The complicated row over the control of Shenhua Football Club will soon be settled with Zhu Jun, the club's major investor to officially take command, according to Soccer News.
Zhu sent an ultimatum to the other five club owner, all from State-owned enterprises last week, demanding the large stake transfer promised long ago, otherwise he would stop paying wages and bonuses.
Shareholders of the five SOEs agreed to complete the transfer by the end of 2012, which will push Zhu's stake share, currently 28.5 percent, to 75 percent, according to the newspaper.
Shenhua players were spotted skipping regular practice over the weekend in a move believed to show their discontent with wage arrears.
The funding stalemate also jeopardized the future of Didier Drogba who joined the team in July. Italian giants Juventus is targeting the former Chelsea striker to step in if Shenhua can't afford his reported weekly salary of £200,000, according to foreign media.
Copyright ©1999-2011 Chinanews.com. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.