what they should especially after they did very well to bring Felcra to the pinnacle of Malaysian football.
“I have informed the team’s management that I will resign my post after the players and officials salaries have all been deposited in their respective accounts. I will not just simply relinquish my post and leave the team in the lurch without any aid or assistance.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Felcra chairman Datuk Mohd Nageeb Abdul Wahab and the top management for agreeing to settle the remainder of the salaries and arrears owed to all the players and team officials.
“The overall amount is around RM2 million including deductions for the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and other related disbursements,” he said.
During Friday night’s press conference, Hazian also confirmed once more that Felcra, runners up in the Premier League this season, will not be competing next season due to financial difficulties.
The early move by Felcra not to compete next season is seen as the right decision to ensure no disruptions to the league’s preparations for next season, apart from giving the players notice and time to find new teams to play for.
Speaking further, Hazian admitted that the players were saddened by the decision, furthermore when they played their hearts out this season in securing promotion to the Super League by virtue of finishing as runners-up in the Premier League.
“The players’ reaction was that they were sad because they had worked so hard to bring Felcra’s name up, but in the end we were still forced to pull out of competing in the league.
“Whatever it is we have to abide by what has happened, the team’s management and I cannot carry on, on our own because in football, we need a lot of funs to keep a team afloat and running,” Hazian pointed out.