LAWRIE McKinna concedes "it's not a great situation" but the Newcastle Jets chief executive is confident the club and the game will survive the ravages of COVID-19.
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Football Federation Australian moved in line with other sporting codes on Tuesday when it postponed the A-League. FFA will review the decision on April 22 in the hope that the pandemic "flattens".
In the meantime, the league is in limbo.
McKinna will meet with Jets coaching staff on Wednesday to plan a way forward.
After a stunning 2-1 win over Melbourne City on Monday, the players are on a short break.
The club's office is closed but administration staff, of which there are only a handful, are continuing to work from home.
"I'll sit down with Carl and his staff and work through it," McKinna said. "The players might have a short break, a couple of weeks off. If April 22 is the possible date that we can start, we need to make sure the boys are fit."
The FFA, clubs and players worked hard to maintain the competition and appease broadcaster Foxtel by condensing the remaining six rounds and playing behind closed doors.
The clubs were willing to relocate to NSW in a last-ditch effort to continue but tightened border restrictions in New Zealand forced Wellington Phoenix to return home on Tuesday.
National Rugby League Chairman Peter V'landys declared the halt of their competition a financial catastrophe and potentially dire for some clubs.
The mega-rich AFL also expect major job losses at clubs and the potential for player wages to be cut in the "biggest threat in 100 years" to the game.
The A-League survives on money from the broadcast rights, which covers the players' wages through grants. The next payment is due on April 1.
It's unclear if the A-League will lose a portion of the $57 million annual TV fee due to the suspension of play.
FFA chief executive James Johnson, in announcing the postponement, flagged financial hardship for the game.
"We rely on the grant as all A-League clubs do," McKinna said. "It is not a great situation for us. We have been cash-strapped for the past couple of years. It's not great for anybody.
"But as James Johnson said, the strength in the game is the numbers and the people, and we need to make sure we do the best we can for the club and the league. There are a lot of juniors coming through who aspire to play for the Jets and we want to keep it that way.
"I am working on things to put in place to make sure that we are there.
"If we postpone for a month, which could happen, we might be back behind closed doors but the league would just be extended a few weeks.
"It will be a battle. Nothing is easy when you are in football but I'm confident we will get through it.
"The feedback from members regarding refunds has been encouraging. The clubs are working through that and hopefully will do a united statement on it.
"We now have to talk to the sponsors."
Professional Footballers Association chief executive John Didulica was optimistic that Foxtel's past commitment to the game would be replicated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Fox has been a partner of the A-League since its inception ... they've invested significant sums in the sport and it'd be staggering if they turned their back on that investment now, in the current environment," Didulica said.
The Jets' triumph over City moved them to 24 points, three behind sixth-placed Western United, who have played a game less.
"The club is in a good space," McKinna said. "With the coaching appointments we have made - on that side of things - we have proved we are in a good space.
"Until there is more light at the end of the tunnel there will be no more discussion about signing players. Who knows if the salary cap will be cut or increased. We don't know what we are playing with.
"The main focus is getting a date when we can start playing again and getting the boys fit."
Jets' China-based owner Martin Lee has been kept abreast of the situation.
"I am in regular contact with Martin," McKinna said. "He is aware of what is happening and when things get a bit clearer, I will phone him again. He just wants me to keep him up to speed."
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