This.
Why do we need to know who it is? Answer - we don't!
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And being that the test was done so the person can leave the country....That rules all the Australians in the squad out of the equation
You know why??
None of us can leave the country at the moment
All Skips are subject to a travel ban thanks to Corona
Foreigners are not subject to this and can leave the country
Plenty of articles stating the test was done for someone wanting to leave the country
Being the season only got wrapped up Tuesday morning and Australia was on DO NOT TRAVEL code 4 at that point in time the chances of an Aussie wanting to get out of the country are a trillion to one
As an easy eg I saw someone comment on facebook that they were near Dimi at shops or similar last week. For the few people that have dealt with any of the players in this last 2-3 weeks, it at least helps them know if they came into contact with them or not. I'm sure there are heaps of people that have served the players at shops etc, who is to know if they did or didn't contact the person with the virus?
Lawrie's direct quote is the player was involved in the Melbourne City game but made no mention of the Roar game. I can't figure out why he would not mention the Roar game, unless the guy actually didn't play in the game.
I therefore conclude it is Glen Moss, and he was attempting to fly back to NZ.
Whoever it is, I hope they do not get too badly ill from it and have not spread it.
What I am disturbed about the most is all people involved in both the City and Roar games aren't forced to isolate already, this makes no sense to me and I'm surprised how chill the health services are being about this. Just lock us down already.
Agree.
Privacy is important, but public health is more important.
There can't be overreaction to this.
Being positive to COVID-19 is not a stigma, but knowing who is positive can help preventing the spread -> saving lives.
Names of positive players have been made public in Europe and other parts of the world, and no one complained.
It's very weird that we know who the Chelsea player who got coronavirus was but we don't know who the Newcastle Jets player is? We know that Tom hanks and Boris Johnson have it, but we don't know who the jets player is.
It's a virus, they haven't murdered anyone so I don't know why they haven't been mentioned.
But how do we know all that? Boris and tom told us. Did the chelsea player or the club reveal it? That's the difference in my books.
If you Google "Newcastle Jets Coronavirus" and scroll down a few results, SMH mentions a player in the Google link (but the actual article still says unnamed player)
More sponsor news than team news, but anyway:
Quote:
APRIL 3 2020 - 6:00PM
A-League : Inspirations Paint to continue support for Jets
James gardiner
Newcastle Jets
INSPIRATIONS Paint are the Newcastle Jets' longest-running front-of-shirt sponsor and the national company have vowed to stick with the A-League club during to VOVID-19 crisis.
Inspirations Paint has appeared on the front of the Jets' away strip, in a deal believed to be worth six-figures a year, for the past five seasons. They have another year to run on the current three-year arrangement and will be honouring that contract.
"Inspirations Paint is completely understanding that the season had to be cut short in the interests of health," head of marketting Joel Goodsir said. "We were happy to have most of the season behind us.
"We are really happy with out relationship with the Jets. I had a phone call from [Jets CEO] Lawrie McKinna over a week ago when all this was happening to keep us up to date."
The A-League is postponed until at least April 22. But the chances of the competition resuming in the next two months appear remote.
The Jets this week stood down players and staff, amid growing uncertainty over the broadcast rights deal. Foxtel were due to pay the latest quarterly installment to Football Federation Australia this week. That money, about $12 million, is distributed to the clubs and is used to pay player and staff wages,
The Jets this week also McDonalds as a major partner.
However, in welcomed news to the club, Inspirations Paint, which has a network of 135 stores, are looking to extend their relationship.
"We sponsor the Jets out of the national marketing fund, which all stores contribute towards," Goodsir said. "At this stage, I certainly see it continuing. It could change it's shape and form, but there is no reason not to continue the relationship.
"All the marketing theories show that longer sport sponsorships work better. It takes a lot of repetition for people to join the dots because they are focused on the game. Perth Glory had QBE as their major sponsor for 10 years. You think back to the NRL teams you followed as a kid and you can normally remember which company was on the front of the jerseys - Pirtek on Paramatta jumpers.
"We get a lot of good support from Hunter residents and up the coast at our stores as high as Grafton. The fans are so appreciative. They literally get on twitter and thank us for our support."
Boogs on current situation:
Quote:
APRIL 4 2020 - 10:00AM
A-League: Jets skipper calls for unity to conquer crisis
James Gardiner
JETS captain Nigel Boogaard has urged the game's decision makers to involve all stakeholders, including players, when they map out the future of the sport in Australia.
But for now, Boogaard is focused on maintaining his fitness levels in the hope that the A-League resumes in the next two months.
The national league is in the balance after the competition was postponed 12 days ago due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic. The situation will be reviewed on April 22.
The league is underpinned by a $56 million broadcast deal with Foxtel. Without any games to televise, the pay TV company are yet to cough up the latest $12 million quarterly installment, which is carved and distributed to the clubs to cover wages.
The longer the league is held up, the greater the financial pressure on clubs.
The Jets were among seven clubs this week to stand down players and staff without pay.
