The decisions to hire Gary van Egmond and Francis Jeffers are sound and almost universally welcomed – but make no mistake – these are the decisions of a football club run by rugby league people.
When mining billionaire Nathan Tinkler added the Newcastle Jets A-League team to his racing empire before convincing Newcastle Knights members to hand over control of the NRL club, then announced his ambitions to get into the NBL and the Trans-Tasman netball, Australia had its first ‘superclub’.
Appropriately, there was great excitement about the economies of scale of such an enterprise and already ‘year-round’ sponsors have been signed on behalf of both clubs.
But Tinkler, and many of his senior staff, are dyed-in-the-wool Leaguies. They admit they don’t know much about soccer (rugby league fans don’t really call it football).
They certainly care about the round ball game, the Jets wouldn’t exist without them – but it’s not their thing.
League is.
So much so that Tinkler couldn’t wait to get his hands on the Knights before talking with potential players and coaches.
His enthusiasm resulted in the embarrassing Kade Snowden signing-with-the-Sharks-then-suddenly-not debacle on the one hand, but delivered the Knights Wayne Bennett on the other.
Tinkler and his team know precisely the Knights they want. They know every nuance of the team, every strength, weakness opportunity and threat.
But when the Newcastle Jets suddenly and savagely parted ways with star signing Jason Culina and his father Branko, they entered a vacuum.
What now? Who next?
Everyone in the Hunter Sports Group knows the reality and so some months ago they had the foresight to put in place an Advisory Board to direct them on such matters.
The problem is, that advisory board had just tipped them into the Culinas.
It’s a big wide world of professional football out there. DVDs of the next big thing or the one-was-a-big-thing arrive by the dozen every week at A-League clubs.
But when you own a football club without a coach and you need to make a move, and you’ve had your faith in your advisors shaken, and you don’t hold a firm opinion on the matter, what do you do?
You go with what you know.
You go with the proven product.
Cue Dutchy and Franny – the man who delivered the club’s only title and the classy former guest player, respectively.
They are good choices, as it happens. But they are not brave choices.
Gary van Egmond understands the town and league, both key. He is an excellent man manager and can galvanise a squad of disparate personalities. He is also a good technician/tactician, and a longtime friend. I’m thrilled he is back.
And Jeffers has enough class that he doesn’t have to be a star, he needs only to direct traffic to earn his keep. He has shown an ability to do that in his previous visit. His teammates looked twice as good when playing alongside him.
Good as they are, there is no retreating from the fact that this is ‘back to the future’.
The Jets could have had anyone, and they’ve grabbed a couple of old boys.
And they’ve done it because they were uncertain what to do next. They are one win and one loss into a long season and it’s better the devil you know.
This is observation not criticism. And for Newcastle sports fans, it’s a bit like complaining about the rubber band on the wad of cash you’ve just been given.
Further, it’ll all be moot if they give van Egmond a blank cheque to go sign a marquee player of his choosing.
But it is the first real strategic test of the ‘superclub’ – it won’t be the last.
And safety first doesn’t always pay.
Mark Burrell
Guest
Chris, did you read through to the end where it says "this is observation, not criticism." ??? "Not brave choices" and "good choices" are not necessarily the same. Safe choices can often be the best choices. As far as suggesting who else they should have signed, totally irrelevant.
David Heidelberg
Guest
Jeffers knows the players, they know him and more importantly they all know that they are better players when he is there. Jesic must think this is Christmas. One point I also think you have missed is the effect this will have on the Jets faithful, who were amazed Jeffers was allowed to leave in the first place. He guarrantees a better team and a better style of football. As a Sydney fan this signing excites me as Newcastle just went from easybeats to a team capable of beating anyone that isn't Brisbane.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Hear what you guys are saying but I think if Branko was sacked early in the pre-season, there would be a different coach in the chair now. Still, I would be interested to know who some of those 60 coaches were ;-) If there was a big fish in the net, I think it would have taken a bit longer to sift and negotiate - the club was keen to fill the role and get the season back on track. Few more loses by Victory and SFC and I'm sure those teams would love for the Jets to take some of the press off them
Titus
Guest
Joel should go to Sydney.
Michael, Newcastle
Guest
Joel is definitely on the radar and they are actively seeking his return to the club, from what I have heard. Even Branko was actively seeking Joel's return. With Ryan already here, and Joel's history with the club, it is a strong possibility. I still think we'll need a playmaker. We just don't have anyone like that at all at the moment.
