phantom eel
First Grade
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Lucky we didn't win the right to host the World Cup then... imagine the international outrage about teh state of our stadium surfaces!
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Chinese millionaire Martin Lee set to take control of Newcastle Jets
June 13, 2016 - 9:58AM James Gardiner
Chinese millionaire Martin Lee is poised to become the new owner of the Newcastle Jets.
The Herald understands that the finer details of the sale, believed to about $5.5 million, have been completed and an official announcement will be made on Tuesday.
The Jets have been under the ownership of the Football Federation Australia since last May after the governing body revoked the licence of Nathan Tinkler.
Lee, who is the president and chief executive of Ledman Optoelectronics, has been in negotiations with FFA for months.
Former Central Coast Mariners coach and Gosford Mayor Lawrie McKinna will be appointed chief executive officer and the remainder of the club's staff, administration and coaching, will be carried over.
Coach Scott Miller is due to return next week from overseas where he has been visiting clubs and looking for players.
The Jets have at least four spots to fill on the roster, including two imports.
Lee will be the Jets' fourth owner in 11 years, following the FFA, Tinkler and Con Constantine.
Ledman owns Chinese lower-tier club Shenzhen Renren FC, sponsors the Chinese Super League and is the naming-rights sponsor for Portugal's second division.
In a report in the Newcastle Herald on June 3, McKinna said Lee, who speaks English, would look to involve local companies as Jets sponsors rather than have Ledman livery on the club's shirts.
The Herald understands that Lee will head a board of directors, which will include Newcastle business and football people.
"He'll be wanting to engage with the community big time, because that's what I've told him from day one, that if you come into this town and you're an outsider and you don't treat people with respect, you'll not get respect, but if you come in here and engage and work with the community, you'll get good success," McKinna said in the report.
"He might get Chinese sponsors out here, but they'll be totally separate to him."
Lee will have a presence in Newcastle "going back and forward" to China but is expected to allow his local management team to run the club.
Jets memberships go on sale this week and the players assemble for preseason training on June 27.
Now that's some atmosphere.
Warning : there are some flares on show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKcPmkZGYwg
