KUALA LUMPUR: Kelantan FC owner Norizam Tukiman has denied shirking his obligation to settle the salaries owed to players.
Recently, Norizam claimed that he had paid his players RM1,000 each to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
However, Kelantan player Khairul Helmi Johari said yesterday that only some players received the said amount, and that it was paid on a "first-come, first-served" basis.
Today, Norizam responded to Khairul's claim by telling Timesport he had intended to pay the players as much as possible so that they could at least celebrate Hari Raya.
"It's just the first phase of the payment. I have some funds available, and I intend to distribute some money to the players first," he said.
"I'm not running away from my responsibilities. I'm actively looking to clear the debts with the players. We have plans to pay them in stages. Some may get their money earlier than others.
"I need to secure the funds before distributing it to the players. Whenever I have it, I will pay the players."
Norizam bought the debt-laden club - when they were in the second-tier Premier League - from Kelantan FA in 2020 during the privatization of the M-League.
Under Norizam, the east coast side finished second in the 2022 Premier League to gain promotion to the Super League.
However, the cash-strapped Red Warriors finished bottom of the 14-team Super League last season, conceding a whopping 121 goals in 26 matches. Kelantan recorded 22 losses, two wins and two draws.
Kelantan, who sacked two coaches, South Korean Choi Moon Sik and German Frank Bernhardt, were eventually kicked out of the Super League due to unpaid wages.
