Players from penniless Shenzhen Jianlibao got a boost as the new owners of the Chinese Super League champions promised to make good on unpaid wages.

The Huizhong Tianheng Company transferred 20 million yuan, about three million US dollars, into Shenzhen Jianlibao's account yesterday, one month after the Beijng-based investor bought out the club's near-bankrupt patron, soft drink maker Jianlibao Group.

The new owner issued a statement, saying they would continue to back the club since the club with its League title represents a credible marketing platform for the soft drink brand.

The cash injection, however, covers only part of the club's mountainous debts, said to have run up to 65 million yuan. No solid promises have been made by Huizhong Tianheng to follow up with more investment. More than half of the liabilities stem from unpaid salaries to players and backroom staff over the past eight months.

The Shenzhen footballers, despite falling victim of the parent group's financial woes, won the league title and almost completed a double by lifting the League Cup, losing in the final to Shandong Luneng.

Despite the bail-out by Huizhong Tianheng, there are still fears that there will be an exodus of players before the start of the new season. Captain Li Weifeng has almost secured a job at Shanghai Shenhua, who are also courting Shenzhen playmaker Zheng Zhi. Zheng saw his hope for an overseas career next season doomed after two fruitless tryouts with Hertha Berlin and Southampton.

"There's not much time left for the new owners to persuade the players and coaches stay, " said Yao Gang, a former Shenzhen official. "They just got tired of the saga and want to get rid of the uncertainty that has been going on here."

Source: CRI news