GACP CEO and Chairman Joseph DaGrosa has finally publicly spoken about the reported interest his group has in purchasing Newcastle United. For months, there have been reports of GACP Sports and Peter Kenyon trying to usher a deal with Mike Ashley.
The latest movement on the reported takeover had to do with Joseph DaGrosa being bought out of his 13% stake in Bordeaux just over a week ago. That opened the door for speculation that Da Grosa would turn his attentions to Newcastle.
However, while the reports of his interest appear to have been accurate, it looks unlikely that a deal will happen anytime soon.
NBC Sports have published some comments from the American businessman given in a phone interview with Pro Soccer Talk.
“I can certainly confirm interest. I will confirm that I’ve had conversations with Mike Ashley’s top representative. I would describe those conversations as very positive.
“I would say Mike Ashley and his team are a lot easier and a lot friendlier and business savvy than anyone gives them credit for. We’re still talking.
“I’m not sure we’re going to reach an agreement, but that’s certainly not because of either side’s intractability or unwillingness to move forward.”
These comments sound awfully familiar to Peter Kenyon’s supposed leaked letter and BZG’s statement through Capital Radio UAE’s Peter Redding.
All three statements express the willingness of both buyer and seller to strike a deal. All three talk about how great Mike Ashley is but then state that if an agreement isn’t reached, it’s not due to either party not desperately wanting one to happen.
It sounds like it’s the same old situation at Newcastle as we end yet another year under the rule of Mike Ashley with no tangible hope of him selling up anytime soon.
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84 comments so far
Scythe For Bruce
Dec 24, 2019 at 4:08 AM
Comment #1Mike is not going to sell any time soon. We generate too much advertising for him and he gets that sweet Premier League and tv money every season. He’d be daft to sell.
Hannibal
Dec 24, 2019 at 5:58 AM
Comment #2Mike himself summed this up well earlier this year, if a deal is going to happen the media won’t know about it until the deal is done.
The more we hear from potential owners the more skeptical I get.
Wake up one morning and the clubs been taken over by an owner with some ambition would be the dream.
DubaiMicky
Dec 24, 2019 at 6:12 AM
Comment #3Worth a watch, sums up NUFC under ashLIE (best from 1.28).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c06mC3XD7Ic&t=3s
swemag
Dec 24, 2019 at 6:49 AM
Comment #4I think we should be very careful with what we wish for. They were protesting in Bordeaux against this guy for being frugal.
Nufc-83
Dec 24, 2019 at 6:55 AM
Comment #5Lilo it’s very easy to say we should be run like spurs. Then in a few years they may drop down the table and you will say we should be run by the next team. Bottom line is a lot of luck is involved in pushing a team towards the top with little cash injection. When I say down tools I mean moaning about the club 24/7 and not going to the games anymore. There is many many clubs in worse situations than us and if their fans took that route then football would be one empty sport. We can always be run better and we all want a new owner willing to invest but we don’t have that so get on with it.
Nicky the ball tosser
Dec 24, 2019 at 7:05 AM
Comment #6Get on with what?
davo
Dec 24, 2019 at 7:09 AM
Comment #7Get on with chasing Mike Ashley Out of NUFC I say
Nufc-83
Dec 24, 2019 at 7:18 AM
Comment #8Mike Ashley will only sell if an offer comes in matching his valuation. Nothing anyone does will change that fact. So you either carry on supporting the team and stop the constant moaning about ownership or the way I see it is you pack it in. Jealousy is not a nice trait and there will always be someone “better run” than you are.
Nufc-83
Dec 24, 2019 at 7:20 AM
Comment #9Nicky it’s not necessarily aimed at you as I don’t see that constant negativity. You want he club to be better as we all do but give constructive and balanced views in current situation.
Shelvey
Dec 24, 2019 at 7:27 AM
Comment #10What was our net spend in the summer window? 25-30 M? It should be more transfer funds left, Thats for sure. Look at how tight the table is. NOW is the time to spend big on 3 quality players who goes straight into the team.
Big Bruce Stars.
Dec 24, 2019 at 7:39 AM
Comment #11Nufc-83 you’ve spent all night with your crank ideas trying to justify why we shouldn’t compete, why our owner shouldn’t invest, why the fans should accept it as it is and be grateful. Toon22 actually has a point about pr. You seem to be selling it hard.
