Amanda Staveley has said in her interview with George Caulkin in the Athletic that there are no other buyers out there for Newcastle.
And yet the Telegraph (Luke Edwards) issued a report saying that Californian Billionaire Henry Mariss was indeed interested in buying Newcastle.
It looks like owner Mike Ashley squeezed a bit more money out of the Staveley consortium at the end of June, and that may have been to match Mauriss’ reported bid of £350M for Newcastle.
If the Staveley deal does not go forward, then the consortium will have lost the £17M deposit they paid months ago, and Mike Ashley will be that much richer.
Henry Mauriss – desperate to become the new Newcastle owner?
But it’s also said that on Wednesday evening before the deal fell through that Mike Ashley tried his hardest to keep the deal afloat and he is still open to selling to Amanda Staveley.
And we have to drop all that stuff that Amanda Staveley and Mike Ashley don’t get along – here’s what she said about the Newcastle owner in her interview in the Athletic:
“Please don’t think there was any argument between Mike and I, because there wasn’t.”
“All this crap about Mike and I not getting on. We get on very well. There’s no issue with Mike.”
“None at all. We had a deal agreed. Yes, there was a bit more money on the table, but we agreed it.”
The Telegraph exclusive report is that a takeover of Newcastle United could still happen soon and before the start of next season (September 12th).
We mentioned this yesterday, with Henry Mauriss now said to be by the Telegraph “in pole position to buy Newcastle.”
Mauriss would let Steve Bruce stay on as manager at the club, at least for next season.
And he wants to copy how Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and John Henry (who also own the Boston Red Sox) have led Liverpool to glory since the6 bought them for £300M back in October 2011.
But Newcastle fans don’t seem to believe Henry Mauriss is for real – certainly, we don’t know too much about him, other than he is the current CEO of ClearTV.
He made his money in the credit card and finance industry and his ClearTV network now provides services to airports and health care facilities around the US,
This is what a source told the Sun in a mid-June article:
“Mauriss is a charitable and honorable man – and is desperate to become Newcastle’s new owner. It’s a genuine bid.”
“He’s a successful player in the media world in America and has a big interest in English football.”
He has studied the way his fellow countrymen Werner and Henry have successfully rejuvenated Liverpool and made them one of the world’s dominant forces.”
“There is the promise of significant investment not only in the squad but also the club’s academy. It’s a fantastic business plan.”
“The investor has seen the way Liverpool’s owners have harnessed themselves with the local community and made it a team effort with everyone pulling in the same direction.”
“Newcastle have a huge and loyal support. It’s a club with massive potential.”
This should all sort itself out in the next week or so – but we’d be happy if the Saudis went back in tried to make the deal one last time.
Comments welcome.
Note – here’s a petition to sign to get an independent review of the EPL Takeover process
215 comments so far
jane
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:30 PM
Comment #81most people don’t question things they just follow the crowd to form their views.
mindshaft
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:31 PM
Comment #82Jane – because the club’s vote on rule changes such as var , offside etc.
Clubs are not meant to get a vote on owners and directors , that’s why they have the test – it seems Liverpool and Spurs ( at least ) objected to the takeover by the Saudis leading to masters and co to sit on hands and demand that KSA be the director which is clearly ridiculous
carltoon
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:34 PM
Comment #83But surely owners test is completely private, and only down to the PL board, otherwise how did Man. City go through, all the other clubs would have voted against it, I don’t think the club’s decide they may object to it, of course I may be wrong,
Tsunki
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:34 PM
Comment #84Months ago war broke out in social media as boycotters pressured loyal fans to stay away from matches, force Ashley’s hand to sell. When it was agreed by both sides to let each one decide as they saw fit and not be bullied or swayed either way it just played out – the result was that – and you can’t argue against it – Ashley saw crowds drop, handed out free tickets which comparatively few wanted, and it undoubtedly gave him the impetus to get rid of the club. It’s obvious the non- boycotters did not do this.
Fast forward to a failed Saudi bid, majority favoured but certainly not all were entirely comfortable with it. Now we have statements that those who will not sign a petition are not real fans. I wonder how many anti – boycotters are part of this bullying to sign? Perhaps it would be fairer to leave the signing to individual conscience and leave our the bullying?
For the record I signed.
Assassins Inc
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:35 PM
Comment #85Signed, so this deal that didn’t happen, reading some of the messages the last few days.
