Some weeks back I chatted with a ‘colourful’ racing identity in Melbourne in regards to the pending retirement of the Melbourne Storm’s Cameron Smith.
Rather bizarrely, the conversation also revealed an astonishing fact about the Newcastle Jets, currently the A-League’s most tenuous club.
It is highly likely that Smith, the greatest of modern rugby league players, will reveal the game’s worst kept secret in the very near future. In the meantime, insiders close to the champion are under strict instructions to remain tight lipped.
My contact did so admirably. I think he realised that the story seemed a no brainer to me, yet wouldn’t budge when I persistently quizzed him on the behind the scenes conversations in Melbourne.
He’s a loyal bugger and thus, someone I respect and admire.
As a keen football fan, junior player and considerable investor in different football clubs and events over the years, he casually asked about the Newcastle Jets and the rather nervy situation in which the club has found itself.
At the time of our discussion, former Jets coach Carl Robinson had just been granted permission to travel to Sydney to meet with the suits at the Wanderers and in the days that followed, the Welshman was announced as the new mentor of the men in red and black.
That move ripped a mighty lot of hope from many Newcastle fans heading into the new season; after Robinson had briskly and completely transformed the team’s performance soon after his arrival.
History will tell us that the Jets missed the finals, however, as they scrambled desperately to sneak into sixth place, Robinson’s men played some impressive football and they could well have given considerable cheek to others had they qualified for the knock-out action.
With Newcastle CEO Lawrie McKinna understanding and desperately seeking to address the waning commitment of current owner Martin Lee, my contact was interested in the Jets’ license and the potential value of it.
The main reason behind that interest was the fact that he had twice offered to purchase the club from Lee for a sum in the vicinity of A$8 million.
He dropped this bombshell so casually that when I heard it I near dropped the phone.
On both occasions Lee had knocked back the offer, despite having invested a rumoured A$5 million to gain ownership in 2016.
Considering the apparent drain on his finances and the lack of enthusiasm the Chinese businessman had been showing towards his investment in recent times, one might have thought he may have jumped at and accepted either offer.
He didn’t.
Steven Ugarkovic (Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
With COVID-19 having dented Lee’s net worth further and potentially reduced the frequency of offers being made to remove the financial burden from him, he may well have been regretting his decision to reject my contact’s offer.
However, it now appears that Lee has indeed come to terms with a Melbourne consortium, one bound to take control of the embattled club just weeks before the new season begins.
Lately, things have been a little quiet in terms of news emanating from the Jets’ front office. The main reason has been the desperate paddling of feet below the surface, as the finer details of the sale were ironed out and the new owners began to appoint those charged with restoring the Newcastle Jets to a successful place.
My sources tell me the sale will be announced on December 12, no doubt to the cheers of the Jets’ faithful.
The search for a new coach has run concurrently.
It appears that major detail has also been ironed out, with Ange Postecoglou’s assistant at Yokohama F. Marinos Arthur Papas destined to take the reins in the Hunter just a day after the transition of ownership.
Subsequently, Australian football is within weeks of saying farewell to Martin Lee and his rather unconvincing time as an A-League owner. As with Macarthur FC and Western United, the Jets will now take on a fresh feel for season 2021.
Hopefully that freshness also brings about some added financial commitment and certainty. The A-League wants that and more importantly, the Newcastle Jets need it.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Great news mate
TK
Guest
The Wallabies vs Argentina game in Newcastle was a sellout. It looked empty because the COVID rules have it capped at 50% capacity. Tomorrow's All Blacks vs Argentina game is similarly close to selling out. The Knights are one of the best supported teams in the NRL and the Jets are far from the worst. Even more so if you look at it on a per capita basis.
Graham
Guest
If the A-league were brave and looking to the future of football they’d take a pay cut and leave Foxtel and goto SBS. Then fans would eventually start coming back to the grounds. Sadly they’ll take the quick sugar hit from FOXTEL who will bury ‘soccer’.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
He was a guy who asked the question a few years back and as I said in the piece, quizzed me about what the current value might be. It appears the new owners may have paid around the same as he offered. Let's hope they make it work.
NewyJet
Guest
For a club consistently plagued by poor ownership, management and performance over the last 15 years, Newcastle has one of the most loyal membership bases in the league.
NoMates
Guest
Beautiful place Newcastle and i wish the Jets all the best with new ownership and coach. Lets just hope they pickup where they left it last season.
Newie
Guest
No.2 is where the W-League plays a few games and it's a great spot near Marketown. They still do sausage sizzles for the games, which are great. But it needs an increase in capacity and parking if it's to become a regular Jets stadium. Still, Newcastle City Council is so pro-active, you never know it might be done by the end of next season ;-)
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
I know it's used by rugby union, but I would at least look into using No. 2 Sportsground.
Vaughn
Guest
Thanks for the heads up Stuart. I have followed Newcastle football teams since the days of KB United in the 1970's when I was a boy. This is indeed great news to me. Football has a long history in Newcastle and the Hunter region has produced some great footballers Ray Bartz and Craig Johnson come to mind . I agree with Johan in regards to Macarthur FC Woolongong would have been a better option in my view. Will be glad to see the back of Martin Lee as Jets owner. Hopefully the new owner will invest in our club it would be a welcome change from previous owners of late, a little stability wouldn't hurt either then maybe players and coaching staff might be more inclined to stay with the club. Keep up the good work Sturt.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Fair enough. Hopefully the actual buyer can bring some certainty and stability to the club.
Nick Symonds
Guest
I was looking forward to 2020 being over until the global debt story came up. But there was another story I came across saying that over 70 percent of Europeans now say that they would be in favour of a Universal Basic Income or Job Guarantee Program. It's hard to predict how things will pan out, but hopefully something good will come out of it if there is some kind of global economic crash. Who knows what might happen? We'll just have to wait and see. - A LESSON FROM CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR A Zen master once observed the people of his village celebrating a young boy's new horse as a wonderful gift. "We'll see," the Zen master says. When the boy falls off the horse and breaks a leg, everyone says the horse is a curse. "We'll see," says the master. Then war breaks out, the boy cannot be conscripted because of his injury, and everyone now says the horse was a fortunate gift. "We'll see," the master says again... MOVIE CLIP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tbsx_vZTcNI
A Person
Guest
The Original Winnipeg Jets were Relocated to Phoenix and became the Arizona Coyotes, the Current Jets are a relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers
Newie
Guest
@Bludger that's not true, we get behind the Jets and there's always a good atmosphere. The side of the field where the cameras point is in the hot sun and most people try to get on the other side. However, a bit of stability of ownership, coach and squad and the crowds should be consistently above 10K. For me, a move to a smaller stadium (Broadmeadow would need to be upgraded), might also help. I don't know how much of a financial drag the big stadium is.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I think rugby will be lucky if anyone ever again turns up to watch a game in Newcastle after that awful match last week. I watch all sports, Union the one that tests me the most. Such a stifled, clunky and inactive game.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Nick you are toying with us emotional.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I'd love to own a club. Sadly I think many owners think they can play, coach, manage and oversee everything when they buy in. Those that delegate best and understand the difficulties and realities I think do it best.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
In all fairness, no one in Newcastle could be blamed for not turning up to watch the rugby. They knew what to expect and rugger delivered in spades.
Nick Symonds
Guest
FFA did recently send the Matildas to Newcastle and they'll be hosting WWC matches there too, then there was the the A-League Grand Final not long ago. Not to mention regular derbies with the Mariners just down the road. What more do you want, a second team in Newcastle?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Just found a 1kg bag of gluten free Christmas lollies at Coles. I recommend them. Munching away now. I think the link between gluten free and football has always been under utilised by FFA. I like your idea.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
He ain't the buyer Christo.