Many football clubs are tightening their belts and willing to stop extending contracts with international players who receive five-figure salaries each a month to reduce payment budgets. Ho Chi Minh City’s Saigon Xuan Thanh last year earmarked as much as VND1.7 billion, or US$80,000 a month, only to pay salaries, with its seven international players, including three naturalized citizens, accounting for $50,000. Naturalized players Huynh Kesley and Nguyen Rogerio used to receive $13,000 and $12,000 a month, respectively, while Antonio took $10,000, and Nsi, $6,000. Local stars such as goalie Tan Truong too enjoyed a whopping wage of VND68 million, and Phuoc Tu, VND60 million a month. But the club was hit by the financial crisis in the second half of the 2012 V-League, forcing it to delay clearing wages and bonuses for the squad for several months. Even worse, the salary and bonus budget will be cut by 45 percent for the 2013 season, according to managing director Tran Tien Dai. “The club boss Nguyen Tien Thuy only approved a VND30 billion budget for the club in the next season, although it will be competing at three different tournaments, including the V-League, National Cup, and AFC Cup,” he said. The belt-tightening club thus did not extend its contract with Huynh Kesley, who netted a combined 15 goals in the 2012 V-League. The Brazilian, who received Vietnamese citizenship in 2008, demanded a $400,000 a year salary for the coming season, while Saigon Xuan Thanh only agreed to pay $4,000 a month, said Dai. Nguyen Rogerio, and Antonio, hence, should accept lower wages if they are to stay with the club, the managing director said. “We will spread the message to players when the club assembles on October 13. They have to share the difficulties with the club. If they don’t accept the salary cut, they can leave the club at their will.” Huynh Kesley has yet to find a new club, although he has contacted his old club Becamex Binh Duong, where he demanded to play at $200,000 a year.Say no to costly players Meanwhile, Song Lam Nghe An is still not sure if it can extend contracts with some qualified foreign players in the next season, as the club is still working with its sponsor on future funding. “We may have to use players from the junior squads in case we don’t have enough money to keep the foreign ones,” said general director Nguyen Hong Thanh. Elsewhere, in the Mekong Delta, Kienlongbank Kien Giang said it will also say no with foreign players who demand high salary. Coach Lai Hong Van sacked Nigeria’s Oseni at the end of the 2012 season as he demanded to have his salary increased from $7,000 to $12,000. While admitting that foreign players are the most important force of the club, coach Van said they will only sign contract with qualified players who ask for less than $6,000 a month. The club has inked a memorandum with Nigerian striker Felix, who scored 14 goals last season for Dong Thap. “But we will let him go if he asks for too high of a payment,” the coach said.