The National Rugby League says the future of the Newcastle Knights is safe despite the Australian Tax Office applying for the Knights, Jets and Hunter Sports Group to be wound down over unpaid debts.
According to the documents filed in the Federal Court the ATO are chasing debts to the total almost $3-million.
But the NRL interim chief executive Shane Mattiske says he is confident the future of the NRL club is not under threat.
“In relation to the ownership by Hunter Sports Group, guarantees have been put in place by the Commission to safeguard the Knights position,” Mattiske told AAP.
“Those safeguards were a condition of ownership and are there to ensure the club’s future.”
Hunter Sports Group says they were surprised by the ATO’s move to appoint a liquidator and that the money owed will be paid.
HSG SURPRISED BY ATO MOVE
12:51pm
The Hunter Sports Group says it was surprised by the Australian Taxation Offices’s move to wind up the Newcastle Knights and the Jets.
In a statement released on Thursday afternoon a Hunter Sports Group spokesman said the first they learned of the move was from the media.
“We are surprised by the move by the ATO, as we have not received notification,” the spokesman said.
“We advise that any outstanding sum will be paid as soon as possible – well before the reported hearing date on the matter next February.”
It is business as usual for both the Knights and the Jets.
There will be no further comment.”
Earlier on Thursday it was revealed the ATO had applied to the Federal Court for a liquidator to be appointed to the Knights and Jets and the Hunter Sports Group.
The documents claim the Knights owe the ATO $1.4-million, the Jets just over $1-million and Hunter Sports Group $184,000.
TAX OFFICE MOVES TO WIND DOWN KNIGHTS, JETS, HSG
11:50am
The Newcastle Knights, Jets and Hunter Sports Group are under threat amid a report the Tax Office has applied for them to be wound up over unpaid debts.
Fairfax is reporting the debts total almost $3-million..
The report cites documents filed in the Federal Court in Sydney on Wednesday, saying the Knights owe more than $1.4-million to the ATO, while the Jets owe just over $1-million and HSG owes more than $184,000.