![Maverick Sports Partners consortium head Maurice Bisetto with Jets stalwarts Jason Hoffman and Cassidy Davis. Picture by Simone De Peak Maverick Sports Partners consortium head Maurice Bisetto with Jets stalwarts Jason Hoffman and Cassidy Davis. Picture by Simone De Peak](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/AVQVfAtGgzehhK8J9F6uCU/646a25d1-90c2-4e0d-9c2e-e4ae9cc2c6d3.jpg/r25_506_5385_3704_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
NEWCASTLE Jets chief executive Shane Mattiske has been encouraged by the community response to the takeover of the club and is confident of reaching the target of 10,000 members before the start of the 2024-25 A-League season.
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It has been nearly a month since Maverick Sports Partners were confirmed as new owners, saving the club from the A-Legaue scrapheap.
Consortium head Maurice Bisetto said for the club to prosper, it needed the support of the community.
"In the first week we did $100,000 in memberships which was an encouraging sign," Mattiske said. "With the rollover of existing members now happening, we are pushing hard towards the 10,000 target.
"We won't get there without people who were members in the past returning, and without the football community and broader community getting behind the club in this new era."
The draw for next season is expected to be released in the next fortnight. It is likely to consist of 26 rounds, including Unite Round, and feature a bye due to the addition of new club Auckland FC.
The Jets' preferred time slot for men and women's games will again be Saturday evening.
"Our focus is to continue to provide game times that are suitable for young families and our younger audience," Mattiske said. "We will continue to pursue those time slots. We expect to have a draw in the next two weeks that we can communicate to our fans."
The Jets had 8700 members in total last season, which was up from the 2022-23 campaign.
The club marks its 20th year this season and Mattiske said, with the stability of new owners, the aim was to eventually surpass the record 11,300 members for the 2018-19 season.
"We have a big ambition in terms of membership," Mattiske said. "There is no reason - with the stability that has been brought to the club and the strength of the men and women's squads - why we shouldn't be passing 10,000. The ambition is to go beyond 11,000 over time."
Mattiske said there had also been a positive response from the corporate sector.
"On the commercial front, we are having some great conversations," he said. " We are moving from a period where people were sitting back waiting to see what happened with the ownership.
"There are a couple of new partners coming into the family as a result of the changes.
"We are looking to further expand that. We, of course, want more partners stepping out of the Newcastle and broader community. All of this is important for the sustainability of the club."
Meanwhile, former Jets winger Trent Buhagiar flew out to Italy on Monday to take up a contract with Serie B club Brescia.
Buhagiar, who scored five goals and contributed three assists for the Jets last season, is on a two-year deal.
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SHANE MATTISKE
In the very first week we did $100,000 in memberships which is an encouraging sign with the rollover of existing members now happening, we pushing hard towards the 10,000 target.
We won't get there without people who were members in the past returning to the club and without the football community and broader community getting behind the club in this new era.
It is an important stage of the club's growth, with new ownership and celebrating our 20th year in the A-League.
With two teams who are highly competitive and contain some great young talent from this region.
COMMERCIALLY - response
On the commercial front we are having some great conversations.
We are moving from a period where people were sitting back waiting to see what happened with the ownership.
There is now a lot of interest in the new ownership group and the changes we have made to build strength and drive growth.
Membership is a big part of that but bringing through more partners. There are a couple of new partners coming into the family as a result of the changes. We are looking to further expand that.
All of this is important for the sustainability of the club.
We of course want more partners stepping out of the Newcastle and broader community. There have already been some positive conversations.
Bringing Jason Hoffman on board in business development and welfare role. The majority of this time will be focused on the corporate community and connecting the players with the broader community.
Plan a community blitz. The players are highly active. Jason has always been focused on the community. getting players involved with local clubs and doing broader community activities.
MEMBERSHIP
8700 total members - everyone who had a commitment to the club. It was strong growth off the previous year.
We have a big ambition in terms of membership.
In the past, the club has had membership of over 11,000. There is no reason, with the stability that has been brought to the club and the strength of the men and women's squads, why we shouldn't be passing the 10,000. And the ambition is to go beyond 11,000 over time.
DRAW - preferred time slot, Saturday evening
Our focus is to continue to provide game times that are suitable for young families and our younger audience. We will continue to pursue those timeslots.
We expect to have a draw in the next two weeks that we can communicate to our fans.
HOW MANY HOME GAMES
There is the complexity of Auckland coming into the competition. There will be an odd number of teams, which means a bye in the competition structure.
United round will be part of the structure which will mean some teams have 12 home games and some 13.
They are still working through how those allocations work.
For the women's competition Unite Round will be an additional game on top of the 11 home and away rounds.
STARTING LATE OCTOBER
The comp will start at a similar time to last season, late October for the men