There’s news in the Northern Echo today that Mike Ashley will cut off any more bargaining with both Henty Mauriss and the Bellagraph Nova Group for the purchase of Newcastle.
And Ashley now expects to be the Newcastle owner for the whole of next season.
🙁
That’s unless another bidder comes in who is really genuine.
But the really bad news in the article is that Amanda Staveley’s consortium still seems unwilling to go back in and try one last time to get a deal down with Premier League CEO Richard Masters.
In his discussion with the NUST, Masters seemed willing to have further discussion with the Staveley group, but there would have to be some give and take on both sides.
So close and yet so far away.
The Staveley consortium reportedly paid £17M to secure their period of exclusivity, and we can’t understand why Ms. Staveley wouldn’t try to restructure the deal to have someone other than the PIF as the majority owners of Newcastle.
As one example, the Reuben Brothers could become the majority owners.
Maybe if the deal was the Reuben Brothers give 50%, the Saudi PIF give 40% and Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners Group give 10% a deal could be done.
Assuming a £300M sale price, that would mean the Reuben Brothers would need to put in an additional 40% (£120M), and they may not want to do that.
Consortium leader Amanda Staveley and Premier League CEO Richard Masters
But it would mean the PIF (or the Saudi Arabian government according to the Premier League) would not be the majority shareholders, and therefore the Saudi government cannot be in control of the team.
There was the sticking point with the Premier League.
The other alternative is to look for new investors to add to the current consortium, so the Saudi amount can be reduced to below 50% so they are not the majority owners.
But the Saudis may not want to do that.
It just seems we have been so close to a deal for the consortium to walk away now.
But it looks like that’s what they are doing, and it’s most likely the Saudi PIF who are no longer willing to go back to the owners’ and directors test.
They had four months of jumping through the hoops put in front of them by the Premier League, and that was enough for them.
What do you think about this?
Here is a new petition for Premier League transparency from MP Chi Onwurah that she will present when Parliament returns.
113 comments so far
hexhamtoon
Aug 31, 2020 at 12:37 PM
Comment #1The Saudis have walked , please stop mentioning PIF
jane
Aug 31, 2020 at 12:39 PM
Comment #2“Fulham have signed Anthony Knockaert on a permanent deal from Brighton & Hove Albion following a loan spell.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53337821
think this shows Fulham’s lack of ambition this time round.
hexhamtoon
Aug 31, 2020 at 12:42 PM
Comment #3Michel Platini arrived at Switzerland’s Federal Prosecution Office this morning to be questioned about a £1.5m payment he received from FIFA in 2011.
AncientC
Aug 31, 2020 at 12:46 PM
Comment #4It’s a bit late in the day for any takeover rumours to have any veracity. Once/if the club is sitting on 43 points next season — then that would be the time to go back to the table.
hexhamtoon
Aug 31, 2020 at 12:46 PM
Comment #5James Rodríguez about to turn up in Liverpool for a medical at Everton
AncientC
Aug 31, 2020 at 12:48 PM
Comment #6*Repost from Saturday*
For any readers of the blog not yet aware — the blog has a Fantasy Football league up and running — everybody welcome.
Use this link which includes the private league code: https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/8mikaq
Alternatively, sign up and create a team using:
https://fantasy.premierleague.com/
Then go to the leagues > Join a private league > use code: 8mikaq
Just for note, before you can join the private league, you need to pick and save your FF team first. Also, you can go back and make as many changes to your team as you like, prior to the first game of the season starting.
Uncertain Toon/World
Aug 31, 2020 at 12:50 PM
Comment #7Can’t join that division 2 thing on fantasy footie as it’s locked!
richyg01
Aug 31, 2020 at 12:53 PM
Comment #8They’ve all long gone. Mandy and her husband were vocal when it was causing a stir, but now silence, same with the NUST.
Same as always for us, a lot of words and hot air, but no end product.
Ashley won’t just be here for this season, he will still be here in another 10 years
Abra Dubravka
Aug 31, 2020 at 12:55 PM
Comment #9I’d be interested in the h2h league if there’s still spaces available?
Australian Pie
Aug 31, 2020 at 12:56 PM
Comment #10If we would just spend this £35 million on a striker and that Greek left back we would look so much better
£29mil striker and £6mil left back
Darnik
Aug 31, 2020 at 12:58 PM
Comment #11Scythe
Can you open div 2 again mate
DutchontheToon
Aug 31, 2020 at 1:02 PM
Comment #12All speculation. How does anyone know what is going on especially if these talks are now going on behind the scenes. This whole saga has been played out in the public domain which has been the problem throughout. Let’s just wait until Mandy and Co make a statement giving a final conclusion, positive or negative and stop all this Ridiculous speculation.
Lindisfarne
Aug 31, 2020 at 1:11 PM
Comment #13As I understand it PIF want to be the majority investors into NUFC and have the prestige of owning a PL football club, but they do not want the Crown Prince to be the named owner. Only the investment fund does operate solely on behalf of the countries ruler and he will likely want to be given media coverage when/if any success was forth coming.
It is therefore up to Stavely and the Reubens, to work with the PIF in order to present a solid distinction between the Crown Prince and the beneficiary owner of the PL club. At the moment it does not appear to be a possibility and the Saudi state look like they want everything their own way.
