What does the change of ownership mean for the Jets? Con Constantine was a soldier for football in Newcastle, and there are no doubts that he made big contributions up here and loved the game. But surprisingly, for someone so wealthy, his business and personal skills just didn't seem up to scratch in the end. While there are many people thanking Con for his contributions over the years, the whiff in the air I get is that most out there are quietly happy that there is a new Jets owner, even one who knows very little about football.
From the snippets I have read, Nathan Tinkler already has a plan in place for the future of the Jets. With Ken Edwards (ex-CEO of ANZ Stadium) installed as executive chairman, a man with very heavy hitting event management experience, and the ideas that Tinkler talks about in interviews, you get the sense that he has his act together.
With Con, you were sometimes left scratching your head wondering "How could he not have thought about this?"
Instead, there is talk about a ten year licence, plans for community engagement, goalkeeping and fitness coaches becoming full-time, options for getting a guest player in, interest from potential sponsors and a real sense of optimism in the air. There just seems to be a real savvyness about Tinkler and you hope he puts his smarts behind this new venture for him.
Ken Edwards says Tinkler wants the Jets community-orientated, proud of the region and a nursery for junior players in the region. Those things alone make you optimistic. There is so much that COULD be done with the club and the community. How about a centre of excellence like the one the Mariners are putting in down the road? What about a long term plan for a boutique stadium, club and training facility all in one? Newcastle, being a regional centre, still has that parochial atmosphere, where the locals really get behind their local club. It wouldn't be too hard to feed off that.
I have no doubt that Tinkler currently has his scribes writing a business plan for the Jets. Here's a few things I hope it will include:
A financial plan: A costed model for sustainability development. Improved stadium arrangements. Full year budgets with quarterly breakdowns, contingencies for periods of byes, away games and lower than anticipated crowds (something Con could obviously not come to grips with). You know, cashflow budgeting 101.
Sponsorship and other Revenue: Open discussions with a range of possible clients. Investigate potential for other long-term revenue streams. Lobby FFA for greater independence.
Stakeholder management: Identify major stakeholders, including local clubs, the Newcastle community, casual fans, active supporters and other Jets members, the FFA, the Knights, etc, etc. Engagement with the relevant stakeholders.
Community involvement: Involvement with local football clubs & associations, schools, charity organisations etc. A breakdown of how to interact with community groups, what the expectations are from both sides and what can reasonably be done. Internal targets for participation with the community, goals for memberships through sustained community involvement.
Promotion & Media: A promotional budget for local media. Jets players represented at key local events. Targeted local television advertising.
It would be nice to know that somewhere in the club, there are ideas written on paper, milestones to be met and forward-looking plans. To be honest, all we have had in the past has been "I wish". Let's hope that Tinkler and his team can build up the Jets, build up their assets, build their community involvement and support and build the Jets as one of the big teams of the league.
I might have rose-coloured glasses on but I'd rather think that we're seeing a new dawn rather than just a bail-out.
