NORTHERN NSW Football's decision to introduce a rule allowing the Jets to likely field two-time A-League grand final winner Stuart Musialik as a mentor player in their youth side's state league campaign has split the clubs.
On Monday, representatives from
Hamilton, Lake Macquarie and Edgeworth expressed their opposition to the concession, which was not part of initial debates over regulations for the Jets under 20s' second year in the NNSW State League.
While representatives from all nine clubs believed the timing of the rule's introduction six weeks out from the season was not ideal, Valentine, Weston, Broadmeadow, Lambton Jaffas, Charlestown and South Cardiff backed the initiative.
They supported the move given it was made to help the Adamstown junior and former Weston first-grader get his professional career back on track with the Jets, who he won a grand final with in 2007-08.
Musialik, who turns 28 this month, has not played in the A-League since February 2011 because of injury and off-field issues.
The Jets have invited the midfielder, a Beijing Olympian, to train with them with a view to helping him resurrect his career.
The senior mentor role, for an over-age and uncontracted player in the under-20 side, was created after talks with NNSWF boss David Eland and Jets chief executive Robbie Middleby.
After a vote on regulations dictating the Jets' participation in the league was deadlocked, the NNSWF board decided on the guidelines.
The mentor position was added to the rules after the initial debates ended in a stalemate.
Eland called the club presidents to tell them of the rule and to seek their feedback.
Lake Macquarie and Edgeworth submitted written objections to the guideline.
Edgeworth treasurer Warren Mills said the concession was too much.
"It's six weeks out from the competition and the Jets are introducing new rules again," Mills said.
"Is it the national Jets youth league competition and we're playing in it, or is it the NBN league and we're helping them out by having a team in?
"We believe he's taking the position of a young bloke. We've got no issue with Stuey but we believe it's not right to be introducing new rules now. It disrespects our competition."
He said other clubs were not given the same latitude when wanting to make changes and that Musialik could benefit equally from playing with another state league club.
"At his age he's not going to be a better player being with the Jets youth than an NBN club," he said.
"He could achieve just the same at an NBN club."
Lake Macquarie secretary Jim Armstrong said his club objected to the rule because it went against the reason the Jets youth were in the competition.
"Stuart Musialik is a proven A-League player," Armstrong said.
"If he is to achieve this aim of coming back, it needs to go through conventional channels.
"We remain supportive of the inclusion of the Jets youth team in the state league on the basis that it promotes youth with a strong focus on regional talent.
"We're not supportive of using it as a vehicle to bring back proven and experienced A-League players.
"We're sympathetic to Stuart's situation but we don't believe the integrity of the competition should be compromised.
"We're disappointed it was made without true consultation. It was offered to us as a fait accompli."
Hamilton secretary Con Gounis said his club did not make a written submission but had concerns about the move.
"The decision came with the season almost upon us," Gounis said.
"We appreciate he is a favourite of Newcastle and we want him back in the game but perhaps he could have come through and played with a local club.
"The Jets side is a youth team."
The other side of the debate was that Musialik's potential comeback would be best served playing and training with the Jets.
Weston secretary Shane Johnson said he would be disappointed if any club voted against the initiative and that
Musialik needed to be training full-time with the Jets rather than part-time with a state league club.
"If we can't help a local boy like Stuart potentially get back, we're all a bit too worried about our own backyard," Johnson said.
"Concessions have to be made for local people when it comes to the Jets youth team. Sometimes it's about morals rather than rules.
"He played in a grand final for us in 2004 so we might be a bit biased, but if we can help him get back, why not?"
Broadmeadow president Steve Foteff agreed.
"We support it in principle given it is offering him a chance because he is local," Foteff said.
"The other side of it is, we feel all the clubs need to focus more on their own player roster and not so much on other teams.
"And one player is not going to make that much difference to them."
Jaffas secretary John Hamilton said clubs needed to do what was best for Musialik.
"We've got no hesitations in supporting Stuart, knowing that he's gone through a few hard times," Hamilton said.
"I think if we didn't it would be because of self-interest and we're better than that.
"It's only a game at the end of the day, and if we can't support a local lad, then shame on us."
Charlestown secretary Stephen Wright said:
"Giving the bloke a lifeline is good, it's just the process that upset the clubs," Wright said.
"It's good for football in the area to have people like him playing in that league."
South Cardiff president Peter Brown said: "I didn't have a problem with Stuart coming back into the competition.
"I was concerned with 'where to from here' but I was assured the rule wouldn't be used for other purposes.
"It was very short notice but in principle we don't have a problem with it as long as we're kept informed and it's reviewed on a case-by-case basis."
Valentine operations manager Mick Hugo had no issue with the move.
"It's good for the game and it's good that they're trying to help a local boy as well," he said.
"He's not an outsider and if he gets back into the game, all well and good."
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