"We knew once a few clubs headed in that direction it was inevitable," Boogaard said. "The club have kept us as informed as much as they could throughout the process. There is so much up in the air. We just have to sit and wait and see how everything pans out.
"As players we have to do the right thing by the game. For us, the right thing is to keep training and make sure if we go back and play, that we are ready to do so. Ultimately, that is what we are here to do."
Boogaard, like all of his teammates, has set up a home gym and is training in the back yard.
"As a playing group, we are trying to stay fit," Boogaard said. "The club has done the right thing and given us training programs to maintain fitness. The back deck is covered with kids' toys, there is spin bike in the corner with some kettle bells and a bit of a made up gym."
As well as being stood down, the Jets had one of their squad test positive to COVID-19. The player, who is in self isolation, was asymptomatic.
No other players have shown symptoms yet but Boogaard said they were aware of their responsibilities to the community and were following strict protocols.
The Professional Footballers Australia players union have threatened legal action against the owners if the players are not reinstated.
Football Federation Australia boss James Johnson this week called for unity and the end of self interest to get through the crisis.
Boogaard, who is a member of the PFA executive, echoed that sentiment.
"With any decisions involving the league, I think the stakeholders should come together to work towards a solution," Boogaard said. "That would only benefit everyone. There is lot up in the air for the next two months. But what does the game look like for the next three years, five years, 10 years. That is the uncertainty. All stakeholders need to come together and discuss what it is going to look like and where things need to change.
"Whether people are willing to compromise and go from there. The PFA should be at the table. Ideally we would be in a position to ride this pandemic out but unfortunately we are in a position that we are."
Boogaard is one of eight Jets off contract and among 120 players with an uncertain future after May 31, when arrangements currently end.
"I am waiting to see what happens in the next two months," he said. "There is obviously a big decision to make on April 22 to see what happens with the league moving forward. I suppose there is a lot of things to play out beyond that. If they decide to push the league back and it is still the same competition, there will be 120 players off contract. How do they fit into that? There are too many permutations to think beyond these next few weeks. Then we reassess and go from there."
NBN talking to Burns back in N Ire
https://video.nbnnews.com.au/bobbyburns020420.mp4
Not going to just share the link to FTBL as it made me answer an ad sponsor's survey before I could even read the article, which pissed me right off...
Quote:
Burns: Playing games behind closed doors was awful
BURNS: PLAYING GAMES BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WAS AWFUL
By John Davidson Apr 5 2020 10:38PM
Bobby Burns says playing games behind closed doors was "awful" and the rushed ending of the A-League season "didn't make sense".
Burns has departed the Newcastle Jets and returned to Europe after the season was shutdown because of the Coronavirus.
The Irishman played 16 matches for the Jets on loan from Hearts.
Burns admits playing games behind closed doors was the "worst experience" of his career.
"Initially, I thought we would get the league finished," he told The Irish News.
"We played games behind closed doors but it was awful. It was the worst football experience I’ve had. It’s funny because I played in school games for St Malachy’s when there was nobody watching…
"It was maybe because we were playing games in these huge stadiums. It also looked terrible because we were the only league playing matches at that stage whereas everywhere else had stopped.
"The reason the league was shut down was because there were border restrictions from state to state. So you can’t travel from Brisbane to, say, Sydney, so that causes huge problems.
"The week before it was called off we flew from Sydney to Adelaide, came back and flew to the Gold Coast to play Brisbane. We were in five airports in a week during a global pandemic. It didn’t make sense."
But Burns loved his time in Australia, despite the abrupt ending.
“It was how quickly things stopped. We were training for a game on Monday and it was shut just like that and everybody was trying to get flights home on the Wednesday," the defender said.
"It was a very sad way to go because I loved my time in Australia. There were so many things I wanted to do. And I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to a lot of people because you didn’t want to be in contact with them.
"I’ve a lot of friends from the Catholic Church near where I was living, but a lot of them are elderly and the last thing I wanted to do was be near them."
The Hoff
Quote:
APRIL 7 2020 - 6:00AM
Newcastle Jets: Utility player, Jason Hoffman, on learning curve during Newcastle Jets' hiatus
JAMES GARDINER
Local Sport
JETS utility Jason Hoffman learnt early on that job security was a short-term prospect in football.
The events of the past fortnight have only strengthened that theory.
The Jets players and staff were stood down last Wednesday as the financial pain from the COVID-19 pandemic bit hard.
The Jets have registered for the government's Jobkeeper allowance for all employees, which will ease the financial burden by $750 a week.
The players are continuing to follow individual programs in the hope of playing the final four games.
On Monday, they did a pilates session together on the Zoom conferencing app.
"Scotty Thomas got us going with some pilates work and then we stayed on-line and had a chat to one another," Hoffman said.
While Hoffman signed a two-year extension and hopes to be back on the pitch as soon as possible, he is using the down time to think about his future.
The 31-year-old is studying a business degree, majoring in sports management, but is considering changing focus to education.
