It’s Sunday, so we expected something on the potential (is this all still real?) takeover of Newcastle United.
Since Rafa left at the end of last month, everything has gone quiet on the takeover front, so Mike Ashley looks to have survived another transfer window at Newcastle?
We knew all about the BZG bid earlier this summer, but the Chronicle also kept reporting there were two other groups looking to buy Newcastle.
But everything has gone very quiet.
But as Neil reported earlier, the Daily Mail are saying that BZG is looking for some financing so they can still buy Newcastle.
The fee is said to be between £300M and £350M.
The reporter Ben Harrington is one of the Mail’s finance reporters.
Today he’s reporting that an American hedge fund backed by Japanese investment firm SoftBank have been in talks with the Dubai-based Bin Zayed Group.
The talks are about how they can finance a deal to buy Newcastle.
It looks like the group is still interested in buying the club, but how come they don’t have the money when they were trying to buy Liverpool a year ago for £2B?
Or at least that was the news at the time.
Borrowing a lot of money is how the Glazer family bought Manchester United back in May 2005, and they borrowed a lot of money to buy the club for £790M.
Since then the Red Devils have been in a lot of debt.
Most of the money was borrowed against assets of the Manchester United club, and at one point the club incurred interest payments of over £60M a year.
The family then took the club private, with an initial public offering (IPO) which created even more debt – that was back in 2012.
The fans were wondering when all this debt would be paid off, and in 2010 it exceeded £700M – but they still carry too much debt even today.
That may not be the case with BZG – it will depend on how much they are looking to borrow – if it’s £100M or less then that can be managed but more than that and it would not be good.
There are three two weeks International breaks before Christmas, and we’d be surprised it a takeover attempt isn’t reported during those windows – when there tends to be a lack of real news.
That news could be true or not – but it does seem BZG are still keen on buying Newcastle.
Where’s there’s a will there’s a way?
Hopefully, the incompetent and selfish Mike Ashley is on borrowed time, and after the catastrophe of Ashley forcing Rafa out of the club, we can still get new owners.
But it’s like going around in circles – because with five top-six teams in our first nine league games we are likely to be fighting relegation fairly quickly this season.
And the reports will be that Newcastle’s relegation threat is putting buyers off.
But we’ve heard all that before – far too many times.
We don’t know if Ashley will sell the club, but we hope he will and that it’s soon.
We live in hope.
Comments welcome.
148 comments so far
optimistic prime
Jul 21, 2019 at 12:55 PM
Comment #41I have no hope on a takeover, I believe BZG were genuine buyers but no willing seller.
Ashlies admitted cheating is part of business and has admitted in court to lying and misleading fans and employees, theres only one person to look at for no sale.
toon22
Jul 21, 2019 at 12:55 PM
Comment #42Maybe Jabba just wants us all to forget about it this time
Maybe he’s decided he just can’t be bothered to come up with a lie to cover the non sale this time
lochinvar
Jul 21, 2019 at 12:56 PM
Comment #43It’son@17
Gareth Bale’s granny comes from Shiremoor and if you get his boots off you’ll find he has 12 toes. So he really is a Geordie and Brucie will get him in the new Geordie United team of soccer ballers. (Just a joke for anyone who may take this seriously)
For that matter Butch Cassidy’s mam came from Brandling (Jesmond) but we never signed Butch or the Sundance for that matter. Would have been a good move as they would have robbed the bank of Ashley to get wor money back.
Scythe For Bruce
Jul 21, 2019 at 12:59 PM
Comment #44Jail – what do you mean the takeover isn’t happening? Didn’t you see me type that my neighbour did that wink? It sounds to me like you’re accusing me of not being a ITK.
You’ll all be proven wrong when it definitely finally happens.
Maybe.
Munster Mag
Jul 21, 2019 at 12:59 PM
Comment #45Sadly, today my son is buying his first Liverpool shirt. I needed ashley out and khaled in, ideally with rafa, to hold him as a toon fan. As i dont like them, i’m unwilling to pay for it, misery guts that i am. Sickening.
