A-League could restart without cast of foreign stars

The A-League could resume without a glut of its biggest names, with at least 20 foreign players and coaches still overseas and unlikely to return in time.

Football Federation Australia is working with clubs on a restart date, when all teams will assemble in one hub to finish the regular season and finals. Yet many players who lit up the first six months may not be there to complete the campaign, with a cast of imports having returned home abroad in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and coming off-contract this Saturday.

The Australian players' union is working towards a resolution to roll over contracts but several clubs are yet to receive commitment their foreigners will return to play the remaining games, likely on severely reduced wages.

"The management of this issue underscores the complexity of managing the restart, which is why we’ve sought a collective solution since players were first stood down in March," Professional Footballers Australia chief executive John Didulica said. "Sporting integrity is a fundamental principle of the competition, so it's critical we do whatever we can to preserve this."

In that vein, Western Sydney Wanderers' bid to reach the finals may not involve one of their key players with midfielder Pirmin Schwegler back in Switzerland for the lockdown and becoming a free agent on Saturday, May 31.

Melbourne Victory will have to finish the season without veteran Danish midfielder Jakob Poulsen, who did not wait to finish the season before announcing his retirement. Furthermore, Ola Toivonen's availability is less than certain. A Victory spokesman said their marquee striker and captain remains in Australia, though reports have linked the former Swedish international with a move back to his homeland in June. Toivonen, whose contract also expires on Saturday, is yet to commit to finishing the season on reduced wages.

Brisbane Roar coach Robbie Fowler and assistant Tony Grant flew back to the UK, while Adelaide United have already parted ways with coach Gertjan Verbeek and German midfielder Mirko Boland.

Cellar dwellers Central Coast Mariners may have to fight their way off the bottom of the table without Korean defensive midfielder, Kim Eun-sun, while rivals Newcastle Jets could be one of the hardest hit.

New coach Carl Robinson has vowed to return from Vancouver but is no certainty to have three of his foreign players at his disposal for their final four games. Bobby Burns' loan deal from Hearts expires over the weekend and the Northern Irishman won't be back. Off-contract duo, Welsh international Joe Ledley and Irish international Wes Hoolahan, returned home.

All of table-topping Sydney FC's foreign players remained in Australia, however defender Ryan McGowan travelled back to Scotland for the birth of his daughter, though he is expected back in time to finish the season.

Challengers Perth Glory have retained all but one player, with in-form Austrian defender Gregory Wuthrich the only to leave before his contract expires this weekend.

Wellington Phoenix sources suggest they expect Gary Hooper to return and see out the season despite his contract expiring in the coming days, joined by on-contract Mexican Ulises Davila.

Elsewhere, Uruguayan winger Adrian Luna is the only Melbourne City player abroad but is likely to return, while fellow Victorians Western United have lost experienced Croatian midfielder Dario Jertec.