"The past few weeks have been a wake-up call," he said. "Job security has always been a short-term prospect as a footballer. When times get really tough there is no real security at all. If I can prepare myself for when I transition out of the game, hopefully on my own terms, I will be in a job that is secure and I can enjoy my lifestyle. My sister is a teacher, my mum was a teacher, my mother-in-law is a teacher. I have six weeks to make a decision and see if I can get some credit to switch across."
In the meantime, Hoffman is maintaining fitness and doing projects around the house.
"We have a program and a lot of it is position specific," Hoffman said. "I was training with Dimi [Petratos] at Ford Oval. Now that we have to train on our own, I have been heading to a local park. There is a brick wall there which means I can work on my passing. There is a lot of skill work, juggling the ball and things like that. We are also ticking the boxes on fitness. We want to make sure we are doing enough to maintain our fitness levels so that if we get the green light, we can be ready to go."
" While Hoffman signed a two-year extension and hopes to be back on the pitch as soon as possible, he is using the down time to think about his future.
The 31-year-old is studying a business degree, majoring in sports management, but is considering changing focus to education."
Is there a chance Hoff has been told by Robbo his chances of game time next season are next to nothing ?. From memory his extension was done about the same time as Kanta's a acouple of months before Robbo's appointment.
Hoff is the ideal number 12 - 23
Some actual football news, article itself is a "subscriber only" but the headline tells you all you need to know:
Quote:
A-League: Italiano rewarded with two-year extension at Jets
https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/s...-jets/?cs=7580
Tomorrow's NMH:
Quote:
Newcastle Jets: Nigel Boogaard says players want clarity around the competition's future and plans moving forward
Local News
Increasingly anxious and frustrated A-League players are demanding Australian football powerbrokers deliver clarity over the competition's future.
An FFA assessment of the A-League's status during the coronavirus pandemic is set to be finalised on Wednesday, though it's unclear when the assessment's recommendations will be made public.
The league was postponed indefinitely in late March and since that decision was made at least six of the 11 A-League clubs have stood down players and staff.
Host broadcaster Foxtel's commitment to the competition is also increasingly uncertain. One of those clubs to stand down players is Newcastle and as he and his teammates face an indefinite period without pay, Jets captain Nigel Boogaard said players have had enough of being kept in the dark.
The 33-year-old said those in charge need to come together and devise a plan for the short and long-term future of professional football in Australia.
"To let it drag on to this point is a little bit ridiculous to be honest with you," Boogaard said. "These are the powers that are going to dictate the future of the game moving forward.
"If the likes of FFA, club owners and everyone involved can't come together and, I suppose, be grown ups and sit at a table with each other and come to a decision about - not only the end of this season and what the next few months look like but the professional game in this country for the next few decades - it doesn't give you great confidence."
Boogaard is one of approximately 130 players whose contracts expire on May 31.
Any attempt to complete the 2019-20 season, which has only a handful of rounds remaining before finals, would need to work out what happens to those off-contract players. The veteran defender doesn't believe a point of no return has been reached for this season and said players are still hopeful of completing the campaign.
"As an overall playing group, everyone would like to see it out and if we're able to, that would be our preference but not knowing where everything lies, that's going to be hard," he said.
Adding to the uncertainty has been persistent speculation over Foxtel's plans.
Forgot to post this:
https://video.nbnnews.com.au/lewisitaliano150420.mp4
Missed this one the other day:
Quote:
APRIL 22 2020 - 7:30PM
Newcastle Jets import and Welsh international Joe Ledley respects A-League standard
James Gardiner
Newcastle Jets
FORMER English Premier League and Wales star Joe Ledley believes the A-League is a similar standard to Major League Soccer in the US and has hinted at extending his stay at the Newcastle Jets.
Ledley, 33, was midway through a short-term deal when the A-League was postponed on March 24 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has returned to his family home in the UK city of Cardiff to be with wife Ruby and children Layla, 9, Reeva, 4, and Hendricks, 2.
The midfielder has been following a training program in the hope that the A-League will resume and spoke glowingly of his time in Newcastle on BBC podcast, Eli James' Football Feast.
The football show features Ledley's former teammate Danny Gabbidon and fellow Welsh international Iwan Roberts.
The Jets are coached by another former Welsh international in Carl Robinson, who head hunted Ledley.
Asked how he found the A-League, Ledley said: "I didn't know anything about the league when I signed. The standard is a lot better than what I thought.
"There are some good players, especially in our team. With the players we have got, and with Carl coming in, he has completely changed it. We had lost one in six games at the end and could still push for a play-off position. It's nice and relaxed and we play good possession-based football, which I like."
Ledley has played 77 games for Wales, was one of their stars at the 2016 European Championships, spent four seasons in the Premier League for Crystal Palace and won titles with Scottish club Celtic. Although the A-League is a step down, Ledley rates it highly.
"I think the A-League is a bit disrespected," he said. "I think it is just as good as MLS. It is an entertaining league and always end-to-end football.
