Kelantan Football Association (Kafa) president Annuar Musa has promised to settle the outstanding player salaries in stages.

He said Kafa was unable to pay the full salaries as it would lead to cash flow problems for the association, which had been plagued with a financial crisis throughout 2015.

"For the 2015 season, we faced a huge deficit... in terms of EPF (Employees Provident Fund), the players, taxes, coaches. After receiving a rather comfortable sponsorship deal, we have given priority to the payment of salaries.

"We will be sending a schedule of payment letter to the players and those who have arrears, it's only that we will pay it gradually, so that our cash flow is not affected, where the main focus will be on preparing the main team which will be competing," he said at a press conference after signing a sponsorship contract in Medan Mara, Kuala Lumpur.

Earlier, he received a RM16 million contribution from the founder of Vida Beauty Sdn Bhd, Hasmiza Othman, better known as Dr Vida, as the main sponsor.

He, however, declined to reveal total sponsorship amount received for this season, as it was still under negotiation.

Annuar requested the team - which will be known as the 'Pamoga Qu Puteh The Red Warriors' this season, to demonstrate high determination and commitment to win every Malaysia Cup and Super League match it plays.

"Last season was a wake up call for Kafa with the Malaysian League challenge that saw a changed landscape, causing it (Kafa) to be at the bottom of the table. We must make some changes in order to remain competitive," he said.

According to him, the funds sponsored by Hasmiza would not be included in Kafa's main accounts, and would instead be handled by a seven-member committee through a secondary account.

The seven are Kafa's treasurer, Nik Aminaldin Jaafar; Hasmiza, who is Kafa's honorary adviser; and two other advisers, namely, Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub and Abdul Fattah Mahmood; as well as three representatives from the supporters' club.

"Datuk Seri Vida has great ideas which is a boost for Kafa. I see her terms in a positive manner, whereby it has succeeded in creating a new euphoria in the country's football scene.

"She does not only want to be a normal sponsor, but also to develop the infrastructure and the grassroots-level (of Kafa)," he said.

- Bernama