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While Con Constantine has been moved on, the good news for football and the A-League in Newcastle is that the Jets will live on after the FFA today announced the club would be continuing under the stewardship of local businessman Nathan Tinkler.
The 34 year old young-gun is said to have made his millions out of the coal mining industry and in May was listed in BRW’s Rich 200 List as being worth an estimated $355 million.
Tinkler will assume the licence from Constantine and ensure that the Jets survive for at least the remainder of the season.
Ben Buckley said the agreement also gives Tinkler the option of acquiring the licence for the long term.
The decision by the FFA to withdrawn the licence from Constantine appears to have been made after it was determined he did not have the ability, or will, to meet the club’s short or long term financial obligations.
FFA say that Constantine was given numerous opportunities over recent weeks to show he had the financial capacity to continue operating, including at recent meetings with chairman Frank Lowy and deputy chairman Brian Schwarz.
While the governing body recognised Constantine’s contribution to the Jets and football in general, it appears the two parties could never reach an agreeable solution, seemingly leaving the FFA little choice but to cut Constantine, especially when he stopped paying his players and staff.
“This is a fantastic result for the A-League, the club and the people of the Newcastle area,” said Buckley.
“Ever since our first discussion I could tell that Nathan was an extremely proud Novacastrian and I welcome his involvement in football.
“Starting immediately we will be working with Nathan to broaden the support base of the club and engage the entire football and business community of the Hunter region in a campaign to secure its future in the A-League for years to come.
“We are very hopeful that the fans and the local business community will demonstrate their commitment to the Club and lead to Nathan taking out the licence on a long-term basis.”
Tinkler, who also has a large stake in the region’s horse racing industry, says his motivation was to keep football in the region afloat and provide a nursery for its estimated 16,000 registered players.
“My family and I have been supporters of the Newcastle Jets for years and we are delighted to be able to step in and support the club for the City of Newcastle,” he said.
“I have no desire to own a football club but provide a nursery for the development of the game for the thousands of young football players in the Hunter region.
“I urge all of the Hunter community to get behind the Jets and show their support by showing up for the games and becoming members of the club.
“We are keen to get as many sponsors on board as possible. Newcastle deserves a top class team and we are keen to help rebuild the club for the city.
“I have faith in the A-League and the concept of the national competition and I expect Newcastle will play a big role in that future.”
While Tinkler’s arrival at the Jets will be welcome news for fans of the club and the Jets players and coaching staff, the FFA would be well advised not to throw all its eggs in the one basket and continue to work towards a long term solution, built around community ownership.
Tinkler, as this report suggests, isn’t without his own dramas, but if the FFA can work with him, keep him on-side and get other local businessman involved, then better days may be ahead for the Jets.
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