Mindshaft
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:00 PM
Comment #46jib – learn to read mate, I said fatty would sell whole squad to fund bale transfer and play dummies instead… it was joke, Bales 30 so way over age limit 🙂 🙂 🙂
Mindshaft
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:01 PM
Comment #47lochinvar – that made me chuckle 🙂
Reilly
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:01 PM
Comment #48If it was one of my kids,he would of been put up for adoption.
supersholamackemslayer
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:06 PM
Comment #49Decent thread here
https://twitter.com/IllustriousMuz/status/1152875828151234561?s=09
#boycott Arsenal
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:07 PM
Comment #50From Nufc.com
”Update: It’s anticipated that Joelinton will be confirmed as a Newcastle player early next week”
If we’ve been chasing this player for a while were we really waiting for Allardyce, Moyes, Pulis, Viera, Gerrard, Bielso, Van Brockhorst, Monk, Pardew and eventually Bruce to give it the ok or are we just saving a months wages with zero consideration given to pre-season plans. Never mind Rafa’s miracle, if Bruce manages to keep us up this year it will be a super natural phenomenon!!!
sam down south
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:08 PM
Comment #51Every time Arse-Lie trys to sell the club and it fails he then gets the press to report it was a problem with the Buyer. It’s horse-shit. We don’t know how much Arse-Lie is asking for and also he is probably asking to keep the rights for Sports Direct advertising in the stadium.
The only FACT is that no potential buyer in the last 10 years has ever agreed to Arse-Lie’s price and terms. So please everybody stop blaming every Buyer – it’s clearly Arse-Lie asking for more than the club is worth.
Arse-Lie now has to splash the cash – when instead he could have negotiated with a buyer and reached a compromise and sold the club at fair market value. BUT ARSE-LIE DOESN’T NEGOTIATE OR DO FAIR DEALS.
Arse-Lie the great businessman is now going to spend £100million for Steve Bruce when he could have simply supported Rafa which would have made the club more successful, Arse-Lie has lost again.
toon22
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:11 PM
Comment #52They obviously needed to sell before we bought
We’re proper skint after we bought game for Jabba
Munster Mag
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:12 PM
Comment #53Prime, i agree, i was surprised that he shud bail out to a club that sounds like a herbal remedy. But all planned clearly. Hd could have stayed and added two decent players and tried to get to 8th. He wasnt sacked and people talking about constructive dismissal are just being hissy and silly. Good luck to him, a very decent man and fine coach but id have felt a bit better to see him at ac milan etc. Cos jail told us the north london clubs and other bug names woukd want him. Nah, the herbal remedy boys with the zillions is where he ended up. I do think that ashley and him hated each other. Lets hope for the best for new owners and if not, a decent start from Bruce. West ham was a decent start outside of the prem. Good to hear key players like shelvey clearly embracing it and enjoying it so far. Bruces personality will help a lot initially.
bettyswallocks
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:12 PM
Comment #54Micky……… It does seem unusual that neither party has made a statement to exonerate themselves from any blame if it’s definitely dead in the water. Let’s hope there is still a chance of someone coming up with the dosh.
ShirebrookToon
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:13 PM
Comment #55Two roundabouts will shut down his whole empire and cause chaos for all SD outlets.
Need more printer ink for these signs dammit!
supersholamackemslayer
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:13 PM
Comment #56Same situation with my boy. Told him maybe go support another club son. He is adamant its toon or nothing. Still wearing the shirt I got him (not from SD). Same with my little one. Unfortunately they are firmly on the roller coaster.
Munster Mag
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:15 PM
Comment #57Didnt fat sam say he was approached by… His agent…. Re the nufc job? Not the club itself? Con man.
toon22
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:15 PM
Comment #58Munster
LoL
I’m guessing Rafa didn’t fancy more years of being mugged off by Jabba
toon22
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:16 PM
Comment #59Munster the club didn’t deny it
It’s never MAs fault
Bobbybee
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:19 PM
Comment #60Supersholaetc. Let him wear that shirt with pride mate. Owners, managers and players come and go. Ashley will be dead before he grows up and hopefully the club will be in good hands then. NUFC is bigger than one man and as bad as it is, eventually he can be proud to be a Mag.
Munster Mag
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:20 PM
Comment #61Well done shola. I tried everything. He still lives nufc and called me excitedly yesterday when he saw us on sky. But all the kids over here adore Liverpool. I tried every trick, even mentioned how they were bold boys in europe years ago. Massive mistake not to bring him to st james on my 50th. Today is a very sad day for me. Gutted and depressed.
Munster Mag
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:20 PM
Comment #62Bobby can you cheer me up mate?
Munster Mag
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:22 PM
Comment #63I think he will keep us as his second team. Everybody i know says i am rotten for trying to poison him towards nufc. But he adored rafa and hates fats with a vengeance. I needed bzg last week.
Bobbybee
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:25 PM
Comment #64Shirebrook is on the mark. The only way to hurt him is by hitting SD.
Coming on here and attacking each other solves nothing. Keyboard warriors are ten a penny. But then, a well publicised protest attracted 60 people in the city centre so the chances of getting a couple of thousand to go to Shirebrook looks unlikely.
optimistic prime
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:27 PM
Comment #65Munster
I dont doubt Ashley and Rafa didn’t like each other.
