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The mining magnate with the big appetite and bigger bank balance has spat the dummy again. Tentatively recognised as the ‘saviour’ of Newcastle sport, after bailing out the Jets A-League and Knights NRL sides, Nathan Tinkler’s dismissal of Branko and Jason Culina from his football stable, spells an ominous warning to the sports fans in the Hunter.
The sackings, which ridiculously took place almost immediately after Branko represented the club at the A-League season-launch, joins the growing list of temper tantrums from Tinkle-town that has left sports professionals kicking their chairs and lawyers lining their pocket.
Tinkler has presumed that the Culinas were in cahoots. That despite staying out of contract discussions with his son so that no claims of nepotism could be raised, Dad knew his boy was lame and brought him to Newy for a golden parachute.
The form line is there. After refusing to pay training fees to horseman Anthony Cummings, Tinkler responded to a $173,000 claim with a $6.4 million counterclaim, under the premise that the performance of horses under Cummings tutelage had left a multi-million dollar hole.
Cummings and the Culinas are successful and respected professionals within their chosen games. Despite pressure of Supreme Court action, the horse trainer hasn’t shied away. The Culinas will likely join the queue.
For a man who made his fortune digging on land others didn’t want, doubled into his $200 million national thoroughbred conglomerate, Tinkler should know even the most prudent of plans and preparations can come unstuck by the uncontrollable.
But Tinkler’s history points to a man who brings the ruthlessness of the mining ideology into his sporting ownership.
He speculates on a parcel of land, and if there’s no initial sign of return, he digs somewhere else.
Wayne Bennett is the new toy in Tinkler’s cot. The legendary coach does things on his terms, and Tinkler’s reaction has the potential to define his sporting legacy.
It shapes as a mouth-watering clash. I know I wouldn’t want to join Team Tinkler.
Unless I was a lawyer.
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