THE Newcastle Jets are edging closer to a new owner, are in talks with prospective coaches, have a major sponsor interested, are putting the final touches to their playing roster and will open the A-League season with a New Year's Eve derby against the Mariners at Central Coast Stadium.
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Now what they need says Jets chief executive Lawrie McKinna is for the "fans to back us."
"The draw has been done, memberships are on sale, we are playing pre-season games," McKinna said. "We have not got a new owner yet but that is in the process. We are in a far more stable position. Things are falling into place.
"Fans just need to back us. We are going to be here."
The 12-team, 26-round draw for next season was released by Football Federation Australia on Tuesday.
For the third season in the past four, Jets meet their arch enemies on opening night. However, it's the first time they have met in the Mariners' annual New Year's eve bash.
"It is a great start," McKinna said. "Traditionally it has always been a big game between the two clubs. With the season kicking off on December 27, it also gives a few extra days to prepare. It will be a good test first-up."
Local fans will get their first opportunity to watch their team at McDonald Jones Stadium on Tuesday, January 5 against the Carl Robinson-coached Western Sydney Wanderers.
"There will be a little bit of rivalry with Carl and Kenny Miller going down there," McKinna said .
The Jets have 13 home games spread over six days of the week.
Home crowds will be capped at about 12,500, just under 50 per cent capacity, with the hills at both ends of the ground closed.
The Jets' final-round game will be against defending champions Sydney FC at home on Saturday, May 29.
That blockbuster will be one of three home fixtures on a Saturday evening. Newcastle have four home games on Sundays, three on Mondays and one each on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
There will be two full rounds - home and way - with the Jets to meet the Mariners, Glory, City and Roar three times to complete the 26 games.
"We have a few Monday games and a few games in the holidays," McKinna said. "In March and April we play a number of games and there are a few quick turnarounds. Every team is going to have them.You just have to get on with it.:
The league is not planning to house players in hubs - as they did for the restart after the COVID-enforced break in July this year - although officials are mindful that another wave of virus could mean all bets are off at any time. There are contingency plans should tighter restrictions be imposed.
The exception will be Wellington Phoenix, who will be based in Wollongong for at least the opening months of the competition.
Players will be able to live their lives as "normally" as possible, but will need to be risk-averse and adhere to COVID-19 protocols.
Newcastle Jets Draw 2020-21
- Match Number, Date, Home Club, Away Club, Venue, Kick-Off (Local), Kick-Off (AEDT)
5 Thursday, 31 December 2020 Central Coast Mariners Newcastle Jets Central Coast Stadium, Gosford 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
11 Tuesday, 5 January 2021 Newcastle Jets Western Sydney Wanderers FC McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
13 Friday, 8 January 2021 Melbourne City FC Newcastle Jets AAMI Park, Melbourne 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 24 Sunday,
17 January 2021 Newcastle Jets Macarthur FC McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
31 Sunday, 24 January 2021 Western United FC Newcastle Jets GMHBA Stadium, Geelong 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
41 Monday, 1 February 2021 Newcastle Jets Perth Glory McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
45 Saturday, 6 February 2021 Newcastle Jets Brisbane Roar FC McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
49 Wednesday, 10 February 2021 Melbourne Victory Newcastle Jets AAMI Park, Melbourne 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
54 Sunday, 14 February 2021 Newcastle Jets Central Coast Mariners McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
60 Sunday, 21 February 2021 Melbourne City FC Newcastle Jets AAMI Park, Melbourne 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
68 Monday, 1 March 2021 Newcastle Jets Brisbane Roar FC McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
75 Monday, 8 March 2021 Central Coast Mariners Newcastle Jets Central Coast Stadium, Gosford 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
81 Sunday, 14 March 2021 Sydney FC Newcastle Jets WIN Stadium, Wollongong 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
88 Sunday, 21 March 2021 Newcastle Jets Adelaide United McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
96 Monday, 29 March 2021 Newcastle Jets Perth Glory McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
102 Monday, 5 April 2021 Brisbane Roar FC Newcastle Jets Dolphin Stadium, Redcliffe 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
104 Friday, 9 April 2021 Newcastle Jets Wellington Phoenix McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
110 Wednesday, 14 April 2021 Adelaide United Newcastle Jets Coopers Stadium, Adelaide 6:30 PM 7:00 PM
114 Sunday, 18 April 2021 Macarthur FC Newcastle Jets Campbelltown Stadium, Campbelltown 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
117 Wednesday, 21 April 2021 Newcastle Jets Melbourne Victory McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
121 Saturday, 24 April 2021 Perth Glory Newcastle Jets HBF Park, Perth 7:20 PM 9:20 PM
129 Sunday, 2 May 2021 Newcastle Jets Melbourne City FC McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
135 Saturday, 8 May 2021 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Newcastle Jets Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
140 Saturday, 15 May 2021 Newcastle Jets Western United FC McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 5:00 PM 5:00 PM
150 Monday, 24 May 2021 Wellington Phoenix Newcastle Jets WIN Stadium, Wollongong 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
152 Saturday, 29 May 2021 Newcastle Jets Sydney FC McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle 5:00 PM 5:00 PM