Yesterday the Jets publicly accused Griffiths of potentially breaching his contract. The 30-year-old striker has failed to turn up to Jets training in the last few days and Jets director of football Remo Nogarotto told the Newcastle Herald: "He is in breach and potentially in continual breach until such time as he turns up for training.

"What we will do in response to that, I'm not 100 per cent certain. It's not our intention to go to war with a player, particularly a player who has given us the level of service that Joel has.

"However, having said that, a player by his actions cannot hold a club to ransom."

Griffiths's agent John Denison told au.fourfourtwo.com he believed the player had a deal with Chinese champions Beijing Guoan for Griffiths to be transferred following his successful loan spell with the club last year.

Denison claimed the two clubs had a deal to the tune of $350,000 that was agreed in late December. Staying on to play A-League football was not part of the deal, he said.

Beijing had requested Griffiths to be available from January 3 so that he could be registered before the Asian Champions League deadline of January 11, and so need to have him signed up in the next seven days.

However the Jets want their marquee man to stay and play games at the back end of this season - the number depending on the fortunes of the side but it could be as little as three games.

PFA Chief Executive Brendan Schwab said he was satisfied with the paperwork he'd seen and said it is the Jets who should honour their agreement with Griffiths.

He called for the season three A-League champions to immediately transfer the fringe Socceroo to Beijing Guoan for the fee already agreed between the two clubs.

"We have been provided with the relevant documentation by Joel and his management team," Schwab said in a statement late yesterday.

"On that basis, we are satisfied that an agreement exists between Joel and the Jets for his transfer for a specified fee which Beijing has agreed to pay. 

"In these circumstances, it is incorrect and unfair to Joel to bring his professionalism into question through public statements that he is in breach of contract."

With time running out, the PFA will refer the matter to urgent arbitration under the A-League Collective Bargaining Agreement should the Jets refuse to complete the transfer.

Schwab added: "These allegations are deeply hurting for Joel given his commitment and feeling for the people of Newcastle."