Former Wests Tigers chairman linked to new Newcastle Jets ownership group

A “new era” looms for the Newcastle Jets after the club’s future was guaranteed by the confirmation of new owners.

Former Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis is among the investors that have bought embattled A-League club Newcastle.

Jets chief executive officer Shane Mattiske confirmed on Tuesday that the club had been bought by a consortium called Maverick Sports Partners.

Former Western United chief executive office Maurice Bisetto is the “consortium representative”, however sources have told News Corp Australia that Hagipantelis is one of the new investors in the Jets.

Hagipantelis, the principal of Brydens Lawyers, was removed as Tigers chairman in December last year, and pulled his firm’s $1 million sponsorship of the NRL club last month.

Justin Pascoe, who resigned as Tigers chief executive when Hagipantelis was ousted as chairman, will also have a role with the Jets, who have been funded by the owners of four other A-League clubs – Sydney FC, Western Sydney, Western United and Wellington Phoenix – since January 2021

That was after Martin Lee was stripped of the Jets’ licence for failing to invest in the club and pay its debts.

With the subsequent ownership arrangement having run its course, the Jets were again in danger of being booted from the competition, with Australian Professional Leagues chairman Stephen Conroy having failed to guarantee Newcastle’s future only three months ago.

Maurice Bisetto is part of the Newcastle Jets’ new ownership group. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

However, subject to final approval from the APL and Football Australia, the Jets are set to launch a “new era” under MSP ownership.

“We confirm Maverick Sports Partners as the new owners of the Jets,” Mattiske said.

“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.”

Bisetto said he and the club’s other new directors were “determined to build success for the Jets and this (Hunter and Northern NSW) 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,” Bisetto said.

“We want to work hard in the community to build a stronger connection to the Jets.

“We have a focus on building a strong and sustainable club; however, we can’t do this by ourselves. For the club to be strong, the community has to get behind us.

“We know that there is a thriving economy here in Newcastle and the Hunter and this was an important element in our decision to commit to the Jets.

“We will make a commitment to a competitive football club; however, for us all to have a strong and sustainable club, we need the backing of corporate and government partners from the region.”

Mattiske was grateful for the financial support from the owners of the Sydney FC, Western Sydney, Western United and Wellington Phoenix for more than three years.

“These owners believed in the importance of this club to this community and to the A-League competition as a whole,” Mattiske said.