Earlier this afternoon, journalist David Coverdale tweeted the following information he said came from a source close to the Saudis.
Sources close to the Saudis say Ashley tried to 'significantly renegotiate' the £300m deal at the last minute.
One of the reasons why they have pulled out today, as well as losing patience with the Premier League. #nufc
— David Coverdale (@dpcoverdale) July 30, 2020
The inference is that with the consortium losing exclusivity, which was confirmed in their statement, that Mike Ashley was free to renegotiate the terms of the deal and took the opportunity to do just that in order to squeeze more money out of the Saudis.
However, this claim quite inflammatory under the current state of affairs. It is also unsubstantiated.
George Caulkin has tweeted the following information from the consortium that Mike Ashley is not the cause of the takeover’s collapse.
From the consortium’s point of view, no blame whatsoever is attached to Ashley or Newcastle for what’s happened (or not happened) today. “The reason the deal failed is because of the Premier League,” they say. #NUFC
— George Caulkin (@GeorgeCaulkin) July 30, 2020
We hope Ashley has potential buyers waiting in the wings as his time to sell the club is long overdue. However, in terms of this takeover failing, it seems that Ashley is not the culprit.
210 comments so far
Mad Frog Boom 22
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:21 PM
Comment #1Ashley out now!
jane
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:21 PM
Comment #2“However, in terms of this takeover failing, it seems that Ashley is not the culprit.”
my suspicions lie with Amanda and Mike in cohoots.
Mad Frog Boom 22
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:21 PM
Comment #3Time to fight back!
Harrogate mag
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:24 PM
Comment #4Romford…you lurking mate
Munster Mag
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:24 PM
Comment #5Just as I thought, Ashley not the issue. Coverdale is another lying journo.
thereallowickmag
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:26 PM
Comment #6I agree with Jane. Been in cahoots for years those two. At our expense.
Pat On The Heed
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:26 PM
Comment #7https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jul/30/newcastle-united-takeover-falls-through-as-saudi-led-consortium-pulls-out
Liverpool and Tottenham thought to be the two clubs pushing hardest against the big going through.
Muz
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:27 PM
Comment #8Repost:
Hmmm
There will be more to come in the next few days. I don’t think this is as cut and dried as we might think. Something smells very odd about the whole thing. I mean, the fact that the day after a WTO meeting this happens?
Ashley wants to sell, she’s made a point of saying he’s been a willing seller. I’m wondering if they’re to give the PL a kick up the arse. They can discuss the process and throw blame around under the guise of the deal being off without breaking any regulations. Way to get their facts out perhaps? Every single word of that statement from Staveley is very specific. It targets the PL, it lays out the facts of their application to the O&D and bizarrely points fingers at other clubs. She finishes by saying, can she move forward, she doesn’t know??
Ashley does need to sell; he’s fupped if he stays here cos he won’t invest again if we’re relegated a third time and that means his asset is worthless. The clubs fupped if he stays here, he won’t invest anyway. The PL are fupped if the Saudi’s put there money in another league.
G
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:28 PM
Comment #9I hate being bloody right! Knew the wheel would fall off. Gutted again.
thereallowickmag
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:28 PM
Comment #10Caulkin has been totally sucked in by her. Again! Unless he’s aware of the situation from the start and is also taking back handers.
chancel be a fine thing
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:29 PM
Comment #11Jane, It just seems that you are more wounded by others having a go at you than you are at today’s news. You used to be be so even tempered and unperturbed by other’s snidey digs at you.
I just think now is not the time for it. We are all crushed by today’s news.
Muz
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:31 PM
Comment #12I get people are angry but blaming Staveley and even Ashley for this is pointless. The dilly dallying at the PL and, from Staveley’s own statement, some degree of corruption or undue influence at the PL is where the fault lies.
Kevin Vegan
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:31 PM
Comment #13I wondered that about Caulkin. He was very quick to highlight the part where Staveley had said Ashley wasn’t to blame.
Anyone who went out of their way to highlight how Mike Ashley wasn’t the problem looks pretty suspicious in my eyes.
Harrogate mag
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:33 PM
Comment #14Kev……..SHUT UP
Kevin Vegan
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:33 PM
Comment #15“Se get on very well”
She heard him call her a tyre-kicker after the last saga, right?
geordie157
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:33 PM
Comment #16Liverpool were definitely against it.
2020 is turning out to be an absolute giant stinking turd of a year.
