Luke Edwards, with the Telegraph, is reporting that Mike Ashley is now free to negotiate with other entities. He claims that Clear TV, and their CEO Henry Mauriss, are preparing to do just that.
Saudi-led consortium faces rival in battle for control of Newcastle Unitedhttps://t.co/yjplkvesz9 #NUFC
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) July 21, 2020
The issue of exclusivity is one that has caused some confusion in regards to this takeover. The Saudi-backed consortium has already agreed to a reported £300m deal with Mike Ashley for the club.
However, Edwards contends that the protracted owners’ and directors’ tests have now surpassed a deadline set by Mike Ashley, which allows him to negotiate with rival bidders.
Here is a response Edwards issued on Twitter when asked about his reporting:
As I understand it, there is normally a deadline date written into deals, it’s standard practice. I’m told that deadline has now passed and it allows Ashley to deal with other interested parties. Also told that Mauriss now has a window of opportunity to complete takeover.
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) July 21, 2020
This is a fascinating revelation by Edwards as we had assumed that Mauriss was only a backup option should the Saudi deal get blocked. However, the Telegraph journalist says Mauriss can now enter the race to buy Newcastle and hints that it could be a race to see who meets Premier League approval first.
Here is another tweet from Edwards.
Ashley can negotiate with other interested parties and is doing just that. Maybe read the story. We might now be in a race to see who can get PL approval first, we might not
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) July 21, 2020
Edwards was one of the first to report of a second interested party after Ashley’s negotiations with the Saudis were first leaked. That party was later to be revealed to Henry Mauriss. However, it appears that it’s Clear TV and not just their CEO, who could now be in serious talks with Mike Ashley.
The story in the Telegraph says that the Mauriss group has a plan to take Newcastle forward and pump money into the club for new signings. Edwards also states that Mauriss will give Steve Bruce a chance if his takeover attempt should prove successful.
Our hope is that the league approves the Amanda Staveley-led consortium soon, and they can get to work on allowing Newcastle to fulfill its vast potential. That will have to happen quickly with the summer transfer window due to open in less than a week.
We suppose having another entity that seems very keen to do a deal with Ashley is encouraging if these reports are accurate. Getting rid of Ashley was always objective number 1.
134 comments so far
Northumbrian
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:38 PM
Comment #1Bloody hell neil, you reading the site I’m on lol.
😉
Kevin Vegan
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:38 PM
Comment #2GP
If exclusivity is irrelevant at this stage but the telegraph are trying to make out that it’s related to a Mauriss bid, in what way are they not lying?
Mad Frog Boom 22
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:40 PM
Comment #3Lets make this blog great again! Ashley out now! No more fakeovers, enough is enough!
Muz
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:41 PM
Comment #4Things to consider here, lots of nonsense floating around.
People in Saudi Arabia can’t watch the Premier League – well they could, but the broadcast rights owner for MENA is banned because they’re based in a country being given the cold shoulder by most in the region because of their ties to terrorism and Iran. The same country is also under heavy scrutiny for their treatment of migrant slaves workers who they’ve shipped in to build stadiums for the WC. Lots of people seem to love to shout about KSA’s human rights record but are suspiciously quiet about Qatar; take for example Miguel Delaney who harps on endlessly about SA but doesn’t want to miss out on a plush trip to the World Cup. Ultimately, the PL have absolutely no say in who gets a licence to broadcast in a sovereign nation. Nor can they dictate terms that interferes in what is essentially a middle-eastern cold war. The narrative at this point should be why do the PL continue to allow the rights to PL games to a country that is accepted in the region to sponsor terrorism? Or slavery?
PIF is the sovereign fund of Saudi Arabia; it’s not Saudi Arabia
Although the PIF is a effectively a business that acts in the interest of Saudi Arabia and it’s chaired by MBS, legally speaking it is an entirely separate entity. For some reason people are conflating the two. There’s no mandate, at all, that requires PIF to invest in business that Saudi Arabians can enjoy or make use of. They certainly aren’t queing up to get their bikini’s on and get drunk on the cruise line they recently took a fat stake in. Nor do cruises go to Saudi Arabia (at least, that I’m aware of).
“Exclusivity” is irrelevant if Ashley accepted a bid. He has to wait for the PL to make its decision. An exclusivity clause in a bid typically applies to the period running up to an official offer. If as reported he’s accepted a deposit then he’s shafted until the PL officially say no.
It’ll be done when it’s done. There’s a ton of sh*t they have to get through for this. Not helped by Amnesty and some MP’s jumping on the bandwagon. It’d be nice for it to go through before or just after the window opens but if it isn’t then hey, the new owners have deep enough pockets to do business at inflated prices.
lesh
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:42 PM
Comment #5For what it’s worth, my feeling on the Torygraph Luke Edward’s piece is that it’s misinformation (aka fake news in Trumpspeak) put out by the Qataris. Why? To try to stimulate NUFC fans to turn against the Staveley bid.
Will the Saudis take that lying down? They could make life very difficult for Ashley and his empire.
Kevin Vegan
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:42 PM
Comment #6“We might now see a race for who gets PL approval quickest”
Surely they would have to complete any ongoing tests before they begin a new one. Sounds like more nonsense to me.
hibbit
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:43 PM
Comment #7exclusivity expired the minute Ashley excepted the deposit and the deal went to a 3rd party for aprovel,
Muz
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:44 PM
Comment #8It would be considered ‘bad faith’ to open any discussion with another party while the process is in play. He’d be liable to costs and damages if they chose to pursue it. They’ll have spent millions getting it this far.
