SINGAPORE — Tampines Rovers star Jermaine Pennant will have no qualms leaving the club or going out on loan if it helps lessen the financial burden on the five-time S.League champions.

TODAY reported last week that the Stags are facing cash-flow issues, and have asked the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to disburse the annual subsidies due to them in one lump sum — about S$1 million — instead of in tranches, as per the usual practice.

But FAS president Zainudin Nordin subsequently told local media that it cannot provide direct financial help, leading to reports that some players from Tampines’ star-studded 24-man squad may be released to other S.League clubs during the mid-season transfer window from May 16 to June 10.

Speaking during the official launch of Puma’s dual coloured Tricks boots at Kallang Wave Mall’s Weston Corporation store on Friday (April 29), Pennant said he is willing to leave the club if it is in Tampines’ best interests.

“If players are getting offloaded, and if I was one of them, I would say it’s part and parcel of the job,” said the former Arsenal and Liverpool winger, who joined Tampines on a one-year deal just three months ago in January. “It’s all up to the club, really. If there is a need for me to leave or to go on loan, and the club asks me to do it for its benefit, I’m not going to say no and put Tampines down in the dumps.”

In their bid to inject excitement to this season’s S.League, Tampines have embarked on several ambitious projects to build their brand. They partnered with former Brazil star Ronaldinho to launch a football academy here, and appointed former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier to be their international ambassador.  

Tampines will also become the first S.League side to play at the 55,000-seater National Stadium next month, when V Sundramoorthy’s men host Malaysian Super League side Selangor in their final AFC Cup group-stage match.

While Tampines have revealed there is close to “zero costs” involved in the Houllier and National Stadium initiatives, the cash flow issues appear to stem from their wage bill.

Apart from signing Pennant, the Stags also added eight players from the now-defunct MSL side LionsXII to their roster during the off season. 

Pennant is reportedly on S$20,000 a month, not including other perks such as an apartment, while the LionsXII players are commanding a monthly wage of at least S$6,000 each — higher than the average monthly wage of $3,500 for an S.League player. The wage bill played a big role in pushing the club’s operating costs to more than $2 million. Most S.League clubs have budgets of between S$1 million and S$1.5 million.

Pennant said Tampines are still paying his salary promptly, and added:  “Obviously, it will affect us financially if we don’t get paid. But that hasn’t happened yet. But I’m not affected mentally as I’m still a professional, and will play my best and train hard.”