At a general meeting in September 1998, Sharks members backed the privatisation of the club, endorsing prominent Adelaide Greek Australian businessman Con Makris as its new owner with a 51 per cent share of the Sharks. However, the club was to last just one more year in the National Soccer League. Its final hurrah was a 1–0 Adelaide derby win over City – the last time the two clubs would face off in the competition. The Sharks withdrew from the league just before the 1999–2000 season was due to kick-off, debts having mounted.