Affected: Perak player Luciano Guaycochea was among a few players who raised complaints over unpaid wages.
PETALING JAYA: It may not be the end of the road yet for Perak in their bid to remain in the Super League next season.
Perak FC chairman Datuk Seri Azim Zabidi revealed that three parties have expressed interest in taking over the beleaguered club.
However, he declined to disclose further details as discussions are still ongoing.
Azim said he was encouraged by the willingness of potential investors to step in and rescue the team, given Perak’s proud history in Malaysian football.
He also expressed hope that the club would be able to continue competing in the Super League next season, should the takeover materialise.
“If possible, we don’t want to shut down the team, but we’re unable to compete next season due to financial constraints. So when investors show interest in the club, of course I’m not going to shut the door on them,” he said.
“I can’t share any details of the negotiations, but I can confirm that around three parties have come forward with the intention of buying the team.”
Currently, Perak are owned by XOX Pro Sport Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of XOX Berhad, which took over the club in 2022 from Impact Media and Communication (IMC) Sdn Bhd.
Ironically, IMC were also grappling with financial woes at the time, especially over unpaid player salaries.
Two weeks ago, Perak — eight-time Malaysia Cup champions — officially announced their withdrawal from next season’s Super League due to worsening financial troubles.
They had also announced earlier that they would not take part in the President’s Cup and Youth Cup competitions in 2025.
The situation deteriorated further when several players raised complaints over unpaid wages, including team captain Luciano Guaycochea, who voiced his frustration with the club’s management.
Despite not being paid, Perak’s players continued to give their all and managed to finish seventh in the league with 30 points.
