The Sun is reporting that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and PCP Capital Partner’s lead Amanda Staveley have held their first face to face meeting at the Paradise Indian restaurant in Hampstead.
The meeting was arranged by media mogul Richard Desmond.
The meeting ended with “everybody smiling and with various hugs and kisses” – so the meal must have been really good!
But the news is not all good for Newcastle fans in that it is now almost impossible for Staveley to buy Newcastle before the end of January.
So Rafa Benitez may not get the transfer funds he needs in January to improve our squad – those funds need to come from Mike Ashley.
Amanda Staveley – could be the new face of Newcastle
But the report is that both parties found “common ground, ” and the negotiations will continue.
The interesting news is that when Desmond said goodbye separately to Staveley and then Ashley, he punched the air in celebration.
That meal must have been delicious!
But joking aside this meeting is excellent news for Newcastle fans because it shows that both parties are serious and the takeover could well happen if not within two months.
Mike Ashley – leaving restaurant followed by wife Linda
If the deal is successful, it looks like Amanda Staveley will take an active interest in Newcastle, and she will be the new face of Newcastle as the lead owner and Chief Executive.
That sounds very good.
Ms. Staveley is using the investment from Dubai and Saudi Arabia to help fund the deal.
Here’s some interesting trivia from the Sun Report:
“SunSport understands the sportswear magnate delayed a planned trip to America to meet Staveley in London on Wednesday.”
“Ashley regularly dines at Paradise, which is just a 20-minute drive from his family home in the leafy village of Totteridge in North London.”
“It is a low-key restaurant, with the cheapest curry costing just £6.45 – 50p less than a chicken curry at the sports bar at St James’ Park.”
Ashley attended the dinner with his wife, Linda.
To finish on some good news – although the two parties seem far apart on the price both are now said to be confident that some middle ground can be reached.
Maybe a compromise deal at £275M?
Hope so.
Comments welcome.
14 comments so far
toontaff2
Dec 8, 2017 at 8:31 AM
Comment #1Wrong bus(es)
toontaff2
Dec 8, 2017 at 8:33 AM
Comment #2No curry stains on Mike’s shirt? 😯
sing in the corner
Dec 8, 2017 at 8:37 AM
Comment #3The power drinker in all his glory.
20 pints of Cobra and he’s anybody’s!
lochinvar
Dec 8, 2017 at 8:38 AM
Comment #4Is there curry sauce all over the Twatter thingy this morning
sing in the corner
Dec 8, 2017 at 8:39 AM
Comment #5Toontaff @2
Schoolboy error like, white shirt in a curry hoose?
He’s probably just switched his shirt for the tablecloth nearest the door whilst doing a runner.
Spoof
Dec 8, 2017 at 8:47 AM
Comment #6If a deal does go through it appears as if some are concerned about the January window, will it be done in time to have an impact on the window.
I could be wrong here, I’m sure someone will be able to find out, but if a deal gets agreed and a period of exclusivity then occurs could Staveley’s team not forward cash into the club to purchase players, like I say I could be wrong but did Man City not buy Robinho whilst their takeover was in the exclusivity period, if I recall correctly Robinho was bought before Shiekh Mansour was installed as owner.
Spoof
Dec 8, 2017 at 8:49 AM
Comment #7But they bought Robinho with Sheikh Mansours money.
ashleysmate
Dec 8, 2017 at 8:50 AM
Comment #8They met up like Romeo and Juliet to discuss some private investigations, it looks like we’re not in dire straits anymore and soon we could all be dancin by the pool x
Tinman
Dec 8, 2017 at 8:51 AM
Comment #9Hold on. The first meeting? I was lead to believe they had a face to face earlier this week and last week. And how is Mikey going to have his other scheduled face to face on Friday when he is in the USA?
JohnJ
Dec 8, 2017 at 8:55 AM
Comment #10Well I see it as a positive sign with the two main people, seller & buyer, meeting face to face for the first time! So let’s hope there will be a positive outcome as soon as possible – let’s also hope that there can be some sort of agreement on cash for Rafa to strengthen our team before the end of January – the start of next month would be even better still!!!
hibbit
Dec 8, 2017 at 8:56 AM
Comment #11tinman
the face to face have only been the legal teams
one such meeting is taking place this morning
hibbit
Dec 8, 2017 at 8:57 AM
Comment #12the big plus for me it’s out in the open
Tinman
Dec 8, 2017 at 9:08 AM
Comment #13I’m just teasing hibbit 😉
Looks to me like it is done and dusted. Legal team will be writing the deal up now as we speak. Happy days
Moonraker15
Dec 8, 2017 at 9:56 AM
Comment #14We’ve waited 10 years! Another couple of months won’t hurt! They have an agreement in principle so funds will be found for team strengthening in January! Hurray!