Some wrote that there is a way that all the people involved in the Saudi group can get the club if they purchase the shares via Mike Ashley and keep the Saudi shares around 74%, with the other two owning 13% each.
Not totally sure how that works but if that could happen and the premier league cannot do anything about it, then why isn’t that happening?
Maybe I misunderstood but if there is a way why wouldn’t the Saudi group just do it to literally say to the premier league, up yours.
Jib
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:35 PM
Comment #86jane
Your problem is you question things but you ain’t very clever
The 20 members vote on things like transfer windows
number of subs etc etc
The fitness test is done by a committee of PL employees
appointed by the 20 members and masters is chairman of
said committee
jane
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:36 PM
Comment #87thanks mindshaft but who are masters and co?
carltoon
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:36 PM
Comment #88Mindshaft, great minds think alike. I mean it wouldn’t be confidential if all the club’s were involved,
Munster Mag
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:36 PM
Comment #89People living in newcastle are going to have to mobilise and get people signing up. It’s slowing badly at 30k and we’ve already had the surge. The Saudis are at fault aswell. The made a mess of the piracy and the PL could not be seen to support them and dump on Qatar. They were also stupid to withdraw and they have nothing to sue for now, if they ever did. If Mauriss has a plan, I’ll listen to him. That’s the least we can do, assuming the Saudis are finished with us
Nicky the ball tosser
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:38 PM
Comment #90If this is an attempt at brinkmanship by the Saudi PIF (I don’t think it is, I think they’ve run their race), it’s not looking a very potent one.
The EPL is not unreasonably requiring the KSA deal with the piracy of their product in the region, I assume by allowing Bein to broadcast, not gonna happen, and for a Sovereign State representative, MBS, to be named as a Director, again not gonna happen.
Why would the PL realistically do a u turn on these issues?
They won’t without government intervention, and how long a bow is that.
jane
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:39 PM
Comment #91i wish i was as clever as you Jib.
geordietom
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:39 PM
Comment #92i signed the petition yesterday , sent it over to my family in the States , Canada , Australia , Thailand for them to get it signed .
carltoon
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:42 PM
Comment #93Tunski I totally agree, people shouldn’t be bullied into doing anything they don’t want to do. That goes for every thing in life. Unfortunately for my husband, he’s now promoting it on his Facebook, when he didn’t even know he had signed.
Mund
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:43 PM
Comment #94Tsunki
What pisses off fans are the ones who just down right refuse to sign it. I don’t understand that and never will. It shouldn’t matter whether fans believe in the petition or not it should be fans doing it to support the fan base and support the club, that’s what I don’t understand
Briztoon
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:46 PM
Comment #95Long time reader, 1st time post…
could someone please post a link to the petition or advise where I can find?? stayed off the blog since the news broke.
Cheers
carltoon
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:46 PM
Comment #96There was plenty of bullying on both sides, and he was only going to go when someone came up with money he wanted. So let’s not go down that route again.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:46 PM
Comment #97Could Staveley not buy the club with Saudis money – but like Man Utd and the Glaziers
The Glaziers are skint so went to hedge funds who put in the money
Dondatta13
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:47 PM
Comment #98So after a couple of days in an emotional spin, both head and heart battered beyond anything NUFC related in the past…
My overriding question is… Have Qatar beat the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia into submission?
I somehow doubt it would be so easy tbh.
I’m hoping that this information of pulling the deal by PIF is indeed a way to quell the “outside influences” allowing the consortium to finish the process out of the public eye.
We must remember that as yet, no official notice has been served to the Premier League.
The Parliamentary petition being pulled or reviewed? Why? Is this because behind the scenes the Government is in the process of making a few phone calls? Who knows? All I know is the money and existing relationship between the UK and KSA is massive.
Maybe I’m dreaming… Beats being awake in this nightmare!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btoN7YUeNYg
carltoon
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:49 PM
Comment #99Mund !!! People have got minds of their own, us that hard to understand! If they don’t want to sign that’s their business, by all means encourage, but questions people’s motives.
carltoon
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:49 PM
Comment #100Don’t question people’s motives.
Paul141726
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:50 PM
Comment #101carltoon — well done getting hubby to sign and put on Facebook!! Love it!
carltoon
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:51 PM
Comment #102Paul it might be grounds for a divorce.
