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Newcastle Jets Taken Over By Consortium Of APL Clubs

Newcastle Jets Taken Over By Consortium Of APL Clubs

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wnership of the Newcastle Jets has officially been transferred to a consortium of existing Australian Professional Leagues (APL) club investors, led by Sydney FC, Western United FC, and the Western Sydney Wanderers FC.

This move comes after Football Australia and the APL announced the immediate termination of the A-League and Westfield W-League licence held by Newcastle Jets Club Pty Limited due to the entity’s failure to pay its debts as and when they were due.

As part of the transition of ownership, the new consortium of owners have confirmed there will be no impact on the team, its members, and supporters, with a focus to provide “stability for the club and, in time, move to an ownership model which is more representative of the local community.”

Shane Mattiske has been appointed as the new executive chairman of the Newcastle Jets by the consortium; Mattiske said the club now has a strong foundation for future success.

“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,” Mattiske said.

“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 Westfield W-League.

“Today’s announcement recognises the importance of the Newcastle Jets to Australian football and the strong commitment to the game in the Hunter and Northern NSW region.

“There is no question that the future success of the Jets will rely heavily on the support of the local community and I look forward to working closely with the many passionate supporters of this great club.

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

“We thank all those that have supported the club through the recent period of uncertainty, particularly the club’s players, staff, sponsors, members and all those in the broader Newcastle Jets family,” he said.

Discussing the initial termination of the licence, Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, said the previous ownership group had been given every opportunity to rectify the club’s financial situation and continue as the owner and operator of the licence or to sell the club to another investor.

“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,” Johnson said.

“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.

“It is important for Football Australia to remain separate to the ownership of the club so that it can effectively carry out its responsibilities as the governing body of football in Australia and regulator of the Professional Leagues.

“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 of Australia’s finest footballers, including dozens of Socceroos and Westfield 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,” he said.

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