THE Newcastle Knights are on their final warning with fast food giant McDonald's after the major sponsor yesterday agreed to stick with the embattled NRL club.
Knights CEO Steve Burraston and chairman Rob Tew met with McDonald's management in Sydney on Monday to discuss the measures the club were taking to repair their image after the drugs charges against former players Danny Wicks and Chris Houston.
McDonald's spokeswoman Kristene Mullen said they would not tolerate another scandal.
"Obviously we were disappointed with the incidents that have happened, but after speaking to the Knights management we feel confident that they have taken the appropriate steps and measures going forward," Mullen said.
"However, in saying that, we said if there were any more incidents we would have no choice but to walk away."
When asked if future incidents needed to be drug-related to end their $200,000 one-year sponsorship, Mullen said: "Any more incidents which could be potentially damaging to our brand, we would have to end our relationship."
In a further boost for the Knights, fellow major sponsor Wests also recommitted to the club after their chief executive, Phil Gardner, met with Burraston yesterday.
"Phil Gardner gave us a very good hearing and understood what the club is going through at this point in time and was supportive of the measures we are taking to date," Burraston said.
". . . Whilst they are disappointed, like we all are with the matters that have gone on over the last month, as a large employer he is understanding of what we're going through and certainly gave us the chance to present what we are doing and what we have been doing and was satisfied that we were taking necessary steps."
The Knights have now stabilised their partnerships with Coal & Allied, NIB, Wests and McDonald's, and Burraston said he hoped to have convinced stadium sponsor EnergyAustralia to remain committed by Friday.
"The ones we have been able to speak with to date and present information to have been satisfied with what we've put on the table, and hopefully by the end of the week at worst we will have covered off all our major sponsors," he said.
"There's still a little bit of work to do with EnergyAustralia at this point, and as soon as we can bring that to a conclusion I think we'll be satisfied that at this current time we'll retain all our sponsors."