French striker arrives at Roar
FRUSTRATION gave way to relief and excitement yesterday for the Roar’s French signing Eric Bautheac, who finally arrived in Brisbane.
Having announced the snaring of Bautheac on September 9, the Roar had hoped to have the 30-year-old winger here for the start of the A-League season.
But a visa approval delay has led to the former Nice and Lille attacking weapon being stranded in France and missing Brisbane’s opening two matches.
Provided, as expected, he receives his international transfer clearance in time, Bautheac is set to make his Roar debut on Sunday against the Newcastle Jets at Suncorp Stadium.
It’s a timely boost for the Roar, who have started their season with successive losses.
“I’m very happy to be here,” said Bautheac, who had a series of medical tests yesterday after being met at the airport by Roar skipper Matt McKay, Brisbane’s Franceborn former Tunisian international Fahid Ben Khalfallah and Roar assistant coach Ross Aloisi.
“It’s been a little bit frustrating having to wait in France but I’m excited to finally meet my Roar teammates and the coaching staff.
“I can’t wait to play my first game for my new team.”
The Roar’s “back to the future” approach to solve their latest crisis continued yesterday with the return of David Pourre to the club.
Having quit as Roar chief executive in June last year to start racing industry company EQPAY, Pourre is back as the club’s managing director, replacing Mark Kingsman, who was sacked on Monday.
He’s not the first of the old Brisbane brigade to come back after former chairman Chris Fong had returned to the board as vice-chairman.
And there could yet be more familiar faces back on the Roar scene, with Pourre being a close confidant of former state politician Rob Cavallucci.
Pourre did not rule out Cavallucci – who has previously had an unofficial consulting role with the three-time A-League champions – being part of a soon-to-be-revealed Roar advisory board.
That’s despite Cavallucci being chairman of NPL Queensland club Brisbane City’s bid for inclusion in an expanded A-League.