"When I went there, I knew we had Wes Hoolahan in our team. He is an unbelievable player. He has still got it and the fans love him. He has been unfortunate because he got injured just before the start of the season.
"When you start playing against other teams you see there are quite a lot of English players, some of them even from the Premier League and Championship and Scottish Premier League."
Ledley had been training with League Two club Newport County before joining the Jets. He was on the verge of signing with the south Wales outfit but opted to be part of Robinson's revolution in Australia.
"I had my squad number and everything was sorted," Ledley said of the Newport deal. "When Carl got the job at the Jets, he wanted me to sign for longer in Australia. I didn't want to go over there, not enjoy it and want to come home. I signed until the end of the season and have loved it.
"I felt bad on Newport because it seemed like I used them to train. But it wasn't like that at all. They were a great group of boys, good professionals, good manager. I just wanted to try something different.
"I have always wanted to play abroad ... to say I have tried a different place, a different culture."
On the postponement to hold off till June:
Quote:
APRIL 23 2020 - 9:00PM
Newcastle Jets players facing at least another five weeks in limbo
ROBERT DILLON
Football
THE Newcastle Jets and their fellow A-League players remain in limbo despite a commitment from Football Federation Australia officials on Thursday to complete the 2019-20 season "as soon as possible".
Unlike the NRL, which is forging ahead with plans to resume full training operations on May 4 and games on May 28, the A-League has been unable to offer any substantial update about what its next step will be.
The competition was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic on March 24, with only a handful of rounds remaining before the finals were scheduled to kick off. Seven clubs, including the Jets, have since stood down players and staff.
FFA chief executive James Johnson said in a statement on Thursday that "a number of criteria" would define when players would be cleared to resume normal training, but added: "It is difficult to see that process beginning before the end of May."
The FFA said it was in "ongoing dialogue with government health authorities" and would need restrictions relating to health and safety, state and federal borders, large gatherings and social distancing to be relaxed before players are allowed to train together.
"Our priority remains the health and safety of all players and staff and we will need to be satisfied that appropriate measures are in place to ensure this," Johnson said.
" .... football takes its responsibilities as a good corporate citizen very seriously, and remains committed to working in partnership with the government to slow the spread of COVID-19.
"At the same time, we want to play our part in supporting the social and mental wellbeing of the Australian football family and all sports-loving Australians.
"Ultimately, the coronavirus will have the final say on when we can get the season started again."
Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna said the NRL's ambitious plans were irrelevant to his code.
"Between now and the end of May, we should know how things are going," McKinna said.
"And obviously things are getting better every day.
"Everybody wants to come back and finish the season. All the clubs agreed on that, but it's still too early to be putting dates on it.
"Whatever the NRL is doing is up to them.
"All the best to them with what they're doing, but the A-League won't be driven by that.
"We'll be doing what's right for our game."
Exacerbating the dilemma the round-ball code is facing, Fox Sports has not paid a grant that was due last week and there is mounting speculation that the pay-TV provider is poised to walk away from on its $57-million-a-year deal broadcasting deal with FFA.
In addition, standard A-League player contracts expire on May 31, so as it stands a host of players will need to be re-signed if the competition is to resume.
In the case of the Jets, head coach Carl Robinson is with his family in Canada, assistant coach Kenny Miller has returned to Scotland, and overseas players Joe Ledley and Bobby Burns have returned to Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.
If the A-League season is to be completed, they may have to at least spend two weeks in quarantine before they are allowed to re-enter the country.
McKinna said working through the myriad logistics was "like putting a jigsaw together."
"When you've got the first couple of pieces in place, you can start building it," he said.
"But until you've got those pieces, you can't really get started. That's where we're at now."
Jets skipper Nigel Boogaard expressed his frustration earlier this week, saying it was "a little bit ridiculous, to be honest" that the uncertainty had dragged on for a month.
"If the likes of FFA, club owners and everyone involved can't come together and, I suppose, be grown-ups and sit at a table with each other and come to a decision about - not only the end of this season and what the next few months look like but the professional game in this country for the next few decades - it doesn't give you great confidence," Boogaard said.
McKinna said Newcastle's players and staff were "all up to speed with where things are at".
"From the club's point of view, I keep Boogs informed and he notifies the boys. But I can understand if they're a bit frustrated with the stuff that's happening at the top," he said.
At least we still have Arroyo till end of the season...
Quote:
MAY 6 2020 - 7:30PM
A-League: Panamanian on board until Jets' flight ends after loan deal extended
James Gardiner
Newcastle Jets
Comments
POWERHOUSE striker Abdiel Arroyo will play out the A-League season with the Newcastle Jets after Panamanian club Arabe Unido agreed to extend his loan by three months.
Arroyo's deal with Newcastle expires on May 31.
However, Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna said the international had been given the green light to continue in Newcastle once the A-League season resumes.
Football Federation Australia are working with players union, Professional Footballers Australia, and the government on a return date.
McKinna anticipates the Jets will be back training in July, with the competition to restart in August.
