The National Rugby League side Gold Coast Titans "shape as a much easier offload" than the Newcastle Knights after it "emerged that at least four consortiums were poised to bid" for Gold Coast's license, according to Brent Read of THE AUSTRALIAN. Following a "painstaking process," the Knights are expected to be "in the hands of Newcastle's Wests Group within weeks." The Titans will hit the market next month, "sparking a scramble between consortiums lining up to speak to the NRL." Titans Dir & former part-Owner Darryl Kelly on Wednesday confirmed he finalized a consortium of local businesspeople who were "ready to tip their hard-earned into the franchise to ensure a viable entity on the Gold Coast." Kelly will also meet another potential consortium next week, while the North Sydney Bears "have put together a group of wealthy businessmen, at least one of whom is based on the Gold Coast, as they keep alive the dream of reprising one of the game's most recognisable mascots." Kelly said, "We're ready to push the go button. When it is on the market we will be in a position to put forward a proposal. ... That doesn't mean we will be the only ones who will meet all the criteria. It will come down to negotiating the best deal for the NRL, I would imagine in the end." The Bears have been in talks with the NRL and "remain interested in being part of any takeover bid" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/20).
