Embattled Perth Glory will be given a chance to stabilise their squad, despite their recent salary cap woes, thanks to a gentleman's agreement between bosses of rival A-League clubs not to poach their players.
Despite finishing third on the table, Perth won't be competing in the A-League finals -- starting this weekend -- as part of their punishment after being found guilty of breaking the competition's AUD$2.55 million salary cap.
But Adelaide United chairman Greg Griffin, Newcastle Jets owner Nathan Tinkler and Central Coast Mariners boss Mike Charlesworth are among those A-League powerbrokers who have agreed to a hands-off approach when it comes to recruiting Glory talent.
"Several of the clubs have intimated that in the event of a [current Perth] player seeking to break a contract based upon the salary cap issues, then they will not be interested in contracting with those players as they do not accept there is any proper basis to terminate the contract and it should be fulfilled," Griffin told SBS.
"In the event, however, that Perth Glory and the player reach an agreement as to the termination of a contract then that player will be able to be considered by any of those clubs should they so desire."
The deal is believed to involve up to eight A-League clubs. Tinkler added that although Newcastle plan to drastically revamp their squad for the 2015-16 season, he would respect the unofficial pact.
"I'd like to see Perth retain as many of their players as they can, and a bunch of us, as chairmen, have agreed to give them time to do that," Tinkler said. "We chatted with [Perth Glory owner] Tony Sage last week and seven or eight of us were happy to give them the opportunity to keep their squad together. Glory have had enough battles this season without everybody picking over the carcass."
Central Coast owner Charlesworth added: "I am part of that agreement ... we simply won't negotiate with any contracted player at Perth."
After Glory were found guilty earlier this month by exceeding the salary cap by more than AUD$400,000, there was speculation that some of their top players, including Australia U23 striker Jamie Maclaren, could leave the club.