British billionaire Marwan Koukash is keen on buying the Newcastle NRL club, but whether Knights’ fans would welcome another cashed-up owner after the failed experiment with Nathan Tinkler remains to be seen.
After reports linked the Salford Red Devils’ Super League owner to the Knights on Wednesday, the 55-year-old Koukash took to Twitter to say he had been involved in discussions about extending his portfolio to the NRL.
“I would confirm that there has been some contact with an NRL team but it is very early days, my absolute focus remains on the Red Devils,” he wrote.
But Knights Members Club chairman Nick Dan, whose organisation holds a 20 per cent stake in Newcastle and ensured safeguards such as the $10 million bank guarantee were in place when Tinkler took over in 2011, said it was likely to be a case of once bitten twice shy for Knights’ fans.
“I think they would be very, very apprehensive after the failed experiment from the past few years,” Dan told AAP.
“There are much more ownership benefits in the community model for the fans and for Newcastle and it makes for a much stronger business.
“Hopefully, these reports will spur more people on to becoming members of the club.”
The NRL said it would be open to talks with Koukash.
“We have invested heavily in transferring control of the Knights’ ownership and now our focus is on bedding down the business,” a spokesman said.
“The NRL has indicated that, at some point in the future, we will entertain a sale to a long-term owner.
“At that time, we will need to be satisfied that any new ownership brings all the right values for the club, the community and the game.”
Koukash, who is the biggest racehorse owner in Britain, bought and rescued Salford from financial strife in 2013 and is keen to do the same with the Knights following fellow billionaire Nathan Tinkler’s exit in May.
The NRL took over ownership of the Knights in June after the end of Tinkler’s ill-fated reign.
The game’s governing body owns 80 per cent of the club under the new model.
Koukash has poured plenty of money into Salford, making no secret of his desire to make them the Super League’s leading club with several big-name signings including Adrian Morley, Gareth Hock and Kevin Locke.
In talking about Koukash’s possible involvement with the Knights on his Triple M radio program, Newcastle premiership winner Matthew Johns posed the question all rugby league fans are likely to ponder about the Palestinian refugee, whose net worth is estimated at up to $3 billion.
“Dr Koukash is obviously a big NRL fan and his goal is to own an NRL team,” Johns said.
“He is absolutely desperate to buy the Newcastle Knights and is about to begin the process to be able to take ownership.
“Now the question is, can the people of Newcastle and the NRL trust another billionaire private owner?”
swamprat
Roar Pro
Over here Mr Kooky is rightly regarded as something unusual. He bought the Salford Reds and now wants to buy the New Castle Knights apparently. Good Idea if any of each works I suppose. Cant think why he Imagines either is a good Investment. Obviously he knows best.
KiwiBear
Guest
Dear Mr Koukash if you want a bargain buy the Bears then throw some money at the NRL to grant them a licence on the Central Coast!
Sideline Comm.
Guest
The article I read said 3 billion. Correction: up to 3... http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/koukash-keen-on-buying-nrls-knights-20140716-3c0l9.html
jamesb
Guest
If Mr K buys the Knights, then he may as well buy the Jets also.
Ken
Guest
I think Newcastle would just have to take the same pragmatic approach they took last time. I mean, the Tinkler era basically went as disastrously as it possibly could have - and yet here they stand having enforced their power to shed the owner, with new facilities, stadium upgrades and a big pot of money in the bank. A bad on-field year (which has many factors), but in a lot of ways they've come out the other side of this stronger than ever. Koukash could be a great opportunity for Newcastle and, as long as they put in decent safeguards like last time, I reckon they should look very seriously at it.
Midfielder
Guest
The Beatles - Being for the benefit of Mr.Kite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCiG7xoEb2Y
Muzz
Guest
I can see him joining the line up out at Cape Solander with the Bra Boys : )
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
If Mr K likes surfing or looking at the beaches passing parade or even a penthouse next door to a club owned stadium,then I know a club south of Botany Bay which would fit the bill admirably. Gold bullion,IOUs,Western Union transfers,Visa,ME Oil wells all acceptable forms of payment.
The Don
Guest
Most Knights fans I have spoken to are keen to hear what he has to offer, the Knights need financial support and if he is willing to give it then he is more then welcome at the club. There would naturally have to be safegaurds in place and assurances. I say bring it on!
MAX
Guest
Methinks Mr K would only buy a capital city based team. I wonder if he knows Rusty?
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
Why knock back a self made billionaire just because the last one was a dud that relied on the whims of coal prices? Tinkler made some money, but it was all base don borrowed money. Koukash is a highly intelligent, driven and successful businessman. Quayle is negative as he was with his resistance to higher wages for players during the Super League. Koukash would be a wise and stable owner of the knights. who cares if he is a Novacastrian. No one has money here anyway.
Steve
Guest
Nobody knows how much he is worth. I've heard $700 mill, $1 billion and so on. How much cash does he have to spend?
PGNEWC
Guest
NOooooooooooo!