Newcastle United Managing Director Derek Llambias has told Sky Sports News today that Barry Moat has stepped up his interest in his home town club.
Ashley, Moat and LLambias on Saturday
The local Newcastle businessman has been strongly linked with an approach for Newcastle United, but has yet to officially confirm his interest.
It is now understood that the self-made millionaire has officially opened talks with the current owner Mike Ashley, in a possible £100M purchase of the club.
There was news in the Telegraph this morning suggesting that his loan application with Barclays Bank has indeed been approved, but that his offer was lower than the £100M requested by Ashley, and thought to be closer to around £70m – £80M.
Moat sat alongside Ashley during Newcastle’s easy 3-0 victory over Reading on Saturday, and certainly has the backing of the club’s fans. Moat is a fan himself, of course.
And just after noon today Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley arrived in his private helicopter at the club’s training ground for talks with Moat.
With some of the Newcastle squad still on the training pitch preparing for tomorrow’s game with Sheffield Wednesday, Ashley and Derek Llambias left the helicopter and walked towards the offices at the Newcastle Darsley Park complex for discussions with some of the senior players.
So we expect some official announcement fairly soon.
Should Barry take control at St James’ Park, which we are hoping for, his first move will be to appoint Alan Shearer as the new Newcastle manager on a full-time basis.
That move alone will lift the spirits of Newcastle fans everywhere, and we have to hope we’ll hear something official, even today.
Here’s hoping. 😀
Oh, and a win tomorrow night against Sheffield Wednesday will also help to lift the Newcastle fans’ spirits too!
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
186 comments so far
gorskino10
Aug 18, 2009 at 1:31 PM
Comment #41I have to say dont get carried away he isnt a Multi-Billionaire what clubs now need as owner, Man City,Chelsea,Portsmouth which are the latest clubs with owners with alot of money but Moat doesnt have these resources, so for anyone thinking of him pumping money into the club think again, he can only JUST reach the 100 Million price so he will be doing a job like Everton,Wigan owner who dont have enough money for transfers so they have to make the money through sales to buy which isnt great for the longterm of Newcastle United IF we can manage to get promoted, because he will not be able to give money which promoted clubs need like Stoke,Hull and we could see our club quickly back into the championship 🙁 also Per Cijan Skejebred is wanted by Arsenal and wants to move there.
belfast toon
Aug 18, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Comment #42Tick tock tick tock
Ross
Aug 18, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Comment #43Ashley will have clambered out of his stupid helicopter and been like
“Derek mukka, where are we now then?”…”training ground?..what do the lads do here like?”
magpie4ever
Aug 18, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Comment #44Maybe Llambias blindfolded MA at the training ground, spun him around & the player he pointed at was next to be sold?
Just a thought ;0)
RyanToon
Aug 18, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Comment #4513.05 According to reports in The Chronicle, Liverpool have shown an interest in Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor, who is also a target for Everton.
Chizzy_Toon
Aug 18, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Comment #46I bet F’Ash thought there would be a bit of a free buffet being layed on, but when he found there wasnt one decided to fly back home. Just my opinion though 🙂
roymorten79
Aug 18, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Comment #47i think everything with moat is a setup to get the other consertiums interested.. and it now looks like it worked after they sat together at the reading match.. (moat is helping ashley to sell the club)
belfast toon
Aug 18, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Comment #48Well done mag4 lmao
I think both partys have to be in the same place at the same time to sign in front of lawyers
Wishful thinking??
Toon_Army
Aug 18, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Comment #49Can’t see Taylor Leaving till this mess is sorted, he is a Geordie remember…
bill
Aug 18, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Comment #50Belfast Toon:
I think that you may be right. I cannot see the point of flying in and out within an hour to do much else, unless he found out about the free lunch.
lesh
Aug 18, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Comment #51Belfast, both parties don’t have to be together to sign a contract. It can be done on exchanged copies where each party signs a copy and swap for countersigning.
Ash’ll have been up ot negotiate bulk order with Greggs
mylestoon
Aug 18, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Comment #52lash, hhahahaha. bulk order with gregs, brilliant!
Toon_Army
Aug 18, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Comment #53Who knows why he was there, certainly it had something to do with the sale of the Club but I don’t expect to hear anything before tommorow… The fact that it stated Ash left and Llambias stayed gives me the impression that a deal has not been completed yet but agreed in principle…
magpie4ever
Aug 18, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Comment #54Clearing his desk? Picking up his paying in book? Flying somewhere else & needed the bog so stopped off? He’s up here for a reason as he doesnt usually bother his Ar5e to come up! Keep everything crossed eh!
roscoe
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Comment #55i reckon a deal has been agreed and signed and now they are just completing the necessary paperwork which is why ashleys guy who does the donkey work.. LambiASS is still there.
Fat Ash back to london to celebrate while The Toon gets ready for an ALMIGHTY PARTY tomorrow.
Holding Thumbs.
Ile
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Comment #56So Moat might be new owner but does anyone know about his finances? Last everybody cheered when MA took over…
I really hope that Moat money enough for new players and wages.
lesh
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Comment #57Like it rosco…. LlambiASS does the donkey work.
