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Kelantan hiring new foreign staff angers unpaid DF Jon McKain

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have been asked to probe into Kelantan's hiring of a technical director and an import player by FIFPro, with the club yet to settle unpaid wages to their former staff.

Kelantan announced the arrival of Alfredo Carlos Gonzales as their new technical director on Sunday.

The Uruguayan arrives along with Gambian forward Sanna Nyassi, who will replace the injured Alessandro Celin.

The Red Warriors' purchases infuriated their former central defender Jon McKain, who has yet to receive several months' salary from the club.

Former Australia international McKain took to Twitter to slam Kelantan, and his grouse was swiftly addressed by the world players' union on the social networking site.

"Clubs have debts and continue as though nothing is wrong? Why is this tolerated FAM?" read a tweet from FIFPro.

McKain, who has returned to his hometown of Brisbane, was livid that Kelantan has funds to purchase new personnel without settling his unpaid wages.

"To see Kelantan have signed a new coach and foreigner without paying outstanding contracts is so wrong. Over seven months now. Just pay your debts so we can all move on. Enough is enough. We all have families," wrote McKain on his Twitter account.

Former Kelantan coach Steve Darby, who had to wait almost two years before the state team settled his wages at the end of 2016, also weighed in on the issue, taking his old employers to task.

"It would appear unethical to allow clubs to buy new players and staff if they still owe money to their ex-staff. My case took over two years to be settled. If FAM had a quick process of appeal and an embargo was put on new registrations, it would make the situation fairer," Darby told ESPN FC.

"No need to punish fans and current players with points deductions or fines. It would speed up the legal process and ensure ethical procedures are followed."

In Darby's case, Kelantan were let off the hook by FAM and paid the Englishman only RM165,000, instead of the RM636,000 initially awarded.

Kelantan have been plagued by the non-payment of salaries for a few seasons now.

Besides Darby, the east coast giants also delayed wages of six former players in 2015. They only paid their dues after FAM threatened them with a points' deduction and financial penalty.

The 2012 Malaysia Super League champions' participation in domestic competitions was in doubt earlier this year after they initially struggled to come up with the RM16 million required to compete.