ADELAIDE United’s blockbuster friendly against Liverpool FC stands to be its last following conflict with the players union that also threatens to decimate the club’s 2015-16 title assault.

United asserts The Professional Football Association is demanding a combined $312,500 in additional wages for high profile games against La Liga side Villarreal and the July 20 Liverpool clash at Adelaide Oval.

Adelaide United has offered payments for the Liverpool game in excess of the figure recommended by Football Federation Australia.

Just as Sydney FC was told any amount paid in excess of that sum would be included in the 2015-2016 salary cap, that would also apply to United were the PFA to succeed in the dispute. That means United would have $270,000 less to spend in the salary cap in the coming season.

The Reds already run on a lean budget meaning key recruiting would be scaled back. The action amounts to an “attack on United’s integrity” said club chairman Greg Griffin.

“This will mean the clubs will no longer play these games and the door will close on them,” said Griffin, who also heads the A-League club Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations.

Griffin insists the PFA demands are in contravention of A-League rules with a grievance tribunal to settle the dispute. “If we lose the grievance tribunal the FFA could reduce our salary cap for 2015-16 which would cost us one or two players. It would be disastrous,” he said.

United will receive $300,000 for playing Liverpool but the PFA has made a claim for $250,000 for player wages. The remaining $50,000 could be chewed by other expenses.

“Under A-League regulations the game against Villarreal was not to attract additional payments. We just paid the normal fee as we knew we weren’t going to make money,” said Griffin.

“The PFA is now saying we have to pay another $62,000.

“The clubs make very little money from these games, it showcases our brand to the rest of the football world and is a chance for our players to play the best in the world.

“Why the PFA wants to kill the goose that laid the golden egg is beyond all of us.”

It is anticipated that the FFA will introduce new regulations before the Liverpool game.

Originally published as United sees red over union cash demands