"We contacted Arroyo's agent requesting that the loan be extended and the club was happy for him to stay until the end of August," McKinna said. "There was interest in him from Korea, Japan and the MLS but Arroyo was happy to stay in Newcastle."
The Jets have five games remaining, which will be played behind closed doors most likely at a centralised hub over three weeks, plus potentially finals.
They are ninth on 24 points, but are only three points outside the top six.
Arroyo has scored two goals in 14 appearances for the Jets and was part of a new-look strike force under new coach Carl Robinson, which has netted seven goals in the past three games.
Unlike Bobby Burns, who returned home to Northern Ireland, Arroyo was forced to stay in Newcastle after Panama closed its borders.
READ MORE: JETS HOPE FOR HOME BASE WHEN A-LEAGUE RESUMES
Midfielder Joe Ledley (Wales), coach Carl Robinson (Canada) and assistant coach Kenny Miller (Scotland) have also returned home.
Ledley and Burns may not return but McKinna was confident the coaching staff would be back on deck for the start of training.
"Carl and Kenny are starting to look into when they can return," McKinna said. "Their working visas are valid and it is a case of waiting for the border restrictions to loosen. We have seven weeks before we start training. In seven weeks the world could change. Look what has happened in the last seven weeks. If the curve continues to flatten, I reckon international borders will open for people who have work visas."
In the meantime, Robinson and Miller are working from afar.
"We are having a hook-up with the football staff on Tuesday," McKinna said. "Players have fitness and gym programs which they have been undertaking. They will need to change that now."
Plans to complete the season were confirmed after Foxtel paid its $12 million quarterly payment to the FFA last Friday.
That money is normally carved up and distributed to the clubs to pay wages.
The Jets were among seven clubs to stand players down a month ago. The Jets have registered for the Jobkeeper allowance and paid the players and staff $3000 each for the past month ($750 per week), which will be reimbursed by the government.
"The foreign players don't qualify for the Jobkeeper allowance, but we paid them anyway," McKinna said.
The PFA and FFA and working through a number of issues regarding health and safety protocols and a likley reduction in wages before the players take to the field.
Other issues include how much time teams will be given to train before the season resumes and how many day's break they will receive between games.
That certainly fills in a lot of info many supporters had about the current state of things and where all our internationals ended up
Jets appoint ex-NZ assistant
Quote:
MAY 12 2020 - 8:00PM
A-League: Group training on hold as Jets bolster coaching staff with former New Zealand assistant
James Gardiner
Local Sport
FORMER New Zealand assistant coach Darren Bazeley will join the Jets but just when he and the other football staff will be able to work with the squad remains unclear, despite gatherings of up to 10 people being permitted in NSW from Friday.
Bazeley, a former fullback who represented England under-21s, played alongside Jets coach Carl Robinson at Wolverhampton Wanderers before finishing his professional career in the A-League at the New Zealand Knights.
He has spent the majority of the past 10 year coaching in New Zealand, where he took the national under-20 side to the World Cup, and was an assistant with the All Whites senior team before joining US Major Soccer League club Colorado Rapids in 2018.
The 47-year-old is back in New Zealand and will move to Newcastle as soon as COVID-19 border restrictions are lifted.
Craig Deans, who had assisted Robinson during his transition into the Jets job, will return to his role at the head of the club's academy.
"Darren has an understanding of the league, having played with the New Zealand Knights," Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna said. "He has coached in the New Zealand set up and also in the US. Prior to that he had a good playing career with Watford and Wolverhampton, where he formed a relationship with Carl."
Robinson told the Newcastle Herald this week that he wants to bring through young players and Bazeley has a strong record in youth development.
Jets players have been following individual training programs since the A-League was postponed on March 24.
The league is flagged to restart in August. Technically players can train in groups of up to 10 from Friday when NSW enters phase one of the COVID-safe framework.
However, McKinna said the Jets would continue to train as is for now.
"All A-League clubs have agreed to come back to training at the same time once the FFA and PFA (players union) have sorted out a return date," McKinna said. "A few of the boys have been training in pairs. If they were to get together it would be off their own back. The club won't start training until the league has given the go ahead."
McKinna is working with FFA to get the coaches back to Australia for the start of training.
"The understanding is that once the borders are opened, essential service people will be allowed in first and we will be putting in a request to have Carl and Kenny fast-tracked," McKinna said. "We make the request to FFA who go through the appropriate body."
The Jets have matches remaining against Wellington, Central Coast, Sydney FC and Western United. They are three points behind sixth-placed Western United, who have played two games less.
Robinson is planning a mini pre-season before the league restarts.
Conditioning coach Brice Johnson and physio Nathan Renwick are "dealing with the physical aspects".
"My biggest thing will be reaffirming what we worked on in the eight weeks I was there," he said.
"I also want them to be adaptable in relation to a different formation. I am going to bring in different type of players next season, and I want to have plan b and plan c. es, we are fighting for results and we still want to get to the play-offs ... it's also an opportunity for me to try different things with different people."
