Professional Footballers Australia fired straight back,accusing Sage of making"misleading commentary"that was"unhelpful and damaging",while an FFA spokesperson said the developments were"not a good way to begin the new era of an independent A-League."
Sage said that with a broadcasting deal reduced by nearly half and no guarantee the Glory will be able to make money from gate takings for the foreseeable future,the club's revenue could drop by as much as 75 per cent next season.
"This is unsustainable for our club and hence I may have to make the very hard decision to once again stand down our players and staff until the situation is resolved,"Sage wrote."We have been transparent with PFA. A 30 per cent reduction is what the game needs to survive and what it can afford."
Sources close to negotiations suggest the PFA has not actually objected to a blanket 30 per cent pay cut,rather a system proposed by the A-League clubs in which the clubs could pick and choose who receives cuts,with the only recourse available to those players the termination of their contracts after seven days.
The PFA is open to cuts and is aware of the game's economic challenges but believes such a scenario would render affected players as essentially powerless and could allow for injured or veteran players to be marginalised or targeted.
"Talks remain ongoing with the clubs in an effort to reach a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the Perth Glory players were due to meet with their club tomorrow to have further discussions,"PFA co-chief executive Beau Busch said in a statement.
"Attempts to pressure the players through threats and misleading commentary is unhelpful and damaging,particularly while the players continue to work in good faith to reach a solution."