Off the wire
• 5 militants killed in SW Pakistan  • "Warcraft" tops Chinese box office  • Deceased Chinese peacekeeper laid to rest in hometown  • Land, property in S. Korea account for 75.6 pct of per-household net assets  • Urgent: SU-30 fighter jet missing offshore in central Vietnam  • Military command reappointed to oversee New Zealand defense overhaul  • Woman killed by crocodile in Myanmar  • Spotlight: Int'l community condemns Orlando mass shooting as shooter's personal life revealed  • Aussie cancer center discovers new treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia  • American man gets 10 years in Cambodia prison for purchasing child prostitution  
You are here: 　 Home

Chinese businessman named as owner of A-League club Newcastle Jets

Xinhua, June 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

Chinese multi-millionaire Martin Lee was announced on Tuesday as the new owner of A-League club, the Newcastle Jets.

After months of negotiations, Lee and his Ledman Group - a major LED lighting manufacturer - have reportedly bought the Jets for 4.1 million U.S. dollars. This is the first major Chinese investment in the A-League's 11-year history.

The Jets are one of 10 teams who make up Australia's premier men's football league - the Hyundai A-League - and are governed by Football Federation Australia (FFA).

The Jets have been under the FFA's ownership since May last year, after former owner Nathan Tinkler's licence was terminated. Lee was named on Tuesday as the Jets' fourth owner in just 11 years.

Lee is the president and chief executive of Chinese company Ledman Optoelectronics. The company was valued at 1.04 billion U.S. dollars on the Chinese stock exchange.

The Ledman group already owns Chinese lower-tier club Shenzhen Renren FC, sponsors the Chinese Super League and is the naming-rights sponsor for Portugal's second division.

At his media conference in Newcastle, Lee said he was excited about the future of the Jets.

"We see a bright future for football across Asia and the Hyundai A-League is at the forefront as one of the top professional leagues in the region," he said.

"The investment aligns with Ledman's activities in several sectors of the sports industry and I'm excited by the potential of the club."

Another strong focus is that Lee will be to continue to work with the Newcastle community.

"Most of all, I understand that the Newcastle Jets are a very important part of the Newcastle community. I want to work closely with everyone in Newcastle, the fans, members and the local football community, to make this club the best it can be."

Lee is expected to travel to Newcastle every two months and will have his local management team oversee and run the Jets.

Jets coach Scott Miller has several roster spots remaining, including two visa openings, but is said to be waiting on input from a new owner before filling them.

The Jets have appeared in the Asian Champions League once before in 2009, and won their first and only championship in the A-League in the 2007-08 season.

FFA CEO David Gallop said he was impressed by Ledman's plans for the Jets.

"I'm pleased that from the outset community engagement and football development in Newcastle and northern NSW have been top priorities for Ledman," Gallop said.

"This move is significant for the way it demonstrates the Hyundai A-League's multiple connections to Asia." Endit