Ashley better go out tomorrow and buy Callum Wilson, Brooks and Will Hughes to soften the blow a little.
chancel be a fine thing
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:34 PM
Comment #17Sorry if it seems I’m having a go at you Jane, as you are not the only poster, I just didn’t expect it from you.
ilovetoon8788
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:34 PM
Comment #18Corruption of the pl is unbelievable.
jane
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:35 PM
Comment #19yeah i may have gone over the top a bit but i promised Mund i would give him ridicule and abuse but maybe i started too soon 😐
i am not surprised at today’s news. i called it from day one.
Harrogate mag
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:36 PM
Comment #20Geordie157…I’ve got more chance of growing boobs mate than that happening mate
fairscup
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:37 PM
Comment #21Can’t be fckin bothered.
Northumbrian
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:37 PM
Comment #22Muz apart from those you mentioned it was also Everton, west ham, wolves and two or three others who objected.
The ledge
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:39 PM
Comment #23The one thing I do agree with on social media ,Nufc matters etc is that these so called fans saying they called it from day one are not fans of Newcastle just a shower of idiots.
Romford mag
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:39 PM
Comment #24Harrogate
Yeah mate I’m lurking , just reading back through the post’s
Absolutely gutted bud !
But I think instead of all the point scoring and finger pointing , we should all be United !
At the end of the day we are all (well reading back most of us) hurting ! We all wanted this takeover to happen !
I will say this , it doesn’t feel like it at the moment but we as NUFC fans will have our day and our club will be great again
HWTL
Jail for Ashley
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:40 PM
Comment #25DaveD1000,
Never ever had a cross word with you, only decent exchanges, so really quite disappointing to hear you say that.
Harrogate mag
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:40 PM
Comment #26Ledge…spot on mate….virtual pint on its way
The Prince's Mate
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:40 PM
Comment #27We can only hope spineless Masters is invited into some government building in Turkey soon….. Too much??…. I don’t give a shite
Muz
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:41 PM
Comment #28Well, this is the thing. If other clubs are putting pressure on the PL to block the move then it highlights a serious issue in the PL itself. Namely, that there are ‘members’ of the club who are restricting competition and entry to an organisation to prevent others from benefiting while ensuring their own success within it. I am fairly certain that’s covered under the Competition Act and is in fact, illegal.
The mighty wyn
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:41 PM
Comment #29Fairs cup – I’m with you on that, very little left to support any more
We’re a shell of a club now having been run down over the last 13 years
The ledge
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:41 PM
Comment #30Alexa is a footin clown thats what it is and should of been ran off of here a long time ago a proper wum .
Harrogate mag
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:42 PM
Comment #31Well said Rom mate…it’s our team..and our club..one day we’ll get it back pal
dougie
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:42 PM
Comment #32I’m absolutely gutted,really thought this was it.Maybe Amanda can get something else together,who knows but it will not be for a while.The infighting on here though guys isn’t doing anyone any good.Theres no choice but to take it on the chin and roll with it,what else can we do.I,m with Jib,if you keep conversing with Kev he’s got you by the balls.
G
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:43 PM
Comment #33Muz, I know a decent lawyer. I may well get his opinion on that.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:44 PM
Comment #34It’s no good pointing the finger at other clubs either, the PL pull the strings. Imo they’ve been shite scared about losing BeIN money and the rest of MENA watching pirate stations.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:44 PM
Comment #35The ledge,
Aye. Tru dat.
The mighty wyn
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:45 PM
Comment #36Can’t see how clubs have an opinion on a takeover
It is nothing to do with them and they have no legal way to object so the premier league have left themselves open
Don’t remember any other clubs commenting on Chelsea or man city or even wolves
Harrogate mag
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:46 PM
Comment #37Jane…nice tooth
The Prince's Mate
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:46 PM
Comment #38Cominghome.
I know you like your whisky…. Have you ever tried Glen Moray @£20 a bottle?
What a steal, it has to be one of the best malts around at that price.
Bought it in Asda 3 hrs ago and reckon its good for another 2hrs at most…. Then it was gone
Northumbrian
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:47 PM
Comment #39And also muz there’s a Epla members meeting tomorrow,already planned but coincidentally just a day after the retraction of the bid.
Did the consortium have info that the others might have enough support to block the deal?.
Harrogate mag
Jul 30, 2020 at 8:48 PM
Comment #40Prince’s mate…..go on lad…man after my own heart