NEWCASTLE Jets owner Nathan Tinkler appears headed for another courtroom battle with Football Federation Australia after suggestions that the mining magnate was overcharged millions of dollars for his A-League licence.
In a statement issued last night, the Tinkler-owned Hunter Sports Group said they were reviewing the transaction and considering their legal options.
The move comes in the wake of claims made by outspoken Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer.
Appearing on SBS’s The World Game on Monday night Palmer, whose Gold Coast club joined the A-League in the 2009-10 season, said: ‘‘We paid $500,000 for our licence. Poor old Nathan Tinkler had to fork out $7million for his licence.’’
Although they would not confirm the $7million figure, the Jets maintain they were the only A-League club charged a multimillion dollar licence fee. There were suggestions last night that the club may have paid $4million.
‘‘This money was paid in good faith as the Jets were advised from the FFA it was a standard fee,’’ the Jets statement said.
‘‘It has since become apparent at the time of acquisition, the Jets were the only owners to be charged a multi million-dollar fee.
‘‘The Jets are currently reviewing this transaction and considering its legal options.’’
The Jets have already launched legal proceedings against the FFA over the insurance fiasco involving injured marquee player Jason Culina.
Tinkler saved the Jets from extinction in September, 2010, when he took over after FFA revoked former owner Con Constantine’s licence.
A-League boss Lyall Gorman last night rejected the inference that Tinkler had been misled over the licence fee. The governing body indicated that unlike the Gold Coast, the Jets were an established club with a history including a championship.
“There is a difference between a licence fee and an acquisition fee and the distinction is important,” Gorman said in a statement issued last night.
“The acquisition fee for a licence is unique to each club and reflects the particular circumstances of that club and its market – its history, its success, its support, prior investment including by FFA, the potential of the market and other factors that are relevant to an assessment of value.
“In the case of the Jets, those market variables included the fact there was an established club with a successful history and strong supporter base in a traditional football area.
“The agreement by Hunter Sports Group to the acquisition price reflected those market factors and followed an open and comprehensive commercial negotiation and due diligence process.
“There are other transactions that support the fact that there is a substantial value in an A-League licence.”
Parties in the Culina suit had a directions hearing last week.
The club, who have joined forces with the players union, allege the FFA was culpable for not ensuring Culina had appropriate insurance at his former club, Gold Coast United.
FFA officials were quick to rejected the allegation, describing the argument as a ‘‘red herring, a quite mischievous distraction’’.
In a dramatic 48 hours for the FFA, Palmer launched a stinging attack at the way the sport was administered in Australia.
He was highly critical of chief executive Ben Buckley, called for more input from the owners, more transparency and better corporate governance.
The Jets supported several of the points raised by Palmer and believe that a new commercial model is required, citing the combined loss of all A-League clubs across Australia in the vicinity of $40million per year as unsustainable.
Tinkler has previously indicated that he would be prepared to underwrite the A-League.
In the statement the Jets said they would continue working with club owners and FFA ‘‘to ensure these matters are resolved as quickly as possible to guarantee a viable game for the future’’.
Unlike Gold Coast billionaire Palmer, Tinkler also reaffirmed his commitment to the club.
‘‘The Hunter Sports Group is 100 per cent committed to the Newcastle Jets,’’ the statement said.
‘‘The club has a great membership program, supporter base and sponsors.
‘‘The club continues to develop a pathway for junior development that will ensure football is a success in the region and throughout Australia.’’
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