Crisis-torn Brisbane Roar are set to lose another key player with fan favourite and super sub Henrique close to sealing a move to the Malaysia Premier League.
Hot on the heels of promising young defender James Donachie's exit, the Brazilian-Australian is poised to join A-League expats Taylor Regan, Alex Smith, Andrew Nabbout and coach Gary Phillips at Negeri Sembilan, sources in Malaysia have confirmed.
The 31-year-old became a free agent when his A-League contract expired at the end of May.
He had been tabled a new deal by the Roar but it's believed the club were unwilling to meet his wage demands, prompting him to take advantage of his new status as an Australian citizen to pave the way for a switch to the Malaysian Premier League as an Asian import.
It is a stinging loss for Brisbane, as Henrique was not only beloved by supporters but a regular source of goals for the team, often coming off the bench to score in crunch situations.
He famously converted the winning penalty in the memorable 2011 A-League grand final against Central Coast Mariners, and then the winning goal in the 2014 decider against Western Sydney Wanderers.
The dual departures come at a time of great uncertainty for the Roar with Brisbane's owners the Bakrie Group facing a 5 p.m. deadline on Monday to provide Football Federation Australia with a comprehensive outline of their future plans for the club.
The Bakries also have to deliver around $500,000 in wages to players and staff on June 15 or they could be deemed to be trading while insolvent, which would trigger a breach of their A-League license agreement.
Meanwhile, former CEO David Pourre has written to FFA chief David Gallop after he was the target of a petition signed by more than 800 Roar fans.
The petition demands FFA strip the Bakries of their A-League license immediately and take back control of the Roar with Pourre's assistance.
Pourre's letter warned Gallop the club could no longer withstand both the "tangible and intangible" damage being done to the Roar while the Indonesian conglomerate is still in charge, requesting a meeting to "further express" his concerns.
"I share the community angst; I too no longer have confidence in the current owners of Brisbane Roar FC," the letter read.
"The opportunity for our club to build on the successes of previous years will only be present after there is a significant change in the ownership structure."
With Newcastle Jets poised to be bought out by Chinese lighting magnate Martin Lee, speculation is that FFA could soon have the funds available to run Brisbane and then eventually sell the club to another party.