Knights ‘unlikely’ to welcome new owner

Newcastle fans are unlikely to welcome a new cashed-up owner of the NRL club after the failed experiment with Nathan Tinkler, says Knights Members Club chairman Nick Dan amid reports linking British billionaire Marwan Koukash to the Hunter.

Dan, whose organisation holds a 20 per cent stake in the Knights under the club’s new ownership model, ensured safeguards such as the $10 million dollar bank guarantee were in place when Tinkler took over in 2011.

The 55-year-old Koukash, who bought and rescued Super League’s Salford Red Devils from financial strife in 2013, reportedly wants to do the same with the Knights following fellow billionaire Nathan Tinkler’s exit in May.

Former Knights premiership winner Matthew Johns said on his Triple M radio show on Wednesday that Koukash, whose net worth is estimated at up to $3 billion and is the biggest owner of race horses in Britain, wants to extend his portfolio to the NRL.

But Dan said it was likely to be a case of once bitten twice shy for Knights’ fans.

“I think they would be very, very apprehensive after the failed experiment from the past few years,” Dan told AAP.

“There are much more ownership benefits in the community model for the fans and for Newcastle and it makes for a much stronger business.

“Hopefully, these reports will spur more people on to becoming members of the club.”

It is unclear how advanced discussions with the media-friendly Koukash are.

Dan was unaware of any discussions and the NRL did not confirm that any talks had taken place.

However, the NRL did not close the door on another billionaire being granted control of the Knights.

“We have invested heavily in transferring control of the Knights’ ownership and now our focus is on bedding down the business,” a NRL spokesman said.

“The NRL has indicated that, at some point in the future, we will entertain a sale to a long-term owner.

“At that time, we will need to be satisfied that any new ownership brings all the right values for the club, the community and the game.”

The NRL took over ownership of the Knights in June.

The game’s governing body owns 80 per cent of the club under the new model.

Koukash has poured plenty of money into Salford, making no secret of his desire to make them the Super League’s leading club with several big-name signings including Adrian Morley, Gareth Hock and Kevin Locke.

Johns was adamant Koukash was interested in doing the same in the NRL.

“Dr Koukash is obviously a big NRL fan and his goal is to own an NRL team,” Johns said.

“He is absolutely desperate to buy the Newcastle Knights and is about to begin the process to be able to take ownership.

“Now the question is, can the people of Newcastle and the NRL trust another billionaire private owner?”

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