Where I am a bit lost, is Player's Union (PFA) have pulled out of negotiations, because the PFA itself is apparently split. Of the 300 odd members, 200 are employed, and 100 are currently unemployed.
Who are the 100 unemployed? Just those players who are now off contract since the last A League season finished? Or could you be someone like Tom Doyle who was released 12 months ago by the Nix, but still be a member of the PFA, ie part of the 100 unemployed?
Just that 100 'unemployed' seems a lot compared to only 200 employed.
Is an interesting situation. Can think of Fenton and maybe Sail (seemed to be overtaken by Zac Jones as reserve keeper) as 2 contracted players, who the Nix might try 'push out the door', with large pay cuts. It's an ugly idea, but clubs are simply going to have to slash their wage bills, and seemingly carrying 'deadwood' will be more unattractive than ever.
As well as reducing salary cap by the 30% to $2.1M, I think it's also been proposed to reduce the squad size from 23 to 18 players. If so you can't really afford to carry 3 RBs in a small squad of 18. Maybe return Payne back to being a CB as he was at Eastern Suburbs.