The FFA has warned Nathan Tinkler he is in breach of a binding contract by walking away from the Newcastle Jets.
The Hunter Sports Group announced this morning that they would hand the Newcastle Jets licence back to the Federal Football Federation of Australia.
But Buckley said they had a contract until 2020 and cannot hand back their licence.
” The Hunter Sports Group has a legally binding contract that goes through until June 2020 to participate in the A-League amd field a team in the A-League. So they do not have a right to hand a licence back and we expect them to fully commit and fully honour that contract.”
The group stepped in to save the ailing club 18 months ago but says they have been left with no other option than to return the licence, given a variety of issues with the FFA including a $5 million acquisition fee, the Jason Culina insurance matter and “continued requests to address the competition’s unsustainable financial model.”
CEO Troy Palmer also said it was a difficult decision but was forced upon them due to a breakdown in confidence of the current FFA management.
The players today took to Twitter to voice their disappointment
Michael Bridges tweeted “WOW. Did not see that coming. Devastated for everyone involved at the Jets. Players, employees and fans.”
While Tarik Elrich tweeted “To all Newy fans stick together and hopefully it all gets resolved.”
Meanwhile, Knight’s Coach, Wayne Bennett said he’s confident his club’s future is secure.
“There’s nothing for us to worry about or focus on other than the disappointment that a lot of good blokes haven’t got a job today”
For more coverage:
A wrap of the days events
Players in shock – Ryan Griffiths speaks
Read the full statement from the Hunter Sports Group
Read the statement from Paul Harragon, Newcastle Knights chairman.
Read Football Federation Australia’s statement here.
Comments
7 responses to “A-LEAGUE IN CRISIS – TINKLER GROUNDS JETS”
What experience does Mr Lowy or Mr Buckley have in running a national competition of soccer and all costs associated to the takeover of the jets should be transparent to all A-league clubs, Mr Tinker has every right to take the FFA to Arbitration to voice his concerns as Mr F. Lowy has a conflict of interest to the whole game as he is a owner of a soccer club franchise himself within the A-League.
All A-league clubs should have the right to vote on a choice of who they would believe to be a fair and honest vote for the person/s of Chairmanship & management of the whole FFA soccer league, not self appointed or nominated by the chairman alone.
There is conflict of interest on Mr Lowy behalf as he is a owner of Sydney FC a club within FFA duristriction .
I don’t understand why the F.F.A would not just give the money back on good faith. Look what Tinkler has done for the F.F.A right down to my under7 kids. He has brought football alive in Newcastle. Both Male and female leagues. Nobody has done that before. The F.F.A would have had to spend more than $5mil if Tinkler had not saved them. So why not say thank you. I am sure Tinkler would invested some of that back into the junior leagues, which would have made money for the F.F.A in the long run.
well done hsg.someone has to stiick it up ffa.lucky they are not on the stockmarket cause they would be bankrupt.how can you run any competition without any access to the general public.there are no free to air games.
and virtually nothing printed in the papers about the world game.we have 2 miniscule sports in this country compared tothe rest of the world.take barcelona,man utd,real madrid,ac milan,any 1 of these teams total salary alone would cost more than the entire competition of rugby and afl combined.we are dealing with ‘the’ world game here and the ffa are running it into the ground.leave it to the owners-clive,nathan,etc.lets have a super league.
I hope this is a bluff for Tinkler to get the FFA to negotiate. Otherwise I am devastated that we will disappear into oblivion with no pathways for players, coaches, referees and administrators. What a monumental decision this has been. Interesting to note that the Knights debt far exceeded what was stated but he persisted with them. A black day for football and its supporters in australia. These parties need to get together and QUICKLY
Terrible decision by Tinkler.
I hope he reverses his decision for the benefit of the community.
If not, the sponsors and members should be very careful of investing any money in the knights.
Isn’t it incredible that Con Constantine brought up all these same issues HSG has with the FFA but was howled down. Yes, he had plenty of faults but he loved the game.
Tinkler had one thing in mind-butter up the general public when he kept Newcastle football afloat- then disgard it once he had control of the Knights.
it was perfect that the FFA is a basket case-great get out line.(smokescreen)although it does have merit!
Plenty got on the gravy train locally including Norhern Football-“you beauty” tinkler can pay for the W-League so we don’t have to.
Master stroke it was also to put a youth team in the NBN league.lo
What have you got to say now chaps?
What a public speaker Mr Palmer is….uninformed and aghing his way through his annOuncement. It’s not fair to blame Tinkler for the decision when he is continually advised by the ones that suggested to him in the first place that it would be a good idea to acquire the a-league licence in the first place…. Either way the team has always lost money it’s not only the the past 18 months Troy, such an accountant!