Newcastle Jets secure A-League future with new owners confirmed

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Newcastle Jets have confirmed Maverick Sports Partners as the Club’s new owners. This ownership, subject to final approval from the APL and Football Australia, will launch a “new era” for the Jets under MSP ownership.

This massive announcement comes not long after Australian Professional Leagues chairman Stephen Conroy failed to guarantee Newcastle’s future only three months ago.

The statement said that Maverick Sports Partners have confirmed an agreement to acquire the Newcastle Jets Football Club and are now deeply focused on implementing their plans to bring long term stability and success to this Club.

The Group lead by experienced sports administrator Maurice Bisetto who played a major part in the establishment of Western United FC in the A-Leagues.

Maverick Sports Group is an Australian sports consortium based out of Wetherhill Park in Sydney’s South-West.

Newcastle Jets CEO Shane Mattiske confirmed the significant news.

“Today is a hugely significant day for this Club and this community, as we confirm Maverick Sports Partners as the new owners of the Jets,” said Mattiske in a club statement.

“Over the last three years, we have built a strong foundation for the future of this football club, and it is exciting to be beginning a new era with incoming owners who believe in the opportunity that exists with this Club, with this community and with football as a whole.

“Throughout our process, Maurice Bisetto, the consortium representative, and his partners have demonstrated a deep understanding of football and how to bring success. They also understand this community and their plans are very much aligned with the work that is already underway. I know the Group will bring positive new thinking, new connections and a wealth of experience that will drive the growth of this Club moving forward.

“With this transition to a permanent ownership structure, it is important to acknowledge the support that the outgoing ownership group has provided to the Club over the last three and a half years. These owners believed in the importance of this Club to this community and to the A-Leagues’ competition as a whole.

“They have played a hugely significant role in the history of this Club and on behalf of all fans and stakeholders of the Jets I want to acknowledge the commitment and contribution they have made to us all. Their huge support of this Club will forever be remembered.”

Maverick Sports Partners Director Maurice Bisetto is determined to connect with the Newcastle, Hunter Valley and Northern NSW Community.

“We believe in this Club, the A-Leagues and its players and we’re determined to build success for the Jets and this region,” said Bisetto in a statement.

“We have been impressed by the strength of football here in this region. We know there is a strong historical fanbase and a strong participation base here and we want to bring all of these people together for our Men’s and Women’s games.

“Our team at Maverick Sports Partners are absolutely committed to, and very excited, about the opportunity that exists here at the Newcastle Jets. We see this as the beginning of a new era for the Newcastle Jets and look forward to building a truly great Club with the support of this community.”

This news is huge for the league and the Jets financially, with the club no longer being a financial responsibility for the four other A-League clubs that funded them (Sydney FC, Western Sydney, Western United and Wellington Phoenix).

The Jets can easily recruit players and rebuild to become a stronger unit on the field whilst securing stability off it, and the foundation A-League club with a healthy fanbase and great location can continue to exist.

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Pignata’s OAM Signals a New Era for Football Administration

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Image Credit: Football Victoria

In the Australian sporting landscape, administrative longevity is a rare commodity. The burnout rate for executives in the A-Leagues and state federations is notoriously high. It’s driven by the unique friction between commercial imperatives and grassroots politics. Consequently, the awarding of a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) to Football Tasmania CEO Tony Pignata is symbolic of more than individual recognition.

Pignata joins PFA founder Brendan Schwab, former Soccer Australia CEO Ian Holmes, and Alen Stajcic on this year’s Australia Day honour roll. However, Pignata offers a distinct blueprint for the modern sports executive. His trajectory moves from the banking sector to the Football Victoria boardroom, through high-pressure A-League franchises, and finally to the developing frontier of Tasmania.

A “Turnaround” Specialist

To understand Pignata’s executive philosophy, observers must look past the A-League. The mechanics of the Victorian Soccer Federation (VSF) in the mid-2000s tell the real story. Following the sudden departure of Damien Bown in 2004, Pignata inherited an organisation in crisis. Then-Chairman Manny Galanos described the body as being “on our hands and knees financially.”

Pignata leveraged a 17-year background in legacy financial institutions including NAB, AXA Australia, and HSBC. He applied corporate discipline to a chaotic sporting balance sheet. His tenure at the VSF (now Football Victoria) restored solvency and aggressively pursued commercial assets.

Pignata’s transition to the A-League demonstrated that these fundamental business principles could scale. His tenure across three clubs showed adaptability to different market conditions. Yet, his legacy remains inextricably linked to a singular, market-shifting transaction: the signing of Alessandro Del Piero.