This does not prevent the other two bidding parties from declaring that the current situation has prevented the deal from moving forward and will not be resolved. Thereby closing the matter and letting the ‘beloved’ supporters move on.
Darnik
Aug 31, 2020 at 1:11 PM
Comment #14Ap
I think we need another rw or rwb too just to take the pressure off asm and balance us out again, let’s face it we are so predictable at the moment stop maxi stop us and they all know it
Nufc 4ever
Aug 31, 2020 at 1:11 PM
Comment #15I do enjoy the Steve Wraith show on you tube most days.
He had a comedian on Saturday Gavin Webster who more than likely the way he spoke hadn’t been to a game since the eighties his favourite game Newcastle 5 Leicester 4 his favourite player Peter Withe
Yesterday there was a few on some good the 4 Canadian lads were excellent and positive.
They had a lad on spenymag he was on a few weeks ago calling Nust saying they dont go to games. Then yesterday stated he packed in after Keegand second stint pot kettle comes to mind.
Steve should get season ticket holders on instead of him only his mates invited just my opinion.
He still states things going on behind the scenes without elaborating he has spoken to Amanda his words
Darnik
Aug 31, 2020 at 1:13 PM
Comment #16Good post Lindisfarne spot on
hibbit
Aug 31, 2020 at 1:22 PM
Comment #17https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2020/08/31/nufc-miss-out-on-leading-loan-target-as-player-undergoes-medical-at-crystal-palace-report/
hibbit
Aug 31, 2020 at 1:28 PM
Comment #18that was yesterday’s exclusive from Northern Echo and now we have another exclusive today ???
Darnik
Aug 31, 2020 at 1:30 PM
Comment #19Cheers scythe
H2H division 2 back open 10 more needed
Darnik
Aug 31, 2020 at 1:35 PM
Comment #20Uncertain and abra get yourselves in the league 😉
Jail for Ashley
Aug 31, 2020 at 1:52 PM
Comment #21Scythe needs to send people the code individually via twitter or Ed so it doesn’t get swamped, the best way to do it is limit it to twenty so everyone plays each other twice. So far we have Darnik, Clasol and Abra Dubravka interested could we get names please
toon22
Aug 31, 2020 at 1:54 PM
Comment #22Hexham
Do you drive a taxi for a living ?
Jail for Ashley
Aug 31, 2020 at 1:54 PM
Comment #23And UT/W follow me @Ashleyjail it send me a tweet as well so I know who is who.
hexhamtoon
Aug 31, 2020 at 1:59 PM
Comment #24toon22 nope , I work for the Forestry Commission in Bellingham , why do you ask ?
eggman
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:00 PM
Comment #25Can i be sent link for h2h league – ta
Uncertain Toon/World
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:07 PM
Comment #26Jail,
I’ve joined Div 2.
Also tweeted you, you’ll know it’s me.
Moonraker15
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:07 PM
Comment #27Reading the article above it all looks like pure speculation, not a genuine quote anywhere. I think the most frustrating part of Ashley’s ownership is the don’t tell us anything and it drives me mad!
It Staveley’s bid is dead ffs tell us and we can settle back for god knows how long under Ashley!!!
You mentioned the other bids which we know are rubbish but the last statement from the club was that they were committed to the Saudi bid!
Then SILENCE! Grrrrr!
hexhamtoon
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:16 PM
Comment #28Ashley is up sh#t creek without a paddle , if he doesn’t change his ridiculously misconceived notion of what a PL club is , he could lose a fortune.
Darnik
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:21 PM
Comment #29Yep I’ve joined and tweeted you to jail
Darnik
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:21 PM
Comment #30*too
Darnik
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:22 PM
Comment #31Eggman on twitter follow jail for code
Uncertain Toon/World
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:22 PM
Comment #32Darnik,
I’ve just had to ditch Pulisic, apparently he’ll miss start of season.
Scythe For Bruce
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:24 PM
Comment #33Jail – just sent you the code via Twitter (using my old name Chancel MyMbembaship). There’s six places left up for grabs.
Darnik
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:28 PM
Comment #34Uncertain
I don’t know how many times I’ve changed my team already mate lost count lol
Darnik
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:29 PM
Comment #35Transfer him back when he is fit
SiOliver
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:32 PM
Comment #36Fantasy Football = there will be a takeover, we will spend money on players, we will get 43 points next season.
IrishRob
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:34 PM
Comment #37I dont know if there is anything still going on in the background or not, but Steve Wraith is still adamant it’s being worked on.
But you’d want to be a complete idiot at this stage to believe anything in the smaller papers or anywhere really if it’s not Sky sports saying it, then it’s almost certainly made up.
Remember EVERY SINGLE time they have issued statements it’s been released through Sky sports or through personal Twitter accounts.
Nobody but NOBODY involved in the deal is talking to the Northern Echo or the Gazette or the Chronic.
eggman
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:36 PM
Comment #38jfa – ive tweeted you fella for h2h code – cheers
Mund
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:39 PM
Comment #39It’s just an opinion based article on the silence that’s it
Uncertain Toon/World
Aug 31, 2020 at 2:39 PM
Comment #40Darnik,
Yeah mate, I’d like him back in when he’s fit. Just can’t decide who to put in there in the mean time!
I think Pogba gets the nod if he shakes off the covid. Or maybe Willian or Alli.
Doiny me heed in already this lark FFS!