Robinson looking to youth to replace unavailable internationals
Quote:
MAY 10 2020 - 8:00PM
A-League: Robinson to arm Jets with nation's young guns
James Gardiner
Newcastle Jets
COACH Carl Robinson wants to bring the best young Australian players to the Newcastle Jets for what he anticipates will be a very different looking A-League post COVID-19.
Robinson is "itching to get back on the training field" and is eagerly awaiting the lifting of Australian border restrictions so he can return from Vancouver, Canada, where he has spent the past month with wife Laura, 17-year-old daughter Lowri and son Milo, 11
The A-League, postponed on March 24, is expected to resume in August.
The Jets have four games remaining, which are likely to be played behind closed doors at a central hub, and are an outside chance of making the play-offs. Western United hold sixth spot on 27 points, three ahead of the Jets, but have played two less games.
Robinson, who along with assistant coach Kenny Miller faces 14 days in isolation on return to Australia, is preparing to be without imports Joe Ledley, Bobby Burns and Wes Hoolahan.
Ledley and Burns have returned to Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.
Hoolahan, whose wife Emma is pregnant, departs for Ireland this week.
"There are no guarantees that international players, one, will be allowed back in the country and, two, can actually get back based upon the league rules," Robinson said. "I have to prepare as though I won't have my international players.
"Arroyo is still in Australia which is good. It's tough because we are in a good place and on a good run of form. It also gives me a chance to have a look at the young ones."
Roy O'Donovan, who is awaiting Australian citizenship, is the only foreigner contracted beyond this season.
The absence of internationals may be a sign to the future.
Robinson, though focused on finishing in the top six, is also looking ahead to next season and the prospect of a cut to the $3.2 million salary cap and cost cutting across the league due to the financial impact from COVID-19.
"Based upon projection of what is going to happen next season, I have to find some talented young national team players within the 17-to-22 age group to add to the players we have already - Johnny Koutroumbis, Matty Millar, Connor O'Toole, Angus Thurgate, Makis and Kosta Petratos," he said.
"I have been spending a lot of time looking at young Australian players in Europe as well as at the other A-League clubs.
"I want the nucleus of players from Australia. In the worst-case scenario and the salary cap is cut, we are OK. If it is not the worst case scenario then we are in a really good position to strengthen with another key international player if we need one."
Robinson has been in constant contact with staff and will return to Newcastle as soon as possibe.
"The key thing for me was to get back with my family [in Canada] when it all started," he said. " It has been a tough few weeks. We are moving house so I have been packing boxes. I have watched all of our games again, I have watched half the A-League games. I have been doing analysis on teams I admire, Hoffenheim, Dortmund and teams like that.
"Now, I'm itching to get on the training field. I had a year out [from coaching] which was great and I needed it. Once I got back in, I'm hands on and with the boys all the time. I want to be back there. There was never any thought of me saying 'I can wait, I can wait'. I want to be back there as soon as possible. Kenny is the same. We saw the success we had in a short period of time. We want to reset, rebuild and bring more youngsters through."
Jets players have been following individual programs and Robinson plans to give them 10 days off once a starting date for team training has been confirmed.
"If the games are in August and the boys are going to start training in July, there is still six weeks between now and that point," he said. "After the season, there will probably be a month off and then another pre-season. Once it's confirmed, I will give them maybe 10 days total rest. I want them to do nothing before they come in and we start to build them up once we get some dates.
"I'm used to having five-week preseasons in Major League Soccer. I do all my pre-season with the ball."
The Jets have games against Wellington, Central Coast, Sydney and Western United remaining.
"I'll say to the boys, we have four fixtures left against good teams, go and enjoy yourself and play the way we want to play," he said. "There will be one team who surprises. We have put ourselves in a position where we could be that team. That will be our aim."
Boogs awaiting restart
Quote:
A-League: Jets skipper keen for early take off
James Gardiner
Newcastle Jets
JETS captain Nigel Boogaard hopes the NSW Government are quick to implement step one of the Roadmap to Covidsafe announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday and allow gatherings of up to 10 people outdoors.
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Jets players, like all those in the A-League, have been training in isolation since the season was postponed on March 24.
Although an official start date is yet to be locked in, A-League clubs have been flagged to resume training in July, with the competition to restart in August.
The resumption plan was confirmed after Foxtel finalised their $12 million quarterly broadcast rights installment last week.
"It is is good to know that Foxtel have fulfilled their commitment to pay FFA," Boogaard said. "We are still waiting to see how much of that is passed on to the clubs and the players.
"In terms of time frames, I know it has been tabled that we go back to training at the start of July and play games in August but the playing group would like to get back earlier, and as soon as possible, to prepare properly for what is likely to be a very chaotic month."
The Jets have games remaining against Wellington, Central Coast, Sydney and Western United. Some clubs have six games to play, which will be condensed to a three-to-four week period.
The Jets have been following individual programs for six weeks.
"Our opinion is that as soon as we can get into competitive training, the more it will reduce the risks," Boogaard said.