Brayliantly punny
Toon_Army
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Comment #58Getting the Structure at the club right is the most important thing for me, money is nice ut in football not many clubs have it… If we can have a good Manager that buys and sells well there is no reason we can’t have a sucesfull future…
coxonfamily
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Comment #59everyone thinks money is the way forward but not me! think about it… if the top 10 teams were all owned by billionaires they would be alot of teams dissapointed as they wouldnt get their money back when they not in europe 😉
sahota
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Comment #60u never know whats going on till its announced in press conference. We have been through this several times already.
Johno Toon
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Comment #61This is turning out to be a good day for eh? First Mclovin could be coming back in and now ashley on the way out!
toonluvva
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Comment #62Just a thought. Perhaps if Moat cannot come up with all the money to buy Ashley out completely, MA might just let Moat have say 60% of the club. This would make sense to MA who could hold his remaining 40% and hope that if we are promoted at the end of the season he can sell his remaining shares at a higher price.
It also allows Moat more time to attract investors which will be easier if we have been promoted.
This would be a “win-win” situation, MA gets some cash back upfront, Moat can take control of the club, and the fans will be pleased that MA is on his way out.
Personally, and I know that a lot of the fans hate MA, I am sorry that the last 2 years have been so unsuccessful for both us and Ashley. It may not be too late though. Moat sacks LLambsy, appoints someone who knows about football and can give clear leadership of the club from SJP not from London, this will create stability and allow us to go forward. Who knows if MA sticks around as a minority stakeholder he might actually learn something from the whole debacle.
Waddles mullet
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Comment #63Ryan
I’ve got a feeling, that tonights gonna be a good night!
Johno Toon
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Comment #64I would be happy with that toonluvva
magpie4ever
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Comment #65Ok so Moat isn’t a billionaire but he does have US backers apparently. It’s is alleged that he has been to the bank with his begging bowl but in all honesty we don’t know that for sure as its press talk. How about looking at it this way. He has actually been waiting for the paperwork to be completed by the banks and not a decision on a loan. Even if it was a for a loan why believe it is a loan purely for the money needed to purchase the club and not for money for investing into the team…or both. If Moat has backers could he not be buying the club and his backers investing in the team as and when he completes the deal. OK he may not have the funds to complete with the Chelskis or Man City’s but right here and now give me stability, a well run club, communication, and an end to MA’s disastrous reign any day! We’re not competing with the above clubs at the minute but if we won promotion then it’s not impossible that we could attract further investment at any stage in the future!!
shorty
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Comment #66what is being done with the 25 mil + that we have made on transfers going out? If we arent buying anyone are we at least paying off the debt? should make the club more of an attractive purchase at least.
coxonfamily
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Comment #67aye as magpie4ever says we cant compare ourselves with the likes of chelsea and city.. reality check is still needed by some fans unfortunatly 🙁 theirs QPR in our league who have extremly rich owners and they are no further forward 🙂
Toon_Army
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Comment #68I bet Moat went to the Newcastle branch of Barclays 😉
How may we help you sir…
punk skunk...
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Comment #69Keep thinkin’ that when this is all over everyone will shut the F*** up about money & concentrate on football…But, it won’t be like that, will it?..
…We’ll still have plenty of nay-sayers whomever comes into the club…Sad but true!..
…Ah well!..
NUFC-0809-Oh Dear
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Comment #70TAXI FOR A FAT TW@!
punk skunk...
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Comment #71Private plane, more like!..
RyanToon
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Comment #72so have i waddles
NUFC-0809-Oh Dear
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Comment #73@ Punk Skunk
I will drive the fat git if it gets rid of him!
magpie4ever
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Comment #74Rumours coming through that Ashley was actually sneaking JFK into the training ground under his shirt….no wait…sorry lads it was just his fat gut!!!
jckie15
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Comment #75I am a little sceptical about this to be honest….seems a little strange that Ashley would fly in for twenty minutes then go, then Llambias coem out and say moat is in talks to takeover the club….seems a little pointless….he is in talks but Ashleys is only there for twenty minutes…..something isnt ringing true….I hope to god its sorted by tonight or tomorrow at latest, but i really have my doubts….possibly skysports have put pressure on Derek for some info and he has blurted his mouth like he did when he said there were more than 2 groups had bid £100 mil….If i was you i would just hold off on the celebrations! With these COCK-neys anything could happen yet! Plus we only have 12 days left in transfer market! and need defenders, midfielders and strikers! one a day i reckon ha ha
jckie15
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Comment #76He may just be sanctioning a deal for lovenkrands / campbell! Or may have just dropped Llambias off on his way to scotland….or even went to put a for sale sign up at the training ground!
punk skunk...
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Comment #77NUFC 0809,
take a truck for his £100m mate!..
…I’ll ride shotgun!..
🙂
NUFC-0809-Oh Dear
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Comment #78jckie15.
Where did 20mins come from.
Reports stated he arrived at 12pm and left at 1:10pm
1hr 10mins with my maths…
Doocey
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Comment #79I’ve got the feeling that nothing will happen for another week besides the Wednesday game.
chanty
Aug 18, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Comment #80on the money situation, can anyone see man city making a profit this year? having all that money upfront will not benefit them long term, you need your business to operate at a profit to be successful
newcastle need a good structure in place, dnt have a wage structure that can be paid for by incoming revenue and what profit we do make can be invested in players, facilities, scouting network etc