Thompson, who spent two weeks in Australia earlier this month meeting with key stakeholders in the Hunter and also with FFA chiefs in Sydney, struck a deal to purchase the Jets from previous owner Nathan Tinkler in May for an estimated $3.5 million.
That deal was scuppered when embattled former mining tycoon Tinkler was stripped of the licence by FFA on the same day he placed the cub in receivership as it reeled under an avalanche of debt.
Back in Scotland as talks continue, Thompson was reluctant to shed much light on how far they have progressed and whether a deal would be done in time for his consortium to take charge next season.
Nor would he divulge any details of his current valuation of a club which has been relaunched under the banner of the peak body as the liquidator picks over the carcass of the previous entity, Newcastle Jets Football Operations, which has liabilities totalling $22 million.
“We have signed a non-disclosure agreement with Football Federation Australia, that’s all I am really prepared say at this moment,” said Thompson.
Thompson, who first expressed an interest in taking control of the club in November, is convinced he can make the Jets not only sustainable off the field – on the back of a loyal membership base of around 10,000 and a revamped business model – but also on it.
His 14-day fact-finding trip has only hardened his resolve.
He and fellow Tangerines director Mike Martin, a former executive with global banking group HSBC, are the main protagonists behind the bid to acquire the Jets and formed a two-man delegation in Australia.
“Australia is a very interesting market and it's a growth market, and with the national team winning the Asian Cup it's exciting times for the game in Australia and the sport is on the up there,” Thompson said in May.
After the calamity of Tinkler’s tenure as owner, FFA is keen to make sure that new owners have a proven pedigree in football, which weighs heavily in Thompson’s favour.
Since taking a taking a majority share at Tannadice in 2002, Thompson has cut $13 million in debt down to less than $2 million through prudent management practices and the sale of Tangerines players.
