A-League bosses hope to have sold Newcastle Jets to the chairman of Scottish Premiership side Dundee United within six weeks, "freeing up funds for a possible rescue of Brisbane Roar," according to Tom Smithies of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. Three months after Nathan Tinkler had his license revoked, it is believed that "the Scottish businessman circling the Jets for most of the year is close to reaching full agreement for a takeover." Steven Thompson leads a consortium of overseas-based investors who have been inching toward an investment in the A-League for several months, and though reports of a sale this week "seem premature," Football Federation Australia is "increasingly confident of divesting themselves of the Jets before the new season starts." It is believed Thompson and his fellow investors "want to explore a similar model to the one implemented successfully at Dundee United, with heavy supporter involvement including a trust that owns a shareholding in the club and raises funds to aid its youth development." They are also likely to seek local investment once their takeover is complete, "though the takeover plans for the Jets are not dependent on that coming to fruition." It "remains to be seen what sale price Thompson is charged, but the money will be a welcome injection of capital for FFA in the worst-case scenario of taking over Brisbane unless the controlling Bakrie Group can push through a long-awaited sale" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 8/24).
