It’s the dawn of a new era at the Newcastle Knights with Mining and Racing magnate Nathan Tinkler given the green light by members to take ownership of the club.
And the result was resounding.
While it’s unclear how many members voted, the two constitutional changes got up by 97 per cent to three per cent, giving the Tinkler Sports Group a clear victory.
The announcement after the vote by Knights Chairman Rob Tew was answered with wild applause and cheering, even a few rounds of the club’s signature chant “New-castle, New-castle”.
“We continue to be a united club”, said Tew on stage after the vote.
“We’ve done well, but we can do a lot better with what’s coming.”
Tinkler Sports Group boss Ken Edwards paid tribute to what he termed “heroes of the process”, naming RobbieTew and the Knights board, Nathan Tinkler and the Knights members.
“We are humbled to be given the privilege to be the joint custodian with the members of the Newcastle Knights.”
“We are going to fight hard to win the trust of the other three per cent that didn’t vote for us tonight.”
“We are going to build on the wonderful things this club has generated over the last 23 years.”
The Tinkler Sports Group will now clear the club’s debts estimated at around $4-million, guarantee $10-million in sponsorship over 10 years, and provide bank guarantees against the unforseen.
Tinkler pulled out all stops in his effort to take control of the club. There was a media blitz, involving former club greats, and he had the support of nearly every key person in the club’s history. The club’s board, with the backing of chairman Rob Tew approved the proposal in early March.
The Tinkler Sports Group will now work with the board over a caretaker period before taking full control within “months”.
