Newcastle Jets have announced they are commencing the formal process of finding a buyer for the club.
The A-Leagues club have appointed professional services firm KordaMentha to conduct the sale process, which begins on Monday.
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It comes after 2008 Isuzu UTE A-League champions Newcastle kicked off their 2023-24 season with a last-gasp 2-2 draw away to Perth Glory on Sunday, while the Jets’ women’s team fell to a 1-0 loss against the Glory in the Liberty A-League.
“The Jets are a strong club with a great heritage and are based in a huge football community. We’ve been a core part of the A-League competition since it started in 2005 – and prior to that in the old National Soccer League,” said club executive chairman Shane Mattiske.
“The club is poised to continue its growth within the A Leagues competition that’s growing engagement, expanding seasons and adding new teams and, along with the success of Australian teams, players and coaches on the international stage, it’s clear football has a great future in this region and nationally.
“We know that there is real interest in this club, as there has been in other A-League clubs, including in the Auckland expansion licence, and we are confident that the sale process will be competitive with interest from around the country and from overseas.”
The current owners of Newcastle are a consortium of parties linked to other A-Leagues teams who stepped in to support the Jets amid the COVID-19 crisis in 2021.
Mattiske added: “When they stepped in to support the Jets, the owners were focused on building stability, establishing growth and sustainability and finally to support the transition to a more permanent owner.
“Now is the time for the final part of that plan to take place
“They’ve delivered on that plan and now we can confidently move to new ownership and a bright future.”