Newcastle United Football Club have appointed London-based investment bank Seymour Pierce to handle the sale of the club.
Mike Ashley – attempting to sell Newcastle United
The chairman of Seymour Pierce is Keith Harris, who was involved in selling Chelsea to Roman Abramovich in 2003, and who has recently been brought in to help Mike Ashley sell the club he only bought in May of last year.
The former Football League chairman also brokered the deal that saw Thaksin Shinawatra take over Manchester City last year, and was involved in the buying of West Ham United, which was fronted by the Icelandic businessman Eggert Magnusson.
Keith was also involved in the acquisition of Aston Villa by Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is following the Newcastle fans’ wishes that he sell the club, after allowing Kevin Keegan to leave the club dramatically this month, just after the transfer window closed.
It appeared that players were being bought and sold by the newcastle Board, without the manager Kevin Keegan being told of what was going on.
A Newcastle United statement today said:
“The board of Newcastle United can confirm it has appointed the London-based investment bank Seymour Pierce to act on the potential sale of the club.”
“All matters relating to the sale of the club, including inquiries from interested parties, should go through Seymour Pierce.”
“The club will be making no further comment at this time.”
The sooner the club finds a buyer the better, and certainly Keith Harris has an excellent recent track record in this business – so that’s good news.
Comments welcome.
243 comments so far
Spitfire
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:30 PM
Comment #41Agree with you Simon but I am just thinking about some temporary breathing space and a little stability. If we are not sorted by the end of October I think we are quite literally doomed to relegation. I have some misgivings about any Nigerian takeover. If we have missed out on Arab and Indian money then Ashley or even Fat Freddie seem the next best – sorry the least worst options in the short term
toonfan67
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Comment #42hows it all going ? not sure where any of this bs here…is doing to us…hahaha us get it ? well not sure about any of this r u ???
tom tomb
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Comment #43simon I may be wrong but I doubt the Nigerian thing will happen. Why throw all there big guns into Dubai, then get an offer from Africa? They decided they wanted us after the Man utd game, according to ssn. A lot of things have happened since that game, to extinguish any interest made then.
Ganiyu
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:38 PM
Comment #44Tomb-give nigerian a break
k k forever
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:40 PM
Comment #45SIMON UR RITE MATE CANT BELEVE A WORD WOT MA TELLS U AS FOR IN DEBT HE PAID THE MORGAGE ON THE GROUND OF AND SED WE STILL OWE CASH ON TRANSFERS BUT WHICH CLUB DUSENT CHELSEA STIL OWE 10 MILL ON SHEVCHENCO MATE
King Kev Foreva
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:42 PM
Comment #46Ganiyu,
13 years Ikeja, Lagos
tom tomb
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:42 PM
Comment #47Ganiyu explain- give Nigeria a break -what have I said to warrant that comment?
simon376
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:44 PM
Comment #48With you Spitfire on something in the short term at the least, things are looking very bad at the mo
Tom, I’m not all that sure myself, could just be something to keep the club in the news by all the press. Like you said, if they wanted us for so long, why didnt they make an offer back then
k k forever
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:44 PM
Comment #49GANIYU WOT HAVE THEY BEEN SAYING ON UR NEWS ACROSS THERE AND DO U KNOW HOW MUCH THERE WORTH
toonfan67
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Comment #50Ganiyu….left msg here the other night and for sum reason was left being moderated…hiya mate….welcome….am a geordie, living in shields mate…have read this blog for awhile now so have seen your contributions. forget all the “tests” cheers for the time and effort mate. ok so your patter on the game aint so hot , but the fire is their Ganiyu…lol
well peeps could now be changing their attitudes to you ganiya…hahaahaha…this place makes me laugh at times….
anyway keep the young entuashiam their young un….say do you also speak french ? fooking good on ya mate….”dont let the bastards grind you down” old saying here….keep the faith…black and white army
lol johnny
Lew Davies
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:47 PM
Comment #51Toon Looney – why dont you shut up with your crap?
You dont know anything, just speculating.
What was it yesterday? oh yeah diligence to take 4 weeks.
If you know something then spill the beans, oh dont tell me you are sworn to secrecy!
Grow up son shine, you dont impress anyone here with your self gratifying bullshit.
I mean whats the point eh???????
KNOB
Patrick (Pizzicato)
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:48 PM
Comment #52I think the bottomline is that MA is selling his club. I am just tired of waiting forever and ever, so are we, right?
The next day I am going to expect some news from Seymour Pierce.
