Football
ESPN staff 8y

Newcastle Jets open to Asian investors with collapse of Dundee United takeover

Asian investors could be on high alert with the news that A-League club the Newcastle Jets are back on the market.

A proposed takeover by Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson collapsed on Thursday, less than two months after the two parties reached an agreement of terms.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) said that while they had planned to complete the transaction before the A-League season kicked off, the deal was put on hold because the Thompson group requested more time to arrange their finances. But the consortium failed to meet an Oct. 31 deadline, which means that they have lost their exclusivity to the Jets.

Australia's governing body said the group had now failed to meet the informal Oct. 31 deadline, meaning they have lost their exclusivity to the Jets.

"We will continue to talk to the Thompson group, but FFA will now resume talks with other interested parties," chief executive David Gallop said in a statement.

Dundee United have made a poor start to the Scottish Premiership season to sit in 12th position in the 12 team league, with just three wins from 13 matches.

FFA have controlled Newcastle Jets after taking back the licence from former owner, Nathan Tinkler, in May, and placing them in voluntary administration, amid mounting debts. 

But after an overhaul of the playing and coaching staff, Newcastle have begun the 2015-16 season in fine style, with three wins from four games to sit only one point behind leaders, Sydney FC.

Under the guidance of Scott Miller, 34, they are averaging home crowds of 11,400 this season, more than 2,000 higher than the 2014-15 campaign when they finished last.

With a population of 308,000, Newcastle is the second largest city in the state of New South Wales, with a strong football tradition. One of only three former National Soccer League clubs to join the A-League in 2005, they were champions in 2008 under coach Gary van Egmond.

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