Stephen Thompson (Dundee United) and the Newcastle Jets (Australia)

[chilledbear 16]

I wonder where the money is coming from ?

 

The $4 million sale of Newcastle Jets to a consortium led by Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson appears to be imminent, with the Scotsman due in Sydney to complete the purchase of the licence from Football Federation Australia.

 

On-going negotiations between Thompson and FFA have been shrouded in secrecy, and the Tangerines chief signed a non-disclosure agreement last month.

 

FFA said it was not “in a position to discuss the ownership of the Newcastle Jets", and Thompson could not be contacted by The World Game on Friday.

 

However, A-League head Damien de Bohun hinted earlier this month that a new owner was close to being unveiled and that the governing body was ‘‘well progressed’’ and confident of having the matter finalised by the time the season kicks off in early October.

 

‘‘We set ourselves the goal of having this resolved before the start of the season, and that’s very much the target. It’s unfair to talk about who’s in the mix exactly, because previously these sorts of processes can take all sorts of twists and turns," de Bohun said.

 

Thompson, who has turned the Scottish Premiership club from a financial basket case to one of the few solvent top flight football entities in his homeland, had agreed to buy the club from former owner Nathan Tinkler in May.

 

However, the fallen mining baron was stripped of his licence as the club convulsed under a cascade of debt.

 

Thompson has been circling the franchise since December and was last in Australia in June for on a two-week fact finding mission.

 

Thompson and fellow Tangerines director Mike Martin, a former executive with the global banking group HSBC, held discussions with key stakeholders on the Hunter, and also with FFA chiefs.

 

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/08/21/thompson-due-sydney-complete-jets-purchase