EPL side Newcastle United "could be the next English Premier League club to
purchase a controlling stake of an A-League side" after former coal baron Nathan Tinkler is
"understood to have approached their owner offering to sell" A-League club Newcastle
Jets, according to Dominic Bossi of THE AGE. Tinkler has held "preliminary discussions" with Newcastle United Owner Mike Ashley about purchasing the club. Tinkler "specifically sought-out the English billionaire in his attempt to sell the Jets immediately in hope that Ashley would be interested in forging a sense of synergy between Newcastle United and their Australian namesake." Sources suggested a deal is "still some way off as the Jets are yet to present formal documents to potential buyers including a complete breakdown of their expenditure and revenue." Newcastle United is "one of a number of European clubs said to have signalled their interest in buying the Jets who could undergo a similar transformation as Melbourne Heart experienced following their purchase" by Man City. The identity of the remaining clubs is "yet to be revealed" but the Tinkler-owned Hunter Sports Group "also held preliminary talks with other potential buyers who have signalled their interest." Tinkler confirmed that EPL and "other European clubs have signalled their interest in purchasing the club." It is "understood no price tag has been attached to the A-League club" with
Hunter Sports Group and the Jets "having asked interested parties to
make them an offer." Tinkler is looking to sell the Jets "as soon as
possible and could be enticed to agree to a fee much lower than the
recent sale prices of Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Heart," which
both sold for more than approximately A$11M ($10.2M) (THE AGE, 8/22).
