Jets skipper Jade North, star twins Joel and Adam Griffiths and goalkeeper Ante Covic are all coming off contract, but rival A-League clubs are not officially permitted to approach them until January 1.

There is speculation, however, that Joel Griffiths, last season's A-League player of the year and leading goalscorer, has already attracted expressions of interest from Gold Coast and North Queensland.

Tsatsimas said the Jets were realistic enough to accept that the Socceroos quartet would be targets for rival clubs, especially the new franchises, who are effectively starting with a blank cheque book.

"They've got a date and they can't tap up players beforehand, but it is common knowledge that they do," Tsatsimas said yesterday.

"I'm pretty certain that's happened, and we're not oblivious to that.

"That's not to say that other clubs would have done it either. But there's no concern about that."

Joel Griffiths said he did not want to discuss his contractual situation yesterday, other than to confirm there had been no progress from when he first met with Jets management almost a month ago.

"If it's meant to be, it's meant to be," Griffiths said.

"I'm just trying to stay positive and concentrate on playing."

Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg said yesterday that he would be interested in talking to each and all of Newcastle's big four but had no intention of breaching the anti-tampering regulations.

"I am very sensitive about the issue of approaching them, because I don't think that would be fair to Newcastle," Bleiberg said.

"So, if you are asking have I approached them, the answer is no.

"But if they are free agents by the time their contracts expire, I will be happy to talk to all four of them."