THE NSW Office of State Revenue has moved to wind up the Newcastle Jets over unpaid debts.
The news comes just days after controversial owner Nathan Tinkler publicly declared that creditors were ‘‘getting paid as we speak’’ and outstanding debts would ‘‘all be resolved’’.
Documents filed in the NSW Supreme Court reveal the action was taken last month against Newcastle Jets Football Operations.
The matter was listed for a directions hearing on February 25.
But Mr Tinkler told the Newcastle Herald through a spokesman on Thursday night that ‘‘the matter to which you refer has been resolved today’’.
It is understood the debt was a six-figure sum related to payroll tax.
The matter was still listed on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission website late on Thursday.
The Jets have been in turmoil since a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Adelaide United in Adelaide 13 days ago, with Mr Tinkler sacking five senior players and three members of the coaching staff but sparing coach Phil Stubbins the axe.
With the future of the club under a cloud, Football Federation Australia moved quickly to allay fans’ fears.
‘‘FFA has been aware for some time that the Newcastle Jets have had payments outstanding with the NSW Office of State Revenue [OSR],” an FFA spokesman said earlier on Thursday. ‘‘We are also aware of the action undertaken by the OSR.
‘‘This debt is among those contemplated in the formal notice provided to the club this week. It’s FFA expectation that this matter will be addressed urgently as part of the undertakings given by the Hunter Sports Group.’’
This is not the first time the club has faced insolvency action under Mr Tinkler’s ownership, with the Australian Taxation Office moving to liquidate eight Tinkler companies in December, 2012, including the Jets and Newcastle Knights, which the coal baron formerly owned.
Mr Tinkler’s finances have been under intense scrutiny for several years as the former billionaire’s business empire crumbled.
His thoroughbred racing and breeding empire, Patinack Farm, has been broken up and is being sold off to pay debts, he owes $22million to retail giant Gerry Harvey and Patinack Farm Administration creditors are chasing $4.7million in the courts.
It was reported last October the tax office had registered two mortgages over Mr Tinkler’s stud farms with reports he faced tax debts of almost $40million. But last month, the 38-year-old said he didn’t owe the $40million, saying he successfully argued against the debts during arbitration in 2014.
Title searches conducted on Patinack Farm properties by the Herald revealed a deed of agreement and caveat held by the ATO for unknown amounts, with the debts due in May this year.
Sole director of Newcastle Jets Football Operations is Mr Tinkler’s sister, Donna Dennis, and the company is owned by Mr Tinkler.
The Herald reported on Thursday that another Tinkler-related company, Serene Lodge Investments, had been hit by court action from a creditor chasing money. IT company Reddog Technology has lodged wind-up proceedings in the Queensland Supreme Court with a directions hearing set for February 27.
The Jets have lurched from one crisis to another this season.
Facing a player revolt, Stubbins flew to Brisbane last week for crisis talks with Mr Tinkler. The next day, Mr Tinkler moved to terminate the contracts of captain Kew Jaliens and senior players Joel Griffiths, David Carney, Adrian Madaschi and Billy Celeski, and sacked assistant coaches Clayton Zane, Neil Young and Andrew Packer.
Assistant coach Michael Bridges resigned last Friday, expressing his disappointment at how the sackings were handled.
Argentinian striker Jeronimo left the Jets this week in ‘‘a mutual termination’’ of his contract.
The roster had already been depleted by the departures of Mark Birighitti, Jonny Steele, Sam Gallaway and Marcos Flores.
Home-grown Olyroos winger Andrew Hoole will leave for Sydney FC at season end.
The exodus also included former Jets chief executive Robbie Middleby and chairman Ray Baartz, who resigned those positions on January 8. Mr Tinkler took the club off the market two days later and assumed a hands-on role as chairman.
He missed an FFA-imposed deadline of last Saturday to settle debts, understood to be significantly more than the $500,000 floated in media interviews.
After discussions on Monday, the FFA issued a show-cause notice giving him ‘‘a short period’’ to respond to their concerns.
Having won just one of 15 games to be sitting second-last, a new-look Jets squad will try to salvage something from the wreckage when they host Brisbane at Hunter Stadium on Friday night.