Future of the Newcastle Jets in A-Leagues competitions revealed after major announcement

After facing the prospect of termination, the future of the Newcastle Jets in the A-Leagues competitions is now secure after the club’s new owners were unveiled today.

The future of the Newcastle Jets has been revealed. Photo: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

The Newcastle Jets’ position in the A-Leagues competitions has been saved after the club announced new owners on Tuesday.

Maverick Sports Partners, a consortium of Melbourne- and Sydney-based business people, was unveiled as the club’s new owners, putting an end to the Jets’ three-year search for financial backers.

The group, which owns international sports brands such as Spartan Racing, Tough Mudder and Deka, takes over from a consortium of four rival A-Leagues clubs, who have helped prop up the Jets since 2021 when former owner, Chinese businessman Martin Lee, had his licence revoked.

The announcement also puts an end to speculation the Jets may have folded as an A-Leagues entity, with the club’s future now secured in the competition.

“Today is a hugely significant day for this club and this community, as we confirm Maverick Sports Partners as the new owners of the Jets,” said Jets CEO Shane Mattiske.

Maverick Sports Partners will take control of the Jets’ A-League Men’s and Women’s teams, as well as the club’s youth academy. Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“Over the last three years, we have built a strong foundation for the future of this football club, and it is exciting to be beginning a new era with incoming owners who believe in the opportunity that exists with this Club, with this community and with Football as a whole.”

Speaking at a press conference at McDonald Jones Stadium to announce the deal, Maverick Sports Partners’ spokesman Maurice Bisetto outlined why he and his business partners decided to purchase the Jets.

“We believe in this club, the A-Leagues and its players and we’re determined to build success for the Jets and this region,” he said.

Maverick Sports Partners' representative Maurice Bisetto (third from left) outlined his consortium’s plans for the Jets. Picture: Alex Pichaloff

“We have been impressed by the strength of football here in this region. We know there is a strong historical fanbase and a strong participation base here and we want to bring all of these people together for our men’s and women’s games.”

He added: “They’ve been here before. They’ve averaged 13,000 people at games, they’ve made finals, they’ve got a fantastic academy with 13 girls and boys teams, the women’s side made the semi-finals with 7000 people at the semi at Maitland Sportsground – the foundations are there and for us, being Maverick Sports Partners, in the end if we were to buy an A-League club then Newcastle was a no-brainer.”

In particular, Bisetto said he was impressed with the visibility of football in the city and was excited by the prospect of turning participants into active club supporters.

“The Jets have got a great runway,” he said. “Driving round the streets of Newcastle, it’s like being ... in a European city: they were all playing football, soccer. There was a bit of rugby here and there, but when you go drive past the schools and drive past the pitches, it’s incredible.

“It’s there and it’s our job to really engage with the community – and that’s the everyday punter as well as the business community of Newcastle. That’s going to be really important to the success of the Jets and sustainability of the Jets going forward.”

Originally published as Future of the Newcastle Jets in A-Leagues competitions revealed after major announcement