Newcastle Jets CEO John Tsatsimas has assured fans this Sunday's match against the Brisbane Roar will go ahead despite concerns over finances at the cash-strapped club.
The immediate future of the Jets was decidedly cloudy earlier this week when it was revealed the players and coaching staff have not been paid for a week and that the club had no money to meet the $60,000 cost to pay EnergyAustralia staff, security and catering for this weekend's match.
But a series of crisis talks with Football Federation of Australia has given the Jets hope they will be able to stay afloat in the A-League and more immediately, they will be able to stage a match against Brisbane this weekend.
"We are looking forward to it," a confident Tsatsimas said on Thursday.
"Discussions have been on-going and I had a chat with them (FFA) before I came here (to this press conference) and no doubt I will be having them throughout the afternoon as well."
"Things are looking favourable and encouraging and we are looking forward to the game on Sunday and seeing a massive crowd there to support the team. You don't know what you have got until it is gone, now is the time to vote with their feet."
Tsatsimas admitted that the club had reached its most 'dire' point in its short history, but believed it was just a short-term concern and that the team would indeed remain a force in the A-League.
"I think long term we will be fine, it is just a short term issue as we have said during the course of the week," he said.
"But having said that it is an issue when you have got people's livelihoods in your hands, it is a great concern, so hopefully there will be a resolution and we will move forward."
"I am very encouraged with how those discussions have taken place and we are hopeful that we will have some good news, tomorrow if not the next day, sooner rather than later."
"The FFA has been great, so has the Chairman, the coaching staff, the players and so have my staff. I couldn't ask for better people to work with – they have been brilliant."
"You can say what you want about the Newcastle Jets but the people in this club at the game at this point in time I couldn't be prouder of and they have been second to none in their support."
Tsatsimas blamed the lack of any revenue coming to the club from the off-season and appealed to Jets and football fans to get to the game this weekend to support the club and show FFA that Newcastle warrants having a team in the A-League.
"There is a variety of factors – there is only a certain amount of the pie to go around at the times and what you must remember we have just come off an off-season where there is no revenue stream but the boys still need to be paid," Tsatsimas said.
"So it is probably going to happen at the start of a season rather than the end and that is why we urge everyone to get to the game this weekend and to ensure that their team remains in Newcastle."
In team news the Jets will head into the match without key defenders Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Ruben Zadkovic and midfielder Jobe Wheelhouse,