Yet we are owned by a billionaire and are in the top tier of football which is by definition the place to be as a prime competitor. Your arguments don’t actually stack up at all.
And I’ve gone through all sorts since the 70’s not just the “successful lol” years did you forget to add “mackem” or “plastic fan”?
Nufc-83
Dec 24, 2019 at 7:42 AM
Comment #12It’s not about why we shouldn’t it’s about why it shouldn’t be a given and there very different things.
Nufc-83
Dec 24, 2019 at 7:45 AM
Comment #13Shelvey we have about 20-30m if reports are to be believed and that won’t get you 3 quality players.
sing in the corner
Dec 24, 2019 at 7:46 AM
Comment #14We have done phenomenally well to be where we are in the table,and have had the successes we have had against frankly better squads,and yes better run clubs. Lucky? Maybe..but it’s what we do with the fortune we have had that counts. Well done to Bruce and the team!!
Next chapter begins in January. Huge test. Can Bruce affect Ashley policy on progressing,where nobody else has?
Will he push hard for what we need?
History suggests we will make do in all aspects,but we’ll see what transpires.
Let’s not go round again!
Merry Christmas!
Nicky the ball tosser
Dec 24, 2019 at 7:47 AM
Comment #15To me you seem a bit defeated NUFC, and yet to you it’s “a fair and balanced” stance. Ashley’s been at it 13 years and gotten us nowhere. Of course we’re poorly run, and jealousy, c’mon, that’s laughable. We just want a club that has a proper professional go, and offers decent value for money on the ticket. We get neither. Shall we ever get these things by trusting Mike Ashley to “get on with it”, you think? Those who boycott are trying to bring about change. Change that is long overdue. And speaking out in support of them is just a part of the struggle. He’s a poor poor owner, and it’s long since past time he gave someone else a go. Sitting back and waiting for him to do it in his own good time is no solution at all.
davo
Dec 24, 2019 at 7:53 AM
Comment #16Tsunki
I reckon toon 22 is spot on about the pr.The last 48 hours has seemed like a concerted effort to drown out/ whitewash dissenting fan’s voices .
Nufc-83
Dec 24, 2019 at 7:54 AM
Comment #17As there are many clubs in a much worse position than us (probably jealous of how we are run as laughable as that sounds) shall all the fans turn their club into a toxic atmosphere and spit out their dummy? That will be fun won’t it what a great sport we would all have to enjoy. We all want a better owner and I have no doubt we will get rid of Ashley but it will be on his terms not ours.
davo
Dec 24, 2019 at 7:57 AM
Comment #18Clubs supposedly been for sale for 12 years mate, he ain’t bloody selling he’s taking the proverbial. And “ letting him get on with it” is playing right into his hands.
lochinvar
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:03 AM
Comment #19Ashley must have a lot of dirt on so many people or they all all belong to some private mutually beneficial society.
“I’m not sure we’re going to reach an agreement… ”
Well that’s very obvious.
How many season ticket holders are not going to renew – many more now as effectively with the free half season offer their tickets have been devalued by 50%
Renewal date for deals is end of January and putting out all this drivel,lies even ? is only confirmation that Ashley has no intention of selling and no ability to take the club to top six and European super club class. He can’t compete and doesn’t like it so pretends and creates these invisible friends to play with. Mikey no mates.
Nufc-83
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:03 AM
Comment #20Davo I understand the frustration and I go through spells of the same banging on about Ashley at every opportunity. Whatever we do won’t get rid it will just be that the correct buyer comes in who really wants the club. In the meantime we can turn the club into a toxic place to be which will hurt us all in the long run or get behind the team and manager. Talk of well run clubs well what chance do we have of getting players who are sought after when showing them the unrest and disruption at our club.
sing in the corner
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:05 AM
Comment #21nufc1983
Don’t generalise so much. There are thousands of fans who have decided not to renew ST. Individual people,from all walks of life.
Spit out their dummy?
Any kind of pressure on Ashley to progress NUFC is a good thing.
One thing I am certain of is that if the entire fan base made no kind of objection, kept their mouth shut,renewed ST for 10 years – Ashley would never change his stance.