In 2012, the A-League faced a relevance crisis. At its helm, Pignata executed a high-risk strategy that fundamentally altered the competition’s valuation. The Del Piero acquisition proved the league’s capacity to attract global brand equity. Pignata demonstrated that commercial viability requires bold capital investment backed by operational stability.

Bridging the “Old Soccer” Divide

Crucially, the OAM citation acknowledges a contribution that bridges the often-toxic divide between the “old soccer” NPL system and the “new football” professional era. Pignata is not a corporate outsider. His journey began as a junior at Salesian College and a player for Westall Inter and Box Hill Inter. He featured in the Reserves as the club ascended to the Premier League.

This “proximal” relationship with the grassroots gave him a unique license to operate. Long before the ubiquity of social media, Pignata engaged directly with stakeholders on public fan forums. He understood the importance of monitoring the digital pulse of its supporters when most administrators relied on press releases.

His unique ability to speak the language of both volunteer committee and corporate board drove organisational reforms in Victoria. He oversaw the rebranding to Football Federation Victoria and streamlined the V-League Academy by recruiting Eric Hollingsworth. His move to admit the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) into the Premier League ensured elite youth talent had a vehicle for competitive match minutes. He prioritised technical development over short-term club politics.

The Tasmanian Mandate

Now 61, Pignata shows no signs of slowing down. His move to Football Tasmania in September 2023 signals a shift in the state’s ambition. Tasmania currently sits at a critical juncture, aggressively lobbying for A-League expansion and the requisite stadium infrastructure.

By appointing Pignata, Football Tasmania signalled to government partners that they are operationally ready for professionalisation. His presence de-risks the expansion proposition. He knows what a viable A-League licence looks like because he’s ran three of them.

His current focus on “high-performance pathways” addresses the state’s most pressing structural deficit: the talent drain to the mainland. Pignata’s mandate is to build an ecosystem where a Tasmanian junior sees a clear line of sight to professional football without leaving the state.

Ultimately, the OAM recognises a career defined by resilience and ROI. Pignata navigated the transition from the semi-pro era to the corporate demands of the A-League. He consistently delivered commercial growth and organisational stability.

“Football is more than a sport… it is a community, a pathway and a powerful connector,” Pignata said upon receiving the honour.

For the industry, Tony Pignata’s OAM is a benchmark. It rewards the “business of winning” off the pitch just as highly as the results on it. As he steers Football Tasmania toward a potential A-League future, the industry watches with interest. The “Pignata Effect” may yet deliver one final, historic expansion victory.

Updated Announcement: NPL Partnerships revealed last week

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Read here for a list of the newly-announced partnerships across NPL clubs last week.

 

NPL VIC:

George Cross FC: 

Talent Blue – Providing tailored staffing and recruitment solutions across manufacturing, construction, mining and resources, infrastructure, maintenance and shutdowns. 

 

NPL Queensland:

Gold Coast United:

P3 Recovery – A leading recovery and wellbeing specialist in Australia, P3 Recovery helps its clients stay healthy through treatments such as traditional and infrared saunas, red light therapy and cold plunges. 

Brisbane City:

Suna – Suna Shoes is a family-owned business based in Queensland with over 42 years of experience. They are dedicated to delivering style and innovation through a variety of products.

NPL South Australia:

Campbelltown City:

Macron Adelaide – Adelaide’s exclusive Macron distributor. Macron is a European company operating in technical products, sportswear and accessories for athletes and societies. 

Olympic Industries – Established in 1969, Olympic Industries is a family-run business based in Adelaide. They offer services designing and constructing a variety of buildings, from small sheds to large industrial buildings.

Amadio Wines – Award winning winemakers with a 90-year history. They are located in the northern vineyards of Adelaide, and boast a 320-acre vineyard which helps produce an array of excellent wines. 

Bianco Hire – With over 44 years of experience, Bianco Hire provides an extensive range of portable buildings, toilets, storage containers and temporary fencing options across SA. 

LJ Hooker – One of the largest residential and commercial real estate and sales management services in Australia and New Zealand. Trusted part of the community since 1928.

Solmech – Solmech is a leader in consulting and Utility Infrastructure. They provide services across renewable energy, construction, electrical, water and gas. 

Northpoint Toyota – For several years, Northpoint Toyota has helped the community by providing new vehicle sales, used vehicle sales, finance and servicing help, and genuine parts. 

Rezz Hotel – Established in 1858, Rezz Hotel is a long-trusted part of the community providing excellent stays for customers. It can accommodate entertainment purposes through its gaming lounge, as well as business pods and functions.

 

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