Mike Ashley’s hope of a quick resolution in his bid to sell Newcastle United was dealt a death blow on Monday as arbitration has been delayed until early 2022 due to issues with the disclosure of evidence.
In all likelihood, Mike Ashley and Newcastle United are stuck with each other for at least another season – another taxing and lost season.
Whether this latest disappointment will spark a rethink in Ashley’s plans for this upcoming campaign remains uncertain. Though he may feel inclined to back Steve Bruce a bit more with transfers as he can’t wipe his hands clean of the club until at least next year.
Bruce reportedly has just £10m in the coffers to improve this squad. He recently revealed work is being done on up to three targets, one of which is Arsenal’s Joe Willock. This morning the Gunners have had to cancel their trip to Orlando for the Florida Cup due to positive Covid tests.
After Newcastle’s friendly at York City on Sunday, Bruce expressed concern with his midfield stating ‘we are very, very short.’ So the middle of the park appears to be the focus right now in terms of additions.
Newcastle are in discussions over loans for Willock as well as Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher. On Monday, French journalist Loic Tanzi claimed we were tracking Midtjylland’s Jens Cajuste.
French club Rennes has had to cool their interest in the 21-year-old after two failed bids, the latest one a reported £10m. Tanzi reported that Brentford and Newcastle had entered the fray for the young Swedish international.
That claim has been backed up by Swedish outlet Expressen. They are reporting that Newcastle have held discussion with Cajuste’s representatives as well as his club over a move.
However, Newcastle are just one of four Premier League clubs to have held talks along with Leeds, Wolverhampton, and Crystal Palace. Brentford wasn’t mentioned in this latest report.
The defensive midfielder was not in Midtjylland’s squad for their Champions League qualifying match at Celtic yesterday. Though he did return late for pre-season training due to his involvement in the European Championships with Sweden which could be the reason.
Midtjylland want £11.8m (140m krona) for Cajuste according to the Swedish report. Though The Chronicle reports that his price tag is £13m. At the moment, even the lower amount exceeds Bruce’s budget but wouldn’t rule out a loan with an option to buy. Bruce could also receive a minor bump with Florian Lejeune’s pending sale.
However, with up to four other EPL clubs on his trail, Newcastle are going to have a very difficult time landing the midfielder without more backing from Mike Ashley.
126 comments so far
geordietom
Jul 21, 2021 at 12:43 PM
Comment #41😉
Rotonda heights
Jul 21, 2021 at 12:45 PM
Comment #4222
You do speak!! You actually replied to someone’s question. Well there’s a first. Sure, you spectacularly missed the point, but you did for the first time in my certain memory acknowledge anyone. Wow….! Let me just digest that for a moment.
OK, 1 or 2 people may be operating on space fuel a tad, but I would say the vast majority on here are not delusional in the least and are very well resigned to our plight.
However, we do have the ability to see past the need to drone on and on and on, day after day, after day, after day on the same theme, ad nauseