Newcastle United have just issued a statement at nufc.co.uk on the failed takeover.
Club statement.#NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) September 9, 2020
Here is the statement in full:
Newcastle United can confirm that the Premier League has rejected a takeover bid made by PCP Capital Partners, the Reuben Brothers and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) based on its Owners and Directors test.
This conclusion has been reached despite the club providing the Premier League with overwhelming evidence and legal opinions that PIF is independent and autonomous of the Saudi Arabian government.
The club and its owners do not accept that Premier League chief executive Richard Masters and the Premier League have acted appropriately in relation to this matter and will be considering all relevant options available to them.
Mike Ashley understands fans’ frustrations and would like to reassure them that he has been fully committed to ensuring this takeover process reached completion as he felt it was in the best interests of the club. Mike continues to be fully supportive to Steve Bruce, the players, and all the staff and wishes them well for the upcoming season.
This is an outstanding statement from the club and comes after Mike Ashley flew into the Benton training facility on Wednesday morning to meet with Steve Bruce and the new signings.
It seems that Ashley has not accepted the actions of the Premier League and will look at all of the options available to him at this time. We would expect that includes legal action if necessary.
We have to give credit to Ashley here. He has supported this club that he obviously wants rid of and it looks he will now fight to get this takeover back on track.
80 comments so far
kilcline
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:02 PM
Comment #1Stir the pot
jane
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:02 PM
Comment #2“This conclusion has been reached despite the club providing the Premier League with overwhelming evidence and legal opinions that PIF is independent and autonomous of the Saudi Arabian government.”
strange the club provided it and not PIF.
Bambams
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:03 PM
Comment #3repost…
Its all happening now….
” The club do not accept Masters and the PL have acted appropriately in relation to this matter and will be considering all relevant options available.
The PL conclusion has been reached despite the club providing overwhelming evidence & legal opinions that PIF OF SA is independent ”
This is what I have been hoping for and announced prior to Chi taking the petition to the HOC.
Masters looks so incapable in this role.
My opinion is the O&D will be changed now, PL won’t want a Court battle with SA nor will our Gov.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:03 PM
Comment #4Honestly though a couple of days before the first game!?
All the new signings and then boom we will have this circus hanging over us again
Our Toon
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:04 PM
Comment #5Masters can’t hide behind confidentiality now, the decision to reject the bid rather than sit on it plays in our favour now!!
captainmarvel
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:05 PM
Comment #6I hope the Premier league lose everything after this totally mishandled and disgraceful episode..
jane
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:05 PM
Comment #7if PIF came out with fighting talk like this it would mean more.
Our Toon
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:06 PM
Comment #8Lee
We still have the Ashley circus to deal with every season so I have no qualms about this type of circus. Better than discussing walkout, boycotts etc
Dondatta13
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:07 PM
Comment #9I’d like to hear the PL answer subsequent questions in a court of law regarding Hoffmans friendship with Keys and his grudge on the North East over his departure from Northern Rock and his forced forfeit of a pay off bonus and why he did not remove himself from the process…
captainmarvel
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:08 PM
Comment #10It is up to the club to take this forward not the buyers. I would like to bet the club will be well backed on this…
Moonraker15
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:08 PM
Comment #11Jane
All dealings are done through the selling club!
The mighty wyn
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:09 PM
Comment #12I don’t think the pif can come out with it Jane as everything is supposedly between the club and the premier league so the club are in effect the go between.
Think there will now be an appeal and it will get passed. Masters and co were trying to prevent us spending this window
Moonraker15
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:11 PM
Comment #13Bunga
This is good and won’t affect the team! In fact it’s more exciting as we’ve got a reasonable squad and what’s the worst that could happen?
Jail for Ashley
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:12 PM
Comment #14Played a blinder has Mikey, 35M of the clubs money and he’s got 52K back onside.
captainmarvel
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:13 PM
Comment #15The relationships within the Premier league are irrelevant it is the owners an Directors test that faces the acid test.. If it has been found that Masters and Co. Have not followed the rules exactly and refused to accept legal signed depositions they will lose..
Moonraker15
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:13 PM
Comment #16Mighty wyn
I’ll bet Masters is shitting himself what with all the dodgy owners, contacts, losing the Chinese money, Qatar contract v KSA !
Boom!!!!
Shoulders knees
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:14 PM
Comment #17Well well
What have we here, could we see a united front at the Toon.
Let’s get these corrupt pieces of *%#^ @ the premier league
captainmarvel
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:14 PM
Comment #18Dead right there jail!
Mund
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:14 PM
Comment #19All these signings now we have the news of how it goes forward from here.
The consortium and Ashley were working in the background for what I think was to get an answer. Now they have the rejection the next stage begins.
If we are to believe that Staveley got handed a document of high importance, it could help in the legal battle.
Believe me Ashley and his legal team will of been working all this time with the consortium to on a plan of attack and all they were waiting on was the rejection.
We now have more hope that this could be back on and it’s not over yet.
HWTL
Moonraker15
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:15 PM
Comment #20This unites the fans totally! AND we have some players in !
Love it!
