Keith Downie with Sky Sports has followed up on his understanding of the current state of the Bin Zayed Group’s attempted takeover of Newcastle.
This is what Keith has written about why there has been no breakthrough on the deal:
What I will say, though, is that I have serious reservations about the proposed Bin Zayed group takeover.
It’s my understanding that, despite their claims, they have still not submitted proof of funds.
They say they have submitted all of the paperwork, but that’s not what I’m hearing.
The word I’m getting from a number of sources is that they don’t have the money to buy the club.
I do think their interest is genuine and there have been talks, but I think the reality is that they don’t have the funds to complete the takeover.
It was Keith Downie who questioned Peter Redding’s statement from BZG earlier this week. He called into question not only Peter’s credibility but also that of BZG.
Yesterday, Sun reporter Justin Allen stood by his reporting from May 26th when he broke the deal.
He has always maintained that the deal was nearing completion and thus refutes what Keith Downie is reporting.
Here is a tweet from June 3 in which Allen furthers his claims of a deal being practically complete.
Mike Ashley has agreed to sell the club for.£350m to the Bin Zayed Group. FACT. Contracts have been signed. FACT. That paperwork is with the Premier League. FACT.
I also refer you to two public on-the-record statements since I broke the story from the group.— Justin Allen (@justinallen1976) June 3, 2019
We just don’t know who is correct at this point until more information comes to light. What we do know at this point is that Mike Ashley is still doing damage to our club.
It will be interesting to see what kind of a contract Steve Bruce will be on if he is announced as expected.
If he is on a one-year rolling contract like the one he is on now with Sheffield Wednesday, then there may still be hope.
However, if he is given a three to four-year deal then it’s not looking good.
We half expect him to be given the Alan Pardew special, to be honest.
75 comments so far
geordietom
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:19 AM
Comment #1repost …
have to say its always been this way with wor club.nowt ever go’s right . we just get on a firm footing and the old curse kicks back in. its the the younger generation of toon fans i feel sorry for . having to put up with all the shite going on at wor club . 65 years old now supported NEWCASTLE all my life . at least we had the Keegan years SIR BOBBY ROBSON . RAFA for a short period of time i know wish it could of been more but it was not meant to be. the curse kicked in again. will we ever get rid of the curse ? dunno your guess is as good as mine …
martoon
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:20 AM
Comment #2Why would you agree to buy something if you knew you didn’t have the money?
RobLeenio
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:20 AM
Comment #3Hmm, not sure we can read too much into what length of contract (if any) Bruce is given. At the end of the day, most clubs have an incumbent manager on a contract when they are bought.
Also not sure about the proof of funds not being given – they have said it has been twice and the club have not refuted it. Surely given Ashley’s track record he would have come out and called them tyre kickers by now if that was the case?
I think Downie is deflecting blame from Ashley, here. Not sure what his motives are, but we all know who the one common factor has been in the breakdown of all possible sale processes in the past and it ain’t BZG.
lochinvar
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:20 AM
Comment #4“The Alan Pardew special ”
Is that an extra in a massage parlour ?
martoon
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:22 AM
Comment #5Tom I noticed you mentioned a cruise – where you going and who with?
TomaKaThor
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:24 AM
Comment #6Funny how these potential buyers sign head of terms and agree a price, then long down the line they dont have the funds. Why would they waste so much ol there own time if they didnt have the original agreed funds? More probable is Ashley moves the goal posts after original head of terms with unreasonable demands which no buyer in there right mind will agree to.
geordietom
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:24 AM
Comment #7martoon …
with my wife … to the eastern med …
whats the punch line ?
Dubs Left Glove
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:25 AM
Comment #8de ja vu all over again. Ashlie said before that only once proof of funds have been shown will due diligence start so BZG must have proven it to get to this stage.
The truth is, we will never hear BZG’s side of the story. Who knows in a year or two down the line they might be back at the table and i can’t see Ashlie wanting to have a discussion if they air him out now.
we all know why this takeover hasn’t gone through and that is because of on greedy owner.
crawfordm
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:25 AM
Comment #9Looks like a con then put in place to try and defer the anger he knew would be coming ( Rafa leaving) The man deceives every transfer window. He has a charmed life as no journalists pursue this slug. Bruce is Ashlies man ( puppet) and will not get my backing. Lets the reaction when after 6 games we are bottom with no points and no goals ( Joselu leading the line – ” he is a class player who deserves another chance” will come from Bruce) Apparently Bruce is at Sheff Wed this morning, I live in hope he knocks Ashlie back. No doubts delay over the compo payments – Ashlie is one tight twat.
IrishRob
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:25 AM
Comment #10I fuccing knew it. I told ye all sir john hall was telling the truth and some of ye laughed at me.
lochinvar
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:26 AM
Comment #11They slipped this out at 3am apparently
Newcastle United Premier League Asia Trophy squad:
Martin Dúbravka, Ciaran Clark, Paul Dummett, Ki Sung-yueng, Fabian Schär, Jamaal Lascelles, Jacob Murphy, Jonjo Shelvey, Dwight Gayle, Matt Ritchie, Yoshinori Muto, Isaac Hayden, Rolando Aarons, Federico Fernández, Javier Manquillo, Joselu, Jack Colback, Jamie Sterry, Karl Darlow, Freddie Woodman, Nathan Harker, Achraf Lazaar, Sean Longstaff, Matthew Longstaff, Owen Bailey, Kelland Watts, Tom Allan.
Binney
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:27 AM
Comment #12Funny how every single interested party don’t have proof of funds isn’t it?
IrishRob
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:27 AM
Comment #13I fuccing despise Ashley but I cant stand how ye are all blind to the fact that it COULD be BZG playing us around, and they could have 1000 reasons as to why they do that. We keep saying they must hane done this or that because u cant get this without having that etc…
NONE OF US KNOW how far it got there could have been no bid no due diligence no forms sent to the FA. Remember they did this last year with liverpool also when they failed to show evidence of 2billion for their bid.
Sir John Hall came out and said he seen no proof of funds from bzg and while I dont believe Ashley when he said they haven’t shown proof of funds, I do believe SJH he ain’t gonna lie.
So all I’ll say is it’s very possible that its BZG who fucced us over here not Ashley. Obviously it’s also possible it was 100% Ashley’s fault. But I can’t get over how blind and naive people are to simply assume bzg are telling the truth.
geordietom
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:28 AM
Comment #14people going on about protests ect . one thing nobody has mentioned. a plane with a banner flying over ST JAMES for the Arsenal match …
thats a peaceful protest . i’d chuck some money in if some one can get it sorted . just thought i’d throw that in the mix …
optimistic prime
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:29 AM
Comment #15Bollocks to Ashley
outside the box
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:30 AM
Comment #16lets guess and see who,s closest…
there is a mass protest at demonstration against cashlie at press conference….
steve is announced by charnlie and cashlie…charnlie is one with beard and dark glasses
a huge war chest is announced …
further appointments will come llater….
there will now be q&a session where we will answer everything your intrepid reporters can throw at us….
steve will be sat by himself and cannot answer any questions not related to his job……
there will be no press conference just a two sentence statement…..
Genjikai
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:30 AM
Comment #17Op
That a protest suggestion?
#showyourbollockstoashley
geordietom
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:30 AM
Comment #18OP …
change that avatar of yours will you mate makes me wanna hoy up …
martoon
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:31 AM
Comment #19Tom we are on one sailing from Newcastle – I thought it could be the same one but it’s not.
Tatforsale Mikey
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:31 AM
Comment #20I don’t envisage BZG coming back in for fatman FC if he’s messed them about. Moving goalposts. Advertising club shop etc. So I think they should make a bold statement telling the fans exactly why the takeover has not gone through.
MarkBro
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:31 AM
Comment #21You would of thought Ashley would of quashed rumours early doors if he knew they didnt have the dough.
But then that wouldnt work with stringing us along to buy season tickets…
The only other reason forvthe long drawn saga, there were other parties involved.
I dont believe he wanted to sell and interested parties were involved in the lies
IrishRob
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:31 AM
Comment #22Dubs left glove, that’s fine but ur presuming we got as far as due diligence in the first place. Stop presuming things were at such and such a stage when none of us know how far it got, so basing your conclusions on something you dont even know, kinda stupid, ppl need to stop making excuses for bzg I’ve been saying for weeks that they ain’t legit.
droppy in Wallsend
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:33 AM
Comment #23A tapeworm, a boiled egg and a massive cabbage walk into a club.
Not a joke it’s the reality of NUFC.
geordietom
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:33 AM
Comment #24Martoon …
where you going ?
fog on the tyne
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:36 AM
Comment #25Not sure if this has been said yet but…
This is Bruces treble up, he’s managed both Birmingham clubs, both Sheffield clubs now both tyne and wear.
The man is a shithouse. I’ve never been this deflated in my 45 years following the toon. Im sick to my stomach. I’m due to fly home from sunny Ghana today but i think i’d rather stay here and eat more rice and goat until that FCB has gone.
They are well suited to each other the pair of parasites.
Dubs Left Glove
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:36 AM
Comment #26@PeteGravesSky
Follow Follow @PeteGravesSky
Steve Bruce arrives at Sheffield Wednesday training ground this morning amid reports compensation is yet to be agreed with #nufc. Follow the latest on @SkySportsNews.
Plot thickens!!
IrishRob
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:36 AM
Comment #27It’s funny how they couldn’t show proof of guns yo liverpool last year isn’t it. Ashlie needs to go but bzg are full of Shìt also.
Reilly
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:37 AM
Comment #28Pete Graves
@PeteGravesSky
Steve Bruce arrives at Sheffield Wednesday training ground this morning amid reports compensation is yet to be agreed with #nufc.
Mindshaft
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:38 AM
Comment #29If they didn’t show funds they wouldn’t have been able to get so far .. Ashley has said time and time again he needed to see proof of funds before due diligence – if they didn’t show then he could have nipped it all in the bud at the start of this charade 6 weeks ago … Oh hold on, that wouldn’t have helped gloss over the face he was letting Rafa go .
Clubs a shambles, I won’t be going back to SJP under this regime – atmosphere is better at away games anyway
Mindshaft
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:39 AM
Comment #30How can swfc say they want 5 million comp if Bruce is on a 1 year rolling contract , clearly another lie , toon would have to pay 1 years wages and Bruce is on about 200k
c-dog
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:39 AM
Comment #31They couldn’t provide proof of funds to Liverpool
Everything smells of the same here
BZG frauds
Genjikai
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:40 AM
Comment #32Mindshaft your gravator is very creative.
MarkBro
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:40 AM
Comment #33Thought there might be a hiccup.
Hopefully hes had 2nd thoughts or comps too much.
Mick McCarthy is apparently next on Charnleys list
Mindshaft
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:41 AM
Comment #34C-dog – they got nowhere close at Liverpool , they had one meeting … Are we sure fatty hadn’t been hoodwinked by some makem fake sheikhs – he’s blinded by the thought of cash
Genjikai
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:41 AM
Comment #35Mr blobby body, brucie head , toon top.
All poorly put together yep thats ashleys toon in one picture.
And they say a picture paints a thousand words.
fog on the tyne
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:42 AM
Comment #36Mindshaft
Depends whats in contract, as we’ve seen perez wasnt worth 30m but thats what was in his contract
RUNAWAY777
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:42 AM
Comment #37You fans who are still going to turn up for matchs next season should have a good look at yourselves in the mirror call yourself Geordies what yous remind me of is the scabs
that crossed the miners lines and what happened to the mines all gone now
Genjikai
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:43 AM
Comment #38Howare man is that really what want for the toon?
This joke has gone too far.
Nee ones laughing.
No one even gets it.
Jib
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:44 AM
Comment #39I think we know who is going to run NUFC’s Twitter account
https://twitter.com/ChrisDHWaugh/status/1149570453314428928
Nova
Jul 12, 2019 at 9:45 AM
Comment #40Just food for thought, on 15th May 2007 fat Sam was brought in as manager, 8 days later the club was sold to the current leech.
Not to say I think something will happen as fast this time, but I do think Ashley is firefighting with Bruce’s appointment and he has ran out of potential suitors for the job.