SYDNEY: Scottish Premiership club Dundee United have confirmed chairman Stephen Thompson is in talks with the troubled Newcastle Jets after the Australian A-League club had their licence revoked.

The club said Thompson was acting in his capacity as part of a consortium.

“Dundee United is not involved in talks with the Newcastle Jets, this is a personal venture for the chairman as part of a consortium,” it said in a statement on its website.

“Any involvement of Mr Thompson in this or any other venture is entirely his prerogative and the board, which he remains fully committed to, is focused purely on Dundee United FC delivering a positive end to the season and building for next season.”

Football Federation Australia on Wednesday stripped the Jets tycoon owner Nathan Tinkler of his licence to run the club after he put it into voluntary administration.

FFA chief David Gallop said a new licence would be issued and be owned and controlled by the sport’s governing body, meaning a club from Newcastle, about 160 kilometres (100 miles) north of Sydney, will remain in the domestic A-League competition.

Thompson has reportedly been involved in talks with both Tinkler and the FFA about buying the Jets.

He said in another statement on the Dundee United website: “It’s not unusual for football club board members to have other business interests and I’m no different.

“There are confidentiality agreements in place regarding the situation in Australia that stops me going into further detail.”

Tinkler said Wednesday there was a Aus$5 million ($3.9 million) offer from Scotland for the Jets and a deal was imminent. Gallop said the FFA would continue talks with several interested parties.

The Newcastle Jets finished bottom of the A-League standings after a turbulent season with just three wins.