P.S. Ed, would you not reuse the picture with MA talking to the reporter please? For some unknown reason, I don’t like that picture that he looked a bit … I don’t know, erm… silly. lol
Mag1Pie
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:48 PM
Comment #53toonLooney27 is talking nonsense….’all interested parties should direct their inquiries to Seymour Pierce’…toonLooney27…come on mate why on earth would Mike Ashley bring in a third party to help sell a club if he had already found a buyer?…that would mean he would be spending unnecessary consultancy costs…sorry mate but your statement is totally illogical…
Ganiyu
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Comment #54Ikeja is a good place for lads foreigners.hope u enjoyed black outs.wel im also in lagos festac town.
simon376
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Comment #55Yeah KK Forever, don’t mind having some debt as all clubs have it. Really clubs should be able to handle that and pay it off over time with all the tv money etc. Maybe we are lucky to have our mortgage paid off and in a better postion than some. I just dont like the way he bragged last year saying all paid off and now saying something totally different. If he had said he had paid of the mortgage but still had to pay off transfers, we would have all been happy and balming the old board. As it is, we’ve heard him lie and make us think even less of him
Ganiyu
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:55 PM
Comment #56Kkforever-news in england is more true and current than the media here.the news just got in this morning.i have a feeling dangote would support him
k k forever
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:56 PM
Comment #57SIMON THAT BECAUSE HE A FAT ARROGANT SH IT AND HE STILL GOT THE CUB CHEAP MATE PROVES IT WOT HE ASKING FOR IT MATE
k k forever
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:57 PM
Comment #58GANIYU IS DANGOTE GOT MUCH CASH
simon376
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:58 PM
Comment #59What you have said just about sums him up KKF
pop
Sep 22, 2008 at 9:59 PM
Comment #60Do you think Michael Owen could come out and speak for the players. He could tell us if the players do want KK back at the club. I think he is the only player that could come out and speak to the press as he’ll probably be away in Jan and is one of the clubs only assets at the mo so would doubt he would be reprimanded. waddya think?
hitman
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Comment #61http://www.nvamanagement.com/
peter grigio
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Comment #62ganiyu could you recommend a good Nigerian wine?
Ganiyu
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Comment #63Kkforever-yea stinking rich.but he would support them if he was interested.
Roger The Lodger
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Comment #64“ganiyu could you recommend a good Nigerian wine?”
Heres a few Nigerian wines for you,
WAAH, Martins is shite
WURRGGH, geremi is crap
MEHHHH Yobo is garbage
WAHHHHHHHHH Taiwo is rubbish
STEVEYO
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Comment #65Just watched SSN 10pm bulletin and they have direct qoutes from reps of the Nigerians saying they are serious about buying the toon and want to reinstate KK as boss also saying that they have instructed lawyers to hold 350 mil for the purchase.Toon have hired this Harris gadgie to oversee the sale to ensure a smooth transaction.
Got further news from Nigerian workmate who says if its who he thinks are behind it at least two of the businessmen behind it are oil rich billionaires and could afford major transfer funding after the club is bought
HERES HOPING ALL THAT IS TRUE!!
Gordon
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Comment #66Wow an actual statement from NUFC updating us.
Whatever next? A win against Spurs perhaps?
Ganiyu
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Comment #67Peter-sorry wats wrong with da one in uk
jules
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Comment #68What happened to the extra money Ashley made by selling the season tickets 3 years in advance ?
Anyone any idea how much this represented ?
k k forever
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Comment #69SPOT ON GORDON IS THAT 3 IN THE LAST MOTH NOW
peter grigio
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Comment #70Ganiyu- I search the world for fine wines. I am indeed a purveyor of fine wines. The Uk unfortunately apart from a nice little vineyard in Gloucestershire. Does not possess such a beast. Sorry for not talking football chaps, indeed some of you don’t! However I surf all places in my quest to be the ultimate connoisseur. I also like Newcastle, the fans are really funny and proud. Well done chaps, stiff upper lip -BASH ASH.
pop
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Comment #71Keith Harris appointed to sell NUFC, does that mean Orville will be put in the cupboard for a few weeks?
Dan13
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Comment #72Just got back from reserve match and Kieth Gillispe ran them around, an old legs against fresh. It certainly didn’t affect him.
I also seen and waved at terry mc, though he’d went.
although it may have been his son on bench (Greg mcdermott) probs the reason he was there then
piman
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Comment #73If I could choose who to buy the club it would be the Indian guy, Anil Ambani. I think it would be an amazing opportunity to market the NUFC all over India, one of the largest markets in the world.
k k forever
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Comment #74PETER GRIGEO HAVE U SAMPLED GINOLAS WINE YET GINOLA GINOLA
k k forever
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Comment #75WELL HAVE U
peter grigio
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Comment #76Good tip chaps- put your money into fine wines. As you know there is an economic downturn, wine holds and increases its value if the right vintage is purchased. Last fiscal year I made a net 23.1% gain. This year I am currently on 17.8%. Must go now my New Zealand SauvignonBlanc is at 5deg C and is shreeking quaff me. Ciao
k k forever
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Comment #77WAS IT 3 0 AT THE END DAN
Dan13
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Comment #78k k forever
He hasn’t
Dan13
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Comment #79yeh 3-0 to sheffield
STEVEYO
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Comment #80Stick your wine where the sun dont shine bonnylad you cant beat a bottle o dog