LAWRIE McKinna is confident that the Newcastle Jets are in a stable position and believes the time is right to "move on" from the A-League club.
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McKinna resigned as general manager on Tuesday, almost five years to the day after he took charge of the embattled A-League franchise.
The affable Scotsman will continue in an ambassadorial role, but will no longer be involved in the day-to-day running of the organisation.
"The big thing for me is that the club is stable, it is moving ahead," McKinna told the Newcastle Herald. "The new owners are investing money into the club, with a view to it being sold down the track. The club is on the right track now. It is time for me to move on."
McKinna was moved sideways in January after a new consortium of four owners of rival A-League clubs took control of the Jets following the exit of Chinese businessman Martin Lee, who had his licence revoked.
Shane Mattiske was appointed executive chairman.
McKinna played a key part in Lee purchasing the Jets from Football Australia in 2016, and has since been the face and the brains behind the operation.
He helped take the Jets to a grand final, ensured the team had a greater community presence and used his own money to keep the organisation afloat after Lee stopped funding the club.
"When Martin Lee bought the club he had three goals," McKinna said. "One was to qualify for the Asian Champions League, one was to get into a grand final and the other one was to break even. We did two out of three. We got the losses down but that was when Martin pulled the pin on funding.
"That 18 months before the new ownership came in was hard. The team is here for the long run now."
Lee left more than $12 million in debt. A liquidator's report filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in April revealed that McKinna had injected $365,000 in an effort to keep the club going.
Mattiske praised McKinna's contribution.
"There is gratitude from everyone associated with the club, whether it is our fans, members, all the staff and playing group,"Mattiske said. "Lawrie has been a central figure in the club and has given his all to support the Jets. This is a change that we will have to adapt to. He has been a multi-skilled administrator.
"His contribution across the board, whether it is in business, whether it is putting us into a position now where we have young talent like Archie Goodwin coming through the club, whether it is the contribution to charity and the broader football community ... all of that is absolutely recognised and a legacy that Lawrie leaves here.
"We are comforted by the fact that he will continue to play an ambassadorial role for us moving forward. Those people skills and the connection he has to all members of our community is something that can continue. That is a real positive."
The Jets are expected to appoint Arthur Papas as coach next week.
However, McKinna's departure leaves a major hole in football nous and experience in the Jets' front office.
"With the change, we are building a new football structure," Mattiske said. "The business will have to adapt and build other roles. That is something we are addressing."
McKinna said he did not have a position to go to.
"I am looking for a new job but it doesn't have to be in football," he said
James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