"Injury prevention is obviously a big thing, but the quality of the product is important as well. We don't want to restart the league and the product is a long way off what it was when we finished.
"The bare minimum would be a month. To get the league back to the standard it was and allow the players to get back to peak fitness, I can't see that being sufficient enough time ... ideally, we would love to be reinstated tomorrow and get back to training."
Boogaard is on the executive of the Professional Footballers Australia players union and has been part of a committee working with FFA on a plan to complete the season.
"The players have been very involved," Boogaard said. "There have been group talks with [Head Of A-League] Greg O'Rourke and [FFA boss] James Johnson.
"It is good that the FFA are willing to open up and answer the players' questions and let us get an understanding of where things are from their point of view.
"As bad as it [COVID-19] has been for everyone, it has united all the stakeholders and we are starting to work together to come up with better solutions for the future. I applaud what FFA are doing in opening that avenue for discussion. That is how the game is going to grow. Not to say that the players deserve the right to make policy, but it's important that they understand our point of view when those decisions are being made."
Boogaard believed it was essential for teams to resume group training at the same time.
"It is about maintaining sporting integrity and making sure there is not too much disparity between when teams return to training, " he said. "If it's a week or two, that may be acceptable. You don't want a position where, say, Perth overtake Sydney to win the league because they were able to get back on the park earlier to train."
The Jets had won three of their last four to move to 24 points, three outside the top six when the season was halted. However, sixth-placed Western United have played two games less.
"The focus for us - not knowing if we would come back or not - was to finish on the right note," the Jets skipper said.
"To walk away from the Melbourne City win, knowing we are capable of beating someone who is supposed to challenge for the title. We are building towards bigger things this season and next year as well. There is still a sniff and we will keep pushing. The mentality at this club is that we go until the end."
Hearts have said that Burns won't be allowed back to us no matter what happens, as his loan deal has expired and they don't want to extend it.
Hearts would be lucky to beat the jets so who cares
Foxsports JOWIC story - apparently he is up in Brisvegas at the moment but no plans to return to football:
https://youtu.be/0ZQv8JWnrGgQuote:
HOMEFOOTBALLA LEAGUE
‘No regrets’: The rising star who gave up football to become a rapper in LA
A-LEAGUE
May 30, 2020 1:31pm
by ZAC RAYSON
Source: FOX SPORTS
In August 2019, one of Australia’s brightest young talents stunned the football world by announcing he was leaving the A-League for Los Angeles to pursue a career in hip-hop.
Now, 10 months later, Joe Champness – aka JOWIC – is riding out the coronavirus crisis in Brisbane with family and celebrating the recent release of a music video on one of hip-hop’s most popular platforms.
In this exclusive interview for Fox Sports, he opens up on the growth of his musical career, his enduring love for football, and having ‘no regrets’.
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HOW IT ALL BEGAN
For Champness, football and music have always been twin passions. The Auckland-born 23-year-old arrived in Australia when he was five, and it wasn’t long before he was chasing both dreams.
“I think my earliest memories of performing are in grade six. My primary school I’d be rehearsing and writing music during the lunch times.
“I’d be playing sport but I’d also be writing – and then as soon as we go back into class I would be asking the teacher if I could rap for the class!
“That’s my earliest memory and from then onwards it was just ‘I like writing and making music’, it kind stuck with me.”
In high school, he struck up a friendship with another hip-hop lover – his DJ, ‘Watty’. The pair continue to collaborate closely on music in the US.
“We go all the way back to middle school, skipping class a little bit in the studio working on music. He stuck by me the whole time with the music. It’s just good to be able to do what you love with good people.”
The decision to walk out on the Jets and his already-established football career was a courageous one. But it’s not the first time Champness has jetted across the world to pursue a dream.
In 2017, having signed an academy deal with Newcastle, Joey and another promising Jets teenager were loaned to a Portuguese second-division team, Academica de Coimbra.
A flashy winger, Champness unsurprisingly developed swiftly in the nation of megastar Cristiano Ronaldo – but he was still working on his music ambitions.
“I set up a studio in the wardrobe! The first thing I did when we landed in Portugal, the first thing I did was I found a music store and I bought the necessary equipment. We set up the only good place in the bedroom to record was in the wardrobe. So that’s what I did, I was recording in a tiny wardrobe.
“(It hurt) my cooking because I’d put the food on and then I’d go record in the wardrobe. And then it would burn.
Living with fellow Jets youngster Antonee Burke-Gilroy, Champness says “He can definitely vouch for me burning whatever it was I was cooking because I was too busy recording.”
THE BALANCING ACT
Back in Australia, Champness quickly rose into the Jets’ senior squad and earned a spot in the Olyroos – Australia’s under-23 squad which recently qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.
He was making a name in Newcastle as an emerging artist too. The club was fully aware, and never tried to dissuade him from his music. If anything, the opposite was true.
After the disappointing loss of the 2018/19 A-League grand final, where Champness came on as a substitute in front of Newcastle’s largest-ever home crowd, JOWIC was lined up to perform ahead of the next home game. Thousands came early to see Joey perform outside the stadium.
