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According to the latest issue of the BRW Young Rich List about $730 million has been shaved off the fortune of club owner Nathan Tinkler in the past year.

With worrying headlines about unpaid debts circling the coal king, Jets fans could be forgiven for feeling a little skittish on the eve of the 2012/13 campaign.

Only this year a stoush between the magnate and Football Federation Australia threatened the very existence of the well-supported A-League franchise.

But club CEO Robbie Middleby, who travelled to Sydney airport to welcome Heskey on his arrival from the UK, told au.fourfourtwo.com that Tinkler’s commitment to the club was solid.

Middleby said fans had a big season and a bright future to look forward to, and highlighted the recent launch of the club’s academy as a sign of its long term objectives.

“There were issues in the past with the FFA, they’ve been sorted out,” Middleby said.

“We’ve just started the Emerging Jets program and a three-year commitment with Northern NSW (Football).

“We’ve just bought Emile Heskey to the club. Nathan’s commitment to the Jets is there to see.”

The former player and operations manager for the now defunct North Queensland Fury said while he didn’t know the “ins and outs” of his boss’s finances, fans could be confident in the future of the Jets.

Certainly Tinkler, who is currently living in Singapore, won’t be going cap in hand any time soon if reports are correct that he still holds a personal fortune of $400 million.

Middleby said: “From my point of view and from the Jets point of view and the fans we’re here for the long run.

“(We’re) here to make a difference for kids in the area, for the parents and for the game, and we’re excited about it.”

Earlier in the week A-League boss Damien de Bohun also hosed down any untoward speculation about the future of the Newcastle outfit.

“I'm very confident in what they're doing,” de Bohun said. “There's a lot of speculation about a lot of things in football and in public life.

“From our perspective we've spent a lot of time with Newcastle and what they're doing to build a strong football club is fantastic.

“If you have a look at what they're doing behind the scenes, they've established an Emerging Jets programme this year and at the other end of the extreme they've gone out and secured Emile Heskey as a marquee player.

“As far as we're concerned we're looking forward to them being a vibrant part of the A-League.

“From our perspective we're confident they're heading in the right direction.”

   ___ >>> click here to see heskey train with the jets