Muz
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:52 PM
Comment #103The problem Nicky, is that the EPL are trying to make the KSA a director, (i’m not sure entirely how that’s possible, what’s the service address for a country?), and that smells like a ploy to then decline it.
However they want to roll it, PIF might be the sovereign wealth fund with the crown prince as the head of the board but the country and fund and two separate entities. One cannot be culpable for the other and it’s why most of the law experts who have looked at the takeover have said that the O&D should be a pass simply because of that fact.
What’s happened here is an entirely unjustifiable position that the PL have adopted. The rules are there and should be applied but they haven’t. Why? Well clearly because the big boys don’t want to upset the food chain. There are only 4 CL spots and a resurgent NUFC with deep pockets could easily unseat one.
Paul141726
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:54 PM
Comment #104carltoon — pretty sure he knows he’s got the best thing that ever happened in his life, apart from kids.
jane
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:56 PM
Comment #105“Well clearly because the big boys don’t want to upset the food chain.”
are you suggesting the ‘big’ clubs have lent on the committee?
carltoon
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:56 PM
Comment #106Ha ha I keep telling him that. 🙂
Paul141726
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:58 PM
Comment #107Jane, I don’t think that’s out of the realm of possibility, but then I see conspiracy around every corner, lol
IrishRob
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:58 PM
Comment #108We need to get Atlanta united fans involved in the petition they adore Miggy amd will do anything for jim. I’ve tweeted Atlanta united posting the petition and inclued american based Newcastle ex players. It cant hurt.
I’ve also asked Shay given to retweet the petition, they might be insignificant actions but this is how we are going to get noticed, STRENGTH IN NUMBERS!!
Mund
Aug 1, 2020 at 12:59 PM
Comment #109carltoon I think it’s fair to question the ones who just turn there nose up at it.
geordietom
Aug 1, 2020 at 1:00 PM
Comment #110https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/116441826_10217471972262331_724358370461688958_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=cen_vLsbx9IAX9vfyZC&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=5759270f4e52d66c4b57384b098ff7ac&oe=5F4A8A1E
long link sorry …
Swanny
Aug 1, 2020 at 1:01 PM
Comment #111IrishRob
Cracking idea and good onya
Respect
Mund
Aug 1, 2020 at 1:02 PM
Comment #112Rob who are you on twitter?
hibbit
Aug 1, 2020 at 1:02 PM
Comment #113has anyone apart from Ed got any evidence Henry Mauriss is a billionaire ???
geordietom
Aug 1, 2020 at 1:03 PM
Comment #114https://www.footballinsider247.com/astounding-exclusive-telegraph-report-newcastle-takeover-talks-speeding-up-pundit-reacts/
Nicky the ball tosser
Aug 1, 2020 at 1:04 PM
Comment #115I think the PL is hung up on two issues, and that there is no hidden desire or conspiracy by the PL to lock Newcastle out of the senior six for economic reasons.
(I get that there has been lobbying from those clubs and Qatar, but it can only realistically be on the grounds of piracy and human rights abuses.)
First piracy of their product, for obvious reasons.
Second, they want the guy pulling the strings, MBS, to be named as a director, for purposes of transparency.
Mund
Aug 1, 2020 at 1:04 PM
Comment #116hibbit I think we need evidence of him even existing first 😉
jane
Aug 1, 2020 at 1:04 PM
Comment #117Mund is trying very hard to dig himself out of a hole.
The ledge
Aug 1, 2020 at 1:04 PM
Comment #118Fair play rob worth a try .
The ledge
Aug 1, 2020 at 1:05 PM
Comment #119alexa I will plug you out now off off i say
Kevin Vegan
Aug 1, 2020 at 1:05 PM
Comment #120Have people considered why the Saudi state didn’t want to be named as a director?
If they are named, they have to submit any documents the PL requests that could help their O+D testing, and if they fail to submit appropriate documents they can be had for fraud and have the club taken away.
They have been battling the WTO piracy investigation for 2 years and have shown no intention of allowing Qatar, BeIN or anyone else to investigate them without putting up as much of a fight as possible.
If the Saudi state had been named as a director, they would have had to make that information available, and it seems quite likely they have have something to hide where the piracy issue is concerned.
It’s clear that the Saudi state would essentially own the club under the proposals. It may have been purchased via the PIF, but the PIF is the Saudi sovereign wealth fund: it is inseperable from the state.