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:17 PM
Comment #21Just been talking to wee JC and he reckons the Toon are weighing up their legal options
The mighty wyn
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:18 PM
Comment #22Likely an appeal allied to the threat of legal action will see it get passed. I’m sure they didn’t want us to have money when nobody else has any
Mund
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:18 PM
Comment #23Mark Douglas
@MsiDouglas
·
4m
It’s over… but it’s not over.
#nufc implying this decision could be challenged and heavily critical of Richard Masters and
@premierleague
. With PIF, Reubens and Staveley still talking of their commitment, this could get messy…
giimps
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:18 PM
Comment #24This forces the correct arbitration, not the one the pl wanted i.e. Arbitration to prove the pif are linked to the royals .
This way the arbitration will be on whether the pl have acted illegally …….master stroke by the slug
Mund
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:18 PM
Comment #25On the same night that Mike Ashley and #nufc call out the Premier League for “acting inappropriately” re: takeover, Chi Onwurah MP presents a petition that further piles on the pressure.
Great White Hunter
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:19 PM
Comment #26If ManCity can take on FIFA in relation to their ban,fine etc…. and win their appeal, we can surely do similar with the PL and win the appeal. Let’s do it Mikey boy……..
Davas28
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:20 PM
Comment #27Jane
It’s the club that deals with the PL
giimps
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:21 PM
Comment #28Very well timed methinks Mund
Nicky the ball tosser
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:21 PM
Comment #29I hope the forwards gel. We have a decent bunch, but it’s massively important that we hold our own in the middle of the pitch and the final third if we are going to play 4 at the back or we will almost certainly ship goals.
When I look at the group, to be honest I see decent depth, balance and quality, but not obviously top ten overall, with St Max our only really standout player, and even he has his shortcomings in terms of fitness, consistency, end product, and defensive discipline and work rate.
If the side is disciplined, runs hard and really battles for possession then tenth is possible, otherwise trouble.
Dondatta13
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:22 PM
Comment #30I knew it was way too quiet on the takeover front…
Tried working it out in the background to either A, get it passed or B get an official rejection.
I just want to be the first to welcome our new owners PIF, PCP and the Rubens lol because if this goes to court, Mike and co will win of that I have no doubt!
🙂
Lindisfarne
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:22 PM
Comment #31Jane
The PL only have Governance over the football club, therefore the only official communication they have is with the club in regard to footballing matters. It has been stated elsewhere that the change in ownership process is always instigated and carried out through the club in communication with the governing body, rather than individual or companies etc.
Mag52
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:23 PM
Comment #32Our cup runneth over.
Ashingtoon62
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:23 PM
Comment #33Just walked through the door and BOOM!!!!
Get the feck in!!!!
Mund
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:24 PM
Comment #34I’ve said since the pullout they needed the actual decision before the next move and it’s took a while but they have got that in this last month with whatever has been going on behind the scenes.
Now it’s the plan and whatever that may entail it has been in the planning for the last month odd and I truly now believe we will win this legal battle and the pure basis that the league is corrupt and they kept putting obstacles in the way to stop it.
If we truly believe in our hearts that the league are to blame then with this action we will win. Just hope the ruinous of said document is true and helps us fight the case.
Moonraker15
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:26 PM
Comment #35This could get very political with our relationship (UK) with KSA! The petition from Chi is a knife in Masters back as well!
Howay the lads! Howay the Toon!
Our Toon
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:26 PM
Comment #36Jail
Don’t get what point you’re trying to make, Mike played a blinder when he appointed rafa aswell as he got you to come back and buy a season ticket. You were once part of that flocking 52k
Rather than looking back, think we can all agree that its best to move forward and if he takes PL to court whilst 35m of the clubs money has been spent then so be it. Given the industry he’s in and the hammering it’s taken I’m somewhat surprised he has spent 35m before selling anyone!!
Can’t stand the bloke but complaining because he’s spent 35m of the clubs money is bewildering, complain if he spends, complain if he doesnt spend!!
I’ll continue my long standing boycott, but I don’t resent those that do go to games nor should you, if he appoints rafa tomorrow you’ll snap up a season ticket again no doubt!!
onmeedsun
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:26 PM
Comment #37The FCB will soon get his statue in the Toon and I will help pay for it. What a legacy to leave if he can force this deal thru with legal action. I’m a bit worried that all of this will now be in the public domain and it could detract from the football, but I hope he sues. And it means that the consortium is still active and interested. Something was still going on behind closed doors. Go for it Mike, we are right behind you!
Mund
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:27 PM
Comment #38gimps
This what’s happening is the one thing I’ve been hoping and praying for and the only route I could see going forward on and now boom.
Get in, buzzing.
Mund
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:27 PM
Comment #39George Caulkin
@GeorgeCaulkin
Newcastle and takeover is truly the saga that never ends. After weeks of fan pressure, quiet manoeuvring and then political wheel-greasing behind the scenes, tonight’s statement from the club feels like a fairly incendiary escalation. What a mess!
giimps
Sep 9, 2020 at 8:28 PM
Comment #40I think, by the time fans are back in the ground in good numbers, we will have new owners…..probably next season though, we just need to stay up though…..The slug has equipped the squad with enough to do that …..depending on the manager