CEO Lawrie McKinna was sidestage, having organised the gig. He danced, chanted along with the crowd, hugged Champness at the end of the set. Joey – already a popular player for his direct approach to defenders – signed dozens of shirts, took plenty of selfies.
His teammates, too, were always supportive.
“The boys always wanted me to do a little freestyle, (asking) ‘Joey do a freestyle for us, Joey’s gonna rap’. I didn’t usually do it just like that!
“I just told them to play my music. I said ‘you want to hear me rap, then play my music. I’m trying to chill out.’”
THE DECISION
In the end, Champness knew he had to choose. Football or music. An established career and a path to the Socceroos – or a leap of faith into the world of hip-hop.
“I made the decision that I wanted to fully commit to the music … It was just one of those things where I felt strongly about it. I’m not the type of person who’s gonna ignore it or something like that.”
And so, after a trial month in LA, he walked away with the Jets’ blessing and with the support of his teammates.
“They were really good about it, just like the club were really good, really supportive. I’ve got some really encouraging messages from the boys and, and from senior members of the squad as well. It’s all love for sure.”
He recognised that it could cost him his other love – football – but made peace with the sacrifice.
“When I made that decision, it was my mindset was always, like you’re making that decision to be successful in music. I had to accept that potentially I’m not playing another game.”
It was a staggeringly bold decision, especially as Champness had no record deal and few contacts to call on.
“When I went out there, I didn’t really know anyone, you know what I mean? And I was just really blessed to come into contact with people that I connected to on a friendship level and on the business level.
“No matter how things end up going, I’m thankful for those experiences and those kinds of relationships as well … the ones that took me under their wing and showed me the ropes.”
THE BACKLASH
Plenty was said when Champness flew the proverbial coop.
Some expected him to come crawling back to the Jets – he has two years remaining on an agreement to rejoin Newcastle if he does choose to restart his football career – and few believed he would have what it takes in LA.
But Champness didn’t listen.
“Whenever you’re trying to pursue something, there’s always going to be people saying things and that doesn’t bother me one bit, you know. In fact, I definitely take it as motivation and nothing more. I never take anything negative too personally.”
He put his head down and worked. Learned from experienced names in the industry, built a tight team and honed his sound. Champness spent his time in the studio – mostly a large home studio, far from the cramped wardrobe of his Portugal dorm – and he didn’t play shows.
His influences?
“I gotta say my top three at this time: Biggie (Notorious BIG); Jay Z; and in the modern day – in the last decade – the numbers aren’t really lying about Drake being an influential artist. So those three are probably, from the standpoint of music (my biggest influences).”
TODAY
On Friday, Champness released a music video for his single ‘My Plan’ – the culmination of his time in LA.
It was released on World Star Hip Hop, an iconic platform for the urban scene which boasts 23.5 million YouTube followers, and is well known for establishing the careers of gifted young artists.
The video racked up 75,000 viewers in 24 hours, and Champness says former Jets teammates have reached out with congratulations and to share the song.
Watch the video at the end of the story.
Coronavirus scuppered his plans to celebrate and promote the release with his LA team, forcing him to head home in recent weeks.
“I had to do the whole two week (quarantine) thing, two weeks at the hotel. It gave me a lot of time to write music, you could say that. Literally just sitting in a hotel room for two weeks.”
Back in Brisbane, he’s enjoying seeing his family – but he’s not letting his foot off the accelerator.
“It’s always good spend time with family, they’re the most important people in my life.
“(But) I can work from anywhere in the world.”
For now, the single is his priority. But he has big plans for the future – and he still bears the trademark confidence Jets fans saw so often when he was on the field.
“Everyone wants to be the best and that’s what I want to be – the best me that I can be. “I’m a very competitive person. And once I set my sights on something, I think it’s very important to be to be ruthless in what you’re doing. Whatever it is, I think it’s best to fully commit.
“The goal is to just see me and my people on top.”
‘NO REGRETS’
Champness is still in regular contact with his ex-teammates (“Obviously I watch the games and everything like that”) but he’s not thinking about returning to the fold any time soon.
“I love football. It’s always gonna be a part of me, but no regrets. I’ve got no regrets whatsoever.
“You know, I’ve learned a lot, not only as an artist (but) as a person, and the music’s moving forward. I think if people really look at what’s going on, they’re gonna appreciate how far the music’s come in the last while and hopefully see the potential in what could be to come.”
I think it"s time lorry fukt off
What good? We are still a poorly run club with an owner who wants out. The only difference between the current situation and the one before Lawrie got here is the amount of ex-gypos stinking up the place. Our kits are still the wrong colours, the beer is still mid-strength, we still don't have Jets shaped hats, our wooden spoon collection is more likely to increase than our trophy cabinet for the foreseeable future...
We are a club that no one takes seriously, and for good reason. Having an ex mayor of Gosford isn't doing anything to fix that.