Bear in mind too, Edwards loves to wind fans up on twitter. He’s absolute twot.
Muz
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:48 PM
Comment #9This didn’t get enough traction back in April. FBI actively prosecuting people over Qatar bribes for the WC. Qatar are absolutely up to their eyes in sh*t. The PL for all their faults don’t want to be tarred with this brush:
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fbi-reveal-new-details-over-bribes-for-fifa-world-cup-2022-votes-a4408951.html
Harrogate mag
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:49 PM
Comment #10Evening everybody. …hope arsenal smash villa tonight..would love it
GhostToon
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:50 PM
Comment #11Edwards is a douche cant stand that smug tw#t.
hibbit
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:50 PM
Comment #12till the PL say ya or na Ashley’s hands are tied,
i’m sure Chris Mort will have made that water tight
magscar
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:51 PM
Comment #13Hmm So how are other bidders going to jump ahead of current bid under review for months with PL 🙂
Maybe more staff at PL haha
But surely one wouild have to fail first?
Yeah yeah yeah
GhostToon
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:51 PM
Comment #14Harrogate
Hear hear!
Jib
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:52 PM
Comment #15“Kevin Vegan
Sounds like more nonsense to me.”
Everything sounds like nonsense to you.
yawning emoji
Kevin Vegan
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:52 PM
Comment #16I wonder where the other bidder toon22 mentioned has come from.
It’s the perfect one for Ashley isn’t it? The phantom third bidder, always hiding in the shadows, never denying any rumours.
Is he a Russian oil tycoon? Is he the member of a middle-eastern royal family? Maybe a chinese businessman? Who knows.
What we do know is he’s already got Pep’s signature on the dotted line and Neymar’s being flown in for a medical as we speak…
Harrogate mag
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:54 PM
Comment #17Can’t stand em ghost toon…like an itch you can’t scrarch
Jib
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:54 PM
Comment #18Watford vs City about to KO on Pick
hibbit
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:54 PM
Comment #19Harrogate that would really make my day,
IrishRob
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:55 PM
Comment #20Jib dont even bring him up let alone address him.
Novocastrian66
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:55 PM
Comment #21The PL are a disgrace. End of story.
Ron Knee
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:55 PM
Comment #22Trying to work out what the Pozzo family do is difficult. It is just their way, it is a different model but it does not make it wrong. Their argument will be they are in the Premier League and success for them is staying up every year. (BBC)
Thank God we have an owner with more ambition!
Kevin Vegan
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:56 PM
Comment #23All this bidders appearing from the woodwork, anyone would think it’s about to be the end of the season again
Harrogate mag
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:56 PM
Comment #24Shiite club..Shiite fans…#villadown
GhostToon
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:57 PM
Comment #25Harrogate
Tell me about it bud!
Paul141726
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:57 PM
Comment #26I think toon22’s report of a third buyer was more tongue in cheek than anything. Something like that happened during the Kenyon fiasco I believe.
Sure hope Arsenal give Villa a tonking tonight.
Anglo Saxon
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:58 PM
Comment #27Vegan, you ever come across Vegetarian Eskimo, just outa interest.
Davas28
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:59 PM
Comment #28In case of misunderstanding, when I said
“Off the top of my head didn’t the team play well when we beat Spurs 5-1? I seem to remember enjoying that one.
?”
I’d just like to say, that isn’t the only game I’ve enjoyed since then. I always enjoy us winning (or playing well).
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Harrogate mag
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:59 PM
Comment #29Hope Watford get something here ..remember they beat liverfool there handsomely
Kevin Vegan
Jul 21, 2020 at 5:59 PM
Comment #30Paul
I assumed so too. It’s no more or less plausible than any other at this point to be honest. I wish the journos didn’t feel the need to speculate all the time. It doesn’t help matters, just helps Ashley string us along. Not that any of them care.
Jib
Jul 21, 2020 at 6:00 PM
Comment #31Ron
https://youtu.be/GWRmsoBXAUw
Northumbrian
Jul 21, 2020 at 6:00 PM
Comment #32Anglo, I have he ate nothing but iceberg lettuce and snowdrops.
😉
Rafabomb
Jul 21, 2020 at 6:01 PM
Comment #33JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE AGAIN TO THE CLUTCHING CLUTCHERS! ………………… NO TAKEOVER IS HAPPENING! …. JUST RAMBLING ON ABOUT ALOAD OF HORSE CRAP! ….. I WISH IT WAS HAPPENING BUT IT AINT!!!!!!!
Harrogate mag
Jul 21, 2020 at 6:01 PM
Comment #34In the words of Geordie tom…I’m confident of the takeover of our club.. hwtl
Muz
Jul 21, 2020 at 6:03 PM
Comment #35Fairly certain now our resident nut case is in fact, two of our resident nut cases.
Jib
Jul 21, 2020 at 6:04 PM
Comment #36Rafabomb
NO NEED TO SHOUT HONEY
JAMSHA
Jul 21, 2020 at 6:04 PM
Comment #37A BIG NO TO THIS FAKE NEW BIDDER< Could turn out to be another ashley
Jib
Jul 21, 2020 at 6:05 PM
Comment #38Muz
I was thinking the same
He made a reference to my banking experience
That was a topic on here before he turned up
Paul141726
Jul 21, 2020 at 6:06 PM
Comment #39JAMSHA—-or worse!
Rafabomb
Jul 21, 2020 at 6:06 PM
Comment #40Muz… got any other horse crap to say about this takeover? You really good at keeping it positive for others but face facts! It ai t happening and your clutching