ALARM bells are ringing over the future of the Newcastle Knights under the ownership of embattled mining magnate Nathan Tinkler following revelation the club has fallen behind in player payments.
Leaguecentral.com.au can reveal this morning that the monthly salaries have not been deposited into the players bank accounts on schedule this morning.
Superannuation payments and office staff salaries have also been delayed in recent months.
A number of players phoned their agents to say the payments due on the 15th of each month had not been paid yesterday
The money had still not been deposited this morning.
Hunter Sports Group spokesman Richard Fisk denies there is a problem.
"I accept there has been tardiness in the past," Fisk said.
"But all pays for Jets, Knights, HSG employees have been processed and will clear today in the normal course of business."
When trying to contact Fisk to quiz him about payments, he texted this reply: "Not late. Obviously confusion over weekend. Wages not late processed on 15th and will clear today. We are probably waiting on All Too Hards prize money from the weekend...lol"
The crisis involves many of the biggest names in the game including skipper Kurt Gidley and club veteran Danny Buderus.
It is not clear if super coach Wayne Bennett has been paid.
The now Singapore based Tinkler was once rated Australias richest man under 40 by Business Review Weekly.
He purchased the Newcastle Knights and hired super coach Wayne Bennett on a deal worth more than $1million-a-season.
Part of the deal negotiated by the clubs former CEO Steve Burraston ensured a $20 million bank guarantee was part of the deal.
The NRL has again been caught on the hop over the clubs finances.
I recently asked acting CEO Shane Mattiske about rumours of the Knights financial crisis.
"We have been assured by the Knights that there is no issue," said interim CEO Shane Mattiske.
"In our monitoring of the club's finances, we've seen no evidence that would suggest we should be concerned. We understand that some of the media reports are clearly going to lead to speculation.
"We continue to monitor the Knights, as we do all clubs. It is important to remember that there are also a number safeguards that were built into the original transfer of the licence to Hunter Sports and these remain in place."
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Photo: Nathan Tinkler denies he is in financial strife (Lucas Dawson: Getty Images) 
