THE Jets kicked off their 2020-21 A-League season last night with a 1-0 loss to Central Coast Mariners, just hours after Football Australia reassured fans that Newcastle's A-League franchise would be around "hopefully forever".
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On the day that FA confirmed the "unbundling" of its competition structures, allowing the A-League club owners (now known as Australian Professional Leagues) to take charge of the A-League, W-League and Y-League, Newcastle was described as being "very important" to the code's future.
However, during a media conference call, neither FA chief executive James Johnson nor APL chairman Paul Lederer were willing or able to provide tangible details to support their optimism.
Asked if FA were advanced in negotiations with a potential buyer, or buyers, to replace embattled Jets owner Martin Lee, or if they were still searching, Johnson replied: "I'm not going to go into the details, because it's a confidential commercial negotiation.
"But what I can say is there have been ongoing negotiations, between several negotiations.
"It's been an ongoing priority for Football Australia ... we are quite a way down the path in finding an ownership model that will allow the Newcastle Jets to continue this year.
"There is no risk at all, that I see, with Newcastle Jets not being in the league. I'm very confident that we'll find a solution with APL along these lines."
Johnson said any suggestion that the Jets might be in danger of folding "doesn't sit well" with FA.
"They're an important market, an important club," he said.
"It's a historical club for the Australian game, and I can say from Football Australia's point of view ... the APL is not going to let them down, and neither are we. We're going to work together with the APL to ensure that we find a way in which Newcastle Jets not only survive, but thrive."
Lederer, the multi-millionaire owner of Western Sydney Wanderers, was equally positive about Newcastle's future.
"Newcastle is a very important area," Lederer said.
"Very, very sports-minded, very parochial. It's been a great area for us [the A-League], and APL will definitely not let it go.
"It just can't happen. Cannot happen.
"In one shape or another, Newcastle will have a team hopefully forever."
But Lederer shed no real light on a proposed financial "safety net", which has been touted as an option to help fund the Jets temporarily.
Under the plan, fellow APL clubs would contribute cash to keep the Jets afloat until a new long-term owner has taken over.
Both Lederer and Johnson were asked specifically about the safety net, and the possibility of Lee's franchise licence being rescinded, but both talked around the question without answering directly.
While some fans might interpret these responses as positive spin from head office, Johnson said: "I just ask that you be patient."
AAP reports: A-League club owners have spent years fighting for independence from Football Australia, with the spats turning ugly at times.
The owners feel independence will give them more power to grow their respective clubs and help strengthen the ailing competition. Attracting foreign investors is now expected to be easier.
The Professional Leagues will operate under the umbrella of Football Australia as the top tier of domestic league football competitions in Australia.
The APL will take over the operational, commercial, and marketing control of the Professional Leagues and all revenue generation responsibilities.
Football Australia will still be responsible for items such as expansion, contraction, promotion and relegation, the AFC Champions League, FFA Cup, and all other domestic and international competitions.
"This is an historic moment for the future of football in Australia - for the fan, for the player, for the whole game," Lederer said.
"It's now time to earn and deliver the future our game deserves.
"The handbrake on the game is off, and owners can finally invest in what they own and create value for the entire footballing ecosystem.
"Players can plan their careers in Australian football, fans can reconnect with the game that they love, and clubs can create meaningful moments for the whole Australian football family."
Johnson made the unbundling a priority when he entered the job last year.
The new model for the Professional Leagues will be implemented throughout the course of the 2020-21 A-League and W-League seasons.
The APL Board will comprise of five directors from the clubs, three independent directors, and one person appointed by Football Australia.
An independent chair, to be elected by the clubs and ratified by Football Australia, will have a casting vote on the APL Board.
Greg O'Rourke, currently Head of Leagues at Football Australia, will take on a new role as commissioner of the Professional Leagues for APL.
