Consortium of A-League clubs to take over Newcastle Jets

Football Australia and the newly formed Australian Professional Leagues (APL) have announced the immediate termination of the A-League and Westfield W-League licence held by Newcastle Jets with a consortium of clubs to take over its management.

Absent Jets owner Martin Lee was stripped of his licence as a result of Newcastle Jets Club Pty Limited’s failure to pay its debts as and when they were due, which had placed it in material breach of the Club Participation Agreement.

With the move coming just days after the Jets kicked off their season, Football Australia and the APL issued a statement advising “a new licence will be issued to an entity owned and controlled by a consortium of existing APL club investors, who will operate the licence on an interim basis until a new investor is secured.”

The Jets themselves confirmed via a separate statement that the consortium will be "led by Sydney FC, Western United FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers FC", adding “the consortium is focused on providing stability for the club and, in time, moving to an ownership model which is more representative of the local community.”

Representatives of Football Australia, the APL, and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) yesterday met with the players, coaches, management, and staff of the club to advise them directly of the decision.

Football Australia Chief Executive, James Johnson, said the owners of the Jets had been given every chance to either sell the club or fix the financial issues but having failed to do so were left with no choice.

In a statement he advised “there were clear failings to adequately capitalise Newcastle Jets FC to meet the minimum requirements set to run an A-League and Westfield W-League club, and to operate a company in accordance with Australian law.

“Following the recent announcement of the unbundling of the Professional Leagues from Football Australia, it’s pleasing to see a group of existing APL club investors stepping in to assume control of Newcastle Jets FC in the interim.

“The Newcastle and Northern NSW region is a heartland of Australian football - an area with a strong participation base combined with a rich history of producing some Australia’s finest footballers, including dozens of Socceroos and Matildas.

“We are pleased that so soon into the unbundling process, the APL has managed to secure an interim arrangement to ensure the ongoing viability of the Jets. Football Australia will support the APL throughout the process with the aim of identifying new investment and new energy for Newcastle Jets FC and football in the region.”

APL Commissioner, Greg O’Rourke noted “from a competition integrity standpoint, this is an ideal outcome as we continue the 2020/21 seasons. Newcastle is a vibrant footballing region with a long and proud history in the game and we are delighted that the Newcastle Jets will continue to participate in the APL.”

The new owners of the Jets have appointed Shane Mattiske, as the Executive Chairman of the Newcastle Jets.

Mattiske was previously the interim Chief Executive of the NRL in 2012 to 2013 and has also more recently served as the Managing Director at Nielsen Sports.

He noted “today is a very positive step in the history of a great Club which has strongly represented Newcastle, the Hunter and Northern NSW for two decades.

“The uncertainty that has overshadowed the Jets in recent times has been removed and the Club now has a strong financial foundation to support its drive for further success in the A-League and W-League.

“The Club needs all its supporters to stand up and strongly get behind their team.”

Image: The Jets' home ground at Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium.