There appears to be at least 5 different buyers that are reported interested in buying Newcastle United, and we knew that negotiations with Dubai Investment Capital (DIC), had already started in earnest over the weekend.
- Dubai Investment Capital (DIC), the investment arm of the Dubai Government, has been in discussions with Liverpool about a possible takeover for almost 18 months now, but the deal has continually bogged down by the intransigence of American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.
But DIC seem determined to complete the purchase of a Premier League football club since their rivals Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) completed their takeover recently of Manchester City.
Tony Jimenez is reported to be over there right now in negotiations with this Group. Ashley is sadi to be willing to sell for around £270M, and it is hoped that a formal offer may be lodged within the next week.
- Reliance Communications is owned by Anil Ambani and they have also been interested, but presumably pulled out last week because of the turmoil at the club, but don’t be at all surprised if they come right back in, now that the club is formally up for sale,
Anil Ambani is the sixth-richest man in the world, and it is being reported that in fact Reliance are still extremely keen to purchase Newcastle United, and their reported pull-out was simply a ploy in the negotiating business that goes on at this level.
They are very clear that Kevin Keegan, reinstated as manager, will quickly calm things down at the club – almost instantaneously.
- Chinese businessman Xu Rongmao, as we reported is also spearheading another consortium currently looking at buying the club.
Rongmao, who is one of only ten confirmed Chinese billionaires, is the founder and chairman of Shimao Group, one of the largest property development groups based in Shanghai.
- Over the weekend, there were also suggestions that a North-Eastern consortium was looking to buy out Ashley with the help of supporters. However, while a number of wealthy North-Easterners have been sounded out about a potential takeover, any formal grouping remains at a very early stage of development.
But that is still a possibility, which will sit well with fans, as long as some investment in new players is available.
- And there are reports this morning that former Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, of all people, may be interested in buying Newcastle United. Bill is one of the best Businessmen in the world, and certainly takes a global view, and perhaps he has himself started to watch the Premier League games on the TV over here, which are proving very popular.
We suppose Bill would buy the club out of his own personal fortune, since he left Microsoft recently and now concentrates on philanthropy and doing some great work in Africa and other places of need with his wife Melinda, with The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The thing we need at the club very quickly is stability, and that was seen to be sorely missing on Saturday against Hull City. Indeed there are reports that Shay Given lost it in the dressing room after the game, because the players themselves have been told nothing of what’s going on.
In the current state the club is in, it’s hard to see us winning many games until a new buyer is in with a new manager, which we all hope will be Kevin Keegan.
So once that can be completed that process, there will be some instant stability, but it must be done quickly, so this season isn’t yet another throwaway – we MUST get back into Europe for next season.
Comments welcome.
115 comments so far
dougnufc
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Comment #1Anil Ambani or Gates
Vest
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Comment #2Suddenly the future looks bright. When a new owner is in, let’s all get together and support him straight away. Make him feel welcome, then he might just spit som money at us un january. GOOOO TOOOOON !
HeronMag
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Comment #3I’d love us to be bought out by the North-East Consortium but I can’t see it happening.
I think Dubai Investment would be the most likely candidate.
Shanghaitoon
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Comment #4I would hope that whoever does eventually buy the club, does so for the right reasons and with a good long term plan for the stability of the club. I hope that Ashley takes the buyers long term plan into consideration before selling rather than just selling to the highest bidder. I really have no preference for any of the mentioned groups as long as they have NUFC’s future at heart. We live in eternal hope…. I just want an end to this sad saga rather than critising who is right and who is wrong, we just need stability, a good manager and some hope for the future…
51times
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Comment #5Bill Gates…aye, right.
Mac
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Comment #6I don’t want the consortium of lacallads to buy it. I just can’t see them being able to compete iwth the big boys of DIC,GATES etc.
Timmers
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Comment #7If any of these Rumours are true my prefered choices would be Ambani or Gates. DIC would be buying so there competitors are out doing them. Still a part of me is thinking “better the devil you know” and i hope a speedy safe buyer comes along.
Ganiyu
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Comment #8Ashley done his own damage by sacking kk.
Kk damages the club by walking out of the fans and club.
.given loosing it.arsenal a club i hate might get him for dog pound.
Imo take over votes goes to bill gate.
beessi-kosovo
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Comment #9i hope for DIC or Gates
Nick 69
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Comment #10while a north east consortium would be best for obvious reasons, we certainly would not be able to compete in the transfer market and therefore DIC, ambani, or bill gates(although i doubt its even true) would be best.
The Entertainers
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Comment #11Howabout all 5 getting together and have 1/5 each ?
Seriously i would prefer the NE group, but that sounds hopeful at best.
Football is moving on faster than anyone predicted.
If we are to keep up we need a mega rich family, so the Arabs or the Indians would be great. However they have to put the club first.
Born Again Geordie
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Comment #12Bill Gates – wey i – thats ganna happen isn’t it ?
Born Again Geordie
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Comment #13Lets all get a list of the worlds richest people and add their names to the list too !!!!
dougnufc
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Comment #14http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7616394.stm
Alan Shearer was not sacked, shows that Ashley do have some brains
The Entertainers
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Comment #15Hey by the way, well done NUFC PR team, your learning.
After the bloody awful Daily Mail spread its vicious rumours again about Shearer, the club responded and responded with speed to deny this story.
You see, you can do it.
I’m ashamed i bought the story this morning, not realising it came from the poisoned pen of the Mail. Apologises again and well done.
Boycott the mail……..are we still using the ‘B’ word … 🙂
Tom_Toon
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Comment #16DIC, Gates or Anbami.
No to the China man and no to the NE consortium.
Michael12
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Comment #17Shanghaitoon: Ashely owes Newcastle nothing now after what he has done for the club and how the fans have treated him.
Anyone under this circumstance, will take the highest offer regardless of the plans by the new owner.
dingo
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Comment #18hahaha Bill gates.. more like garrath gates. Next we will hear that the Bin Landens and the Bush’s are teaming together with the Carlisle Group to take over the club……
Nick 69
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Comment #19what we really need is someone like ambani or DIC coming in but employing someone either from newcaslte, or with close ties to the area in Llambias’ postion.
LETS ALL HAVE A XISCO, LETS ALL HAVE A XISCO, LALALALA!!!(GG7)
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Comment #20dic or ambani, the bill gates thing would never happen, i doubt he even knows anything about “SOCCER”.
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Comment #21Im worried!? I just feel what if Ashley will only sell for above 350million? this would put even huge wealthy businessmen off due to the fact they could buy other premiership clubs for a lot less! at the same turn the club needs stability, otherwise ashley could also see a loss!? I suppose we’ll have to waitand see!!
“You want me out! That is what I am now trying to do but it won’t happen overnight and it may not happen at all if a buyer does not come in.”
just sounds he is going to push for as much as possible!!
BenjiToon
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Comment #22Entertainers – nicely put lad, although I’m not sure who to believe anymore. Why couldn’t they have been this speedy with other issues? Do you think it might have something to with the fact that Shearer is on national TV every week, in the national press regularly and IS an ambassador for the both the FA and Umbro – touring the country and talking to people? Perhaps they think that one is too risky to leave unchecked. Either way, not sure I do believe them actually. The Bez bit of the story definitely sounds true.
On the buyers question Gates and Ambani seem like the best businessmen out there. But DIC do have cash to spend. The local consortium would be great (unless FFS is in chasrge!) but won’t have the £ to compete. So why not a compromise? One of the big guns could buy the club but allow someone local, who understands the club, to invest too and to sit on the board – maybe even as chairman?
keeeguuurn
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Comment #23dingo — ha ha
yes beware the carlisle group may think the toon army are a real ARMY. They’ll have us protecting their stolen oil fields 🙂
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Comment #24KK as chairman! LOL
BenjiToon
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Comment #25LETS ALL HAVE A XISCO – actually I think he does know something about football. (I refuse to call it soccer…ever!) If I remember correctly Gates is a pal of a certain Mr Clinton, and both are mates with one Mr Blair. Think Gates was his guest at an England match at one point. Either way, appoint a local person to lead the board and problem solved. Hey, I’d do that job!
Xsico golden boot
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Comment #26I would like to see the north east one but DIC is my preffered with KK at the helm no stopping us and we are alot cheaper than liverpool with no ground to build
Matt
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Comment #27xisco – worst player ever
so bad so so so bad.
Michael12
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Comment #28Please people, we expect some billionaire to ‘Messianicaly’ walk in on silver cloud pumping in huge amounts of money and not have a say in how his money is spent.
@Entertainers: He must put the club first.
What we must understand is that he / she will have their interests first, the club will be used to realise those interests.
It is unfair to expect someone to come in and take all the financial risk by investing in Newcastle and in the least they cannot put a structure they feel is fit for the club because the fans far more adroit in business will say no.
Is that not simply unfair.
Micky Toon
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Comment #29Why is everyone taking in the bollox about DIC?
Why would the club send two talent scouts to negotiate a contract to sell the club? Come on. Think about it for a moment, if you were going to sell your multi million pound business, would you send your cheif product buyer to negotiate?
No, you would send your best legal team and if you had any sense you would be there too.
This story is so easily pulled apart it’s rediculous.
I know a lot of people are so desperate to see MA go that any talk of a possible buyer who is actually in talks with the club is seen as gospel.
DIC may be interested in us, I don’t know, but this story is bollox.
dingo
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Comment #30Keeeguuurn – lol
shirts sponsors to be Lockheed-Martin (US largest arms manufacturer) … we could even deploy land mines in our penalty box and use the defense as midfielders…. maybe a Challenger 2 Tank to replace Shay in goal.
BenjiToon
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Comment #31Micky Toon – not sure about that mate. Jimenez is actually a businessman, and made his money through pretty big property deals in Spain. He is technical director, not scout…that’s Jeff Vetere’s role. Wise…well, who knows what he actually does, but he clearly makes a lot of the club’s big decisions and he’s obviously a massive favourite of Ashley – just read MAs statement.
Look, Mike has admitted he wants to sell the club. The speculation will be rife, but that doesn’t mean its all false or that its all true. I think, as fans, we have a responsibility to comment on any rumour we hear at this stage, and through any forum we can.
The best thing is to circulate messages through forums like this in the hope that prospective buyers pick them up and hear our views. That way they can’t claim to confuse things down the line…
Besides, its good to debate what we think isn’t it?
Tom_Toon
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Comment #32Mick Toon – Their official title’s are ‘drectors’ that is why.
Mark
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Comment #33Ed
Didn’t you used to work fairly high up for microsoft, No chance of finding out if there is any truth in the Bill Gates rumour?
Nick 69
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Comment #34micky toon- tony jiminez is not a talent scout, vetere and wise are the ones who scout then jiminez is brought in to do the deals, he has a history in sports management and promotion so its hardly sending a scout to sell the club is it.
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Sep 15, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Comment #35I’m very happy Ashley has decided to sell!! I just feel he will is expecting more than most if not all are willing to pay! just feel there’s more to him putting the club up for sale and his “PR” statement out!!
BenjiToon
Sep 15, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Comment #36Nick 69 – do you think that if Jimenez brokers the deal he will try and stay on under the new ownership? Hope not. His history in sports is really not that great. It’s property that made him rich…and he’s already a millionaire I think.
Micky Toon
Sep 15, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Comment #37Fair enough about JV(I always mix the two up for some reason) – but DW? The DW angle makes the story bollox, IMHO. But who knows?
broon ale
Sep 15, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Comment #38matt, surely its a bit early to be suggesting xisco is the worst player ever.
ToonKing
Sep 15, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Comment #39BILL!!!!!…………ah that’s pure bollox.
let’s hope the Dubai guys buy us…
bowburnmag
Sep 15, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Comment #40Micky Toon – I agree with BenjiToon. My understanding is that Jiminez pulls the strings as is his background. Llambias is the Ops manager if you will, organising the troops, keeping people in check. Jiminez brokers deals of all kinds.