I think Rafa saw Nufc as a chance to leave a legacy, the club is screaming out for a professional infrastructure overhaul from top to bottom.
In China he has that, a club he can mold and set out a plan for others to continue from academy to recruitment for years to come.
I’m glad he didn’t stay in the prem, there was probably no other job in Europe he could get a project like he has, he wanted it to be Nufc but it wasnt to be under Ashley.
toon22
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:28 PM
Comment #6620 at Shirebrook is enough
You’ll need about 10 cars to cause havoc
You saying we shouldn’t try ?
Bobbybee
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:29 PM
Comment #67Wish I could Munster. We knew how to treat people who dissed The Toon back in the day but that’s frowned upon now mate. 🙂 Ashley needs a damn good hiding and if I was fit I’d gladly dish it out.
DaveD1000
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:32 PM
Comment #68do people still say “Shame on You”
Bobbybee
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:32 PM
Comment #6922, we’d need more than that. They’d just arrest the drivers – protest over. We need enough to make them think twice about starting arrests
Scythe For Bruce
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:33 PM
Comment #70Munster – my condolences regarding your Liverpool supporting son. I don’t hate the Scousers as much as some around here, mainly because I hate Man U almost as much as I hate the Mackems and anything that pisses off the Mancs pleases me greatly. So Liverpool doing well fits that bill. I also hate every single London club more than Liverpool, so that puts the reds further down my list of disliked clubs.
Have to say, you telling him that we were bold in Europe years ago could be immediately countered with Liverpool were even bolder than we’ve ever been a mere two or three months ago by winning the Champions League.
I think you’d be fighting a losing battle trying to get him to commit to the Toon right now. Maybe you can adopt a kid from Jesmond or Benwell who couldn’t support anyone other than Newcastle if he tried?
supersholamackemslayer
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:35 PM
Comment #71Munster I get it bud. Don’t get me wrong he was close to being Wolves a few years ago. Was wearing a scarf and hat to school and everything about 3 years ago but glad he changed his mind. I’d love the same sort of investment Wolves are getting. I’ve got a complete ban on all Ashley shops in the house. When I told my boy Game had been brought by Ashley he said “Game! Seriously and he buy Rondon?” Then he was like “I will just buy my games from someone else then.”
supersholamackemslayer
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:35 PM
Comment #72He won’t but Rondon
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:35 PM
Comment #73So BZG didn’t show proof of funds or have the funds, if the takeover goes through, they are hardly getting off to a good start. They’ve said twice now that evidence of the funds available has been provided. Still hopefully better than Ashley.
If they’ve known they didn’t have the funds available, their statements have been outright misleading, and why announce through a DJ everything on their side was done?
Alternatively, Ashley changed payment terms, and they need additional finance to cover a larger up front amount, and that’s happened since their last statement and they are scrabbling around for the funds.
Both have being accused previously for the options above.
Whatever the case, it’s dragged on too long and had just been damaging to the fans and the clubs future.
BZG are involved in property development aren’t they, Ashley is moving into property development seemingly, with his son in law. I wonder whether there is any rumours in that sector of BZG looking to surreptitiously move into the UK market, and are using this as a front to go into deals with Ashley on that front?
Complete fabrication on my part, and no basis whatsoever. The takeover has been a farce, yet there are definite happenings with the set up of Monochrome, just looking at different angles and coming up with a new conspiracy theory to throw in the mix!
supersholamackemslayer
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:36 PM
Comment #74Tbf Munster Liverpool r a class team
Scythe For Bruce
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:37 PM
Comment #75DaveD1000 – the only place you’d hear that phrase these days is on repeats of Downton Abbey.
If you said that where I originally came from you’d be laughed at. Then beaten up.
optimistic prime
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:41 PM
Comment #76Super Shola
Amazon for games, cheaper anyway, delivered to your door on release date.
count
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:46 PM
Comment #77Lets just pick a random successful team of the moment and say we support them. Then try to take the mick out of genuine supporters even though the only reason we have for supporting our own team is that they are comparatively successful.
Mindset of the d¡ckhead.
count
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:48 PM
Comment #78*genuine supporters of other less successful teams
Our Toon
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:49 PM
Comment #79As expected and predicted BZG are full of BS, as much as I want us sold I’d be incredibly disappointed being sold to someone who’s lied to us from the outset and leverages us with more debt.
For those saying its Sunday so why believe this, the news of the takeover initially broke on a sunday and you believed that
one fine day
Jul 21, 2019 at 1:51 PM
Comment #80Toon22
You been on about these roundabouts for months mate
You have a car ?
Why don’t you get started and lead this ?
Jail is planning on walking there ffs .
Pretty sure if you hot his up and running you’d get support from age lads
What’s stopping you my amphibian friend?