Michael, Newcastle
Guest
LOL
phutbol
Guest
perhaps not 'anyone they wished' but apparently there were over 60 applications for the position. Surely there must have been a quality Euro name among that lot, or and up and coming Aussie. The idea of recycling an old Jets coach does seem very conservative but having said that its no doubt safe and thats probably not a terrible approach. just not very exciting.
Brett McKay
Guest
is Joel Griffiths still on the radar as was reported at one stage?? Certainly the Jets' ranking would have increased this week, but another quality striker can't exactly hurt either..
JasonA
Roar Rookie
Sometimes a sensible and safe decision is the best decision. I doubt that Newcastle would've attracted a massively high profile coach and due to the season already underway could not take the time to conduct a lengthy interview process. Dutchy knows the city and the club very well, he will immediately command the respect of the players and the club can look forward to some stability after a horrible week prior to round 1. But things could be worse at least Tinkler did not go for a Theodorakopolous and Jardel coach/marquee team.
Roarchild
Guest
I can see what the article is saying. In this instance they got it right but if the only go with what they know they will be liited in the future. I think Van Egmond could be a fantastic appointment. His path is very similar to Ange Postecoglu's at Brisbane. Achieved succes previously and has since acquired more coaching licenses and was involved in the junior national team set up. He owuld have the inside runnign on a lot of the nations best youngsters.
Jay
Guest
Minor point, but I'd disagree with your comment "(rugby league fans don’t really call it football)"... RL and RU fans are more likely to refer to the round ball game as football, as opposed to AFL fans. The trend seems to be, RU = rugby, RL = league and football = soccer and, now increasingly football in Sydney.
qwerty
Guest
Still, it wouldn't have hurt to try and take Tevez out of City's hands on loan at least ;) But seriously, here was an opportunity to get a bonafide marquee player (and/or marquee coach to boot) and take *some* press off Harry and Emmo. But they've 'played it safe' instead of trying something truly bold. Good luck to them all the same.
Titus
Guest
Jeffers also doesn't have to be a star because he isn't on a marquee salary. It seems like a good piece of business which leaves them with a bit of room to move, in regards to a marquee.
Michael
Guest
Aaron, you may be right about the Tinkler interference in the Culina sackings, and that really looks like disgraceful behaviour. But on the other count, I think you are entirely incorrect. van Egmond left under acrimonious circumstances created by the authoritarian (and dodgy) Constantine. Notice a few others who left the club around the same time under a cloud (Griffiths, Covic etc). It just looks like the Jets are getting back to where they left off rather than back to the future. Jeffers always wanted to stay and when he couldn't, wanted to come back. When he starts making goal assists and scoring, I can't wait to say "in your face" to all the Sydneysiders who are saying he's a crock. Let's just celebrate the positives without trying to create polemics eh? You're a Newie boy aren't ya?
Griffo
Roar Guru
"The Jets could have had anyone, and they’ve grabbed a couple of old boys." I don't think, with various football seasons in full swing around the world, that the Jets could have had anyone they wished. Similarly I don't think waving around wads of cash would have attracted anyone they desired either. The Culina's sackings is not a good look for a club trying to attract 'anyone' they desire. The HSG and the Jets as a club have a reputation they have to build up again. If this was early pre-season, and it was a long one at that, then these 'safe' decisions would not have been good ones because there would have been more time to search out and get perhaps the bigger names, to do the due diligence. Getting those 'who you know' when the season is in full swing is a good choice, as is a 2-year contract. As for the Advisory Board: it is good that it is there. It is a good mix of ex-players, a journalist etc. but I think that a few road trips to other professional (football) clubs around the world would help get some insights into their role and the decision makings and machinery of a professional club. Send the whole of HSG for that matter. The 'superclub' concept sounds good, but in the end it will require people with knowledge of the runnings of the individual sister clubs sport to be successful, with the HSG as the umbrella to ensure all are successful and receiving the support the require.
Chris
Guest
On one hand you say the signings are "good choices" and that you are "thrilled". But then you complain the choices are "not brave choices". Why don't you just accept that the club made the right decision and applaud them for it? If you're going to criticise, why don't you make some suggestions as to who they should have signed instead?
Hospital
Guest
Ah the dance of the super club. Love it. It will be fascinating to watch. I'd like to feel a bit sad, but I can't muster a feeling of sorrow for a very rich man. You get the feeling he's just doing his best for his local area but it's blowing up in his face a little.