It is not just the stock market that has crashed.

When Indra Sahdan Daud received his contract offer for the 2009 season from Home United in November, it was a rude awakening of just how much his value as a blue-chip footballer had plummeted.

Once the S-League's highest-paid player at $10,000 a month, he was offered just $3,500 to stay on.

In a flash, he had gone from caviar to baked beans.

When the 29-year-old national skipper met The Sunday Times over a cup of coffee, he gave a wry smile when asked about his contract woes.