I believe change is necessary and fans of the club can affect that over time
Shelvey
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:08 AM
Comment #22Nufc83. Agree. the budget must be increased. Risk reward. The potential reward by investing noe is huge.
davo
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:09 AM
Comment #23Ashley’s giving away 10k free half season memberships away to hide what would otherwise be a mortifying backdrop of only38k supporters at SJP when he rebrands to Frasers after Christmas.
Scumbag
lochinvar
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:09 AM
Comment #24https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/evertons-new-stadium-plans-jewel-17465279
Ashley must poop himself
when he sees what the cost of such projects are. By comparison he sold the Strawberry Land
lochinvar
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:11 AM
Comment #25Irony
The initials of the new guy from France being linked with buying a share in the club are JD
Nufc-83
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:12 AM
Comment #26Shelvey issue is Ashley doesn’t invest into the club so money will only be what was available.
davo
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:14 AM
Comment #2783
Thanks for the reply.i disagree though, if there was attendances of under 30k for a season he’d be gone in a crack.
Nufc-83
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:15 AM
Comment #28Sing I just think the only way of getting the slug out is to make us more successful and for that we need to get behind the team and make players want to come to the club. Having the club in turmoil won’t get Ashley out it will hinder everything we actually want. In essence it’s counter productive.
Nufc-83
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:17 AM
Comment #29Davo no problem we are all entitled to our opinions even if we disagree in the way to improve. At the end of the day we all want this club to be successful.
Merry Christmas all!
sing in the corner
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:21 AM
Comment #30NUFC
That’s one way to look at it yeah..
Others may point to Ashley dropping anchor every time we look like we are getting somewhere, hindering progress,and back round the same cycle. 13 years of it.
Plenty of players would come. But our transfer policy has been flawed and the execution woeful on most occasions.
davo
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:44 AM
Comment #31Merry Christmas to you too 83
davo
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:47 AM
Comment #32Sing
Not to mention our prohibitive wage structure, how on earth are we meant to compete while our maximum wage for a key player is about £80k a week?
Munster Mag
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:54 AM
Comment #33Tend to agree with 83. Have always felt Ashley will go when a proper buyer comes in and probably over pays to get him out. The annoyance with him and the fairly poor football and the fact that Bruce isn’t Benitez has hit gates, but the half price tickets will address that in part. We’ve rarely had a good owner and there will no doubt always be better, but I hope people don’t give up on the black and white shirt and what it means to us and continue to make sjp a special place. I also agree hugely with Lilongwe’s portrayal of a well run club
Lilongwe Geordie
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:57 AM
Comment #3483,
I’m saying I want us to be run well and properly. Spurs are a good example of what running a club well without huge bankrolling.
You are right, if they started to be ran poorly and fell away, I wouldn’t want us to be run badly because of it. I would still want us to be run well and properly.
I agree with you that the best way to get rid of Ashley is to improve, and subsequently increase the value. However, with Ashley not willing to invest large sums, then the way we improve is by being well run…. Which we aren’t.
martoon
Dec 24, 2019 at 8:58 AM
Comment #35Always amuses me when someone like Nufc-83 comes on and states his position very calmly and eloquently that is not the mainstream Ashley out stance then he must be PR 😉
Jib
Dec 24, 2019 at 9:03 AM
Comment #36Bill in Essex
Belated answer
This month’s Memory Café at SJP
will be the tenth.
Ron Knee
Dec 24, 2019 at 9:04 AM
Comment #37“I just think the only way of getting the slug out is to make us more successful and for that we need to get behind the team and make players want to come to the club.”
I don’t follow that at all.
Nufc-83
Dec 24, 2019 at 9:15 AM
Comment #38Ron knee what don’t you get it’s pretty simple?
Jib
Dec 24, 2019 at 9:16 AM
Comment #39Ron Knee
I know teachers are notorious for their lack of business acumen
but it’s quite simple to follow
A successful club should be more attractive to a potential purchaser
and therefore easier to sell , than one in the doldrums.
Ron Knee
Dec 24, 2019 at 9:21 AM
Comment #40If we’re “more successful”, why would Ashley want to sell?