Loyalty to some is merely a seven-letter word. A word that means nothing. To the hard-nosed football fan, loyalty means everything.
The relationship between football fan and football club can be a tough marriage. Hard times can bring out the best and worst in people.
The Newcastle Jets’ relationship with fans has been strained of late. Membership currently stands at 4123, numbers are significantly down on recent years. Obviously Covid has played its part.
Surely most of the uncertainty is borne out of the ownership issues. Martin Lee has this week been stripped of the licence, with an APL Consortium now holding sway. Lee had put no money into the club since October 2019.
Sco-Mo may ‘still believe in miracles’, Lawrie McKinna and his staff have been performing them. The Scotsman has somehow managed to navigate a survival course for more than 14 months.
Whether McKinna is part of the new structure remains to be seen. Either way Novocastrians cannot question his loyalty, neither for the most part can the players. In fact the likes of Nigel Boogaard, Ben Kantarovski, Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Jason Hoffman are all centurions in the Blue, Red and Gold colours. They have 557 games between them.
The Jets’ first up start against traditional rivals the Central Coast Mariners was a close affair. A defensive error and a determined Alou Kuol proved to be the difference in the end.
Newy’s depth in playing numbers is already being tested. As early as the ninth minute the injury to Jason Hoffman forced a change in personnel.
Nineteen year old Lucas Mauragis, a left-sided player, filled in admirably at right back. Considering this was only his third A-League outing, his performance belied his age and experience. Whilst a defeat in a Derby is never good, this performance and result will soon be forgiven and forgotten once the Jets secure a win.
Turton Road will host the return of Carl Robinson and Kenny Millar a mere few months since their shock defection to the Western Sydney Wanderers.
The Hunter faithful still recall well his very first interview as coach of the Jets. In answer to a question of why he took so long in deciding to take up the Newcastle coaching role, Robinson answered, “The last thing I want to do is try and get a job, accept the job and then three months later say I’m not happy and want to leave. That’s not what I’m about as a person.”
The Welsh/Scots duo had a contract that allowed them to leave regardless. It still didn’t sit well with many Newy fans. If fans didn’t like the coaching departure, then the actions of Bernie Ibini and his agent did get their blood boiling.
Ibini refused to train and eventually wore the Jets hierarchy down. A complete lack of loyalty? You betcha!
The Jets loss may well be the Wanderers gain. Time will tell. Yes he did pay out the remainder of his contract. That won’t stop Jets fans giving him the proverbial raspberry come Friday night.
Cheap ticketing is in place for the Jets versus Wanderers game. Covid restrictions, the latest scares and even wet weather may limit this Friday’s attendance.
Those who venture to the fixture and take their seats could be in for an immense battle. Both sides are coming off narrow loses. Surely the pressure is though on Robinson and WSW.
The Wanderers’ millionaire backers will demand results. On the flip side Craig Deans and the Newcastle Jets have already been written off by most. Less expectation, less pressure.
Carl Robinson may not mind playing the pantomime villain for this game and Bernie will feel the home crowds ire.
Friday night football… I can’t wait.
Franco Romani
Roar Rookie
Well, its hard to stay loyal to a club whose: Owner abandoned the Club Players are leaving in droves Coach up and left Player roster is a pale shadow of its former glory results are 3 losses from 3 games
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
As the cradle of Australian football, there will always be a football team in Newcastle. Craig Foster has often commented on the historical importance of Newcastle to Australian football. I think he once found evidence of numbers being used on the back of shirts in Newcastle perhaps for the first time anywhere in the world. He also has given an account of a game in Newcastle getting a crowd of 4,000 some time in the late 1890s or early 1900s, and this could well be a record for an attendance at any sporting event in Australia at the time.
Johan
Guest
The membership figure that Simon obtained for this article is interesting but hugely concerning and embarrassing for a city with the population of Newcastle. A Membership of only just over 4000!!! Clearly there is very limited support for the Jets at the moment. Tough times. If the club’s fan base doesn’t improve then questions will be raised about whether the club should fold.
Simon Kelly
Roar Pro
I feel your pain Franco. My first year in Newcastle,1995, there was no team then in the NSL. They sat out for a year due to financial difficulties. It's very much like a rollercoaster ride. Lets hope we're on the up from now on.
Franco Romani
Roar Rookie
I am a long time Jets fan, my family and I are cautiously optimistic for the future of our club. Sure, we are happy and grateful that the Club has been rescued from certain oblivion, however we remain wary of change and the instability that follows. It has been a long bumpy ride for us fans, only to be sent back to the beginning to start all over again. Newcastle Jets fans deserve owners with capital and long term commitment to the Club and the region. We are extremely frustrated Jets supporters!!!!!
Franco Romani
Roar Rookie
We used to be passionate!!!
Franco Romani
Roar Rookie
I am a jets fan , and feel that you are probably right
Simon Kelly
Roar Pro
The easy thing for Lawrie McKinna to do would have been to walk away. The guy has massive respect in Newcastle and I hope he stays involved in the club in some way. I’ll agree we’ve blown money on some foreign players in the past. Mario Jardel is the classic example.
Deako
Roar Rookie
The next 6 weeks will show how fans and the club respond. There's mixed feelings about the new owners but a resignation that something had to happen with the absence of a buyer. Many are breathing a sigh of relief, others with understandable trepidations. Hopefully an owner comes soon and Jets get there autonomy back. Proud club and a Football heartland.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The problem in the A-league is owners wasting money when they have it and then running out of it after. If McKinna was loyal wouldn't he have stayed with CCM. Newcastle have overpaid a lot of foreign players and thats why they have been a failure. Its also why they ran out of money. I think this saga about the so called poaching is a bit ridiculous when in fact the licence has been taken rendering all contracts void. The Jets should be thankful to be in the competition and that many other A-league clubs are just as incompetent at spending money as they were in their recent past so they are still in with a shot.
Simon Kelly
Roar Pro
I contacted the club direct. Not sure about other clubs. I’m guessing their own club websites.
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
Where did you find the Jets membership numbers from and where are all the others displayed?
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
feel sorry for newcastle fans. A very important club in australia that has produced many quality players over the years. Hopefully they can rise like a phoenix and come through this stronger. the league needs a competitive newcastle. Unfortunately they'll be battling for the spoon with central coast this year
Buddy
Roar Rookie
The removal of the licence, the defection of Carl Robinson, Ibini dummy spit are surely just at the end of a long chain of events that make up this ongoing pantomime? Together with CCM the clubs have given their respective fans a more severe ride than any rollercoaster could do at any one of the world’s big theme parks. Patience tested, loyalty questioned and even when things have been going well you finish up in a final and lose to an offside goal that I could clearly see and I was sitting a few rows back from where Muscat was ranting and raving and strutting about like a rabid chicken that night...oh, but VAR failed? There are enough stories to fill a conspiracy story book but still the club is alive....let’s hope ultimately that the right sort of owner is found and that people don’t drift away but come back to get behind the club that has given an awful lot locally and to the league in general.
Simon Kelly
Roar Pro
Glad you enjoyed the article Chris. Testing times here in the Hunter. To be honest though with everything that’s going on in the world I feel lucky that we can get out and watch the game. Upwards and onwards from here.
chris
Guest
Thanks for the article Simon. I'm looking forward to Friday nights game. Both clubs will be desperate for a result. I know the Jets fans will rally behind their club because you are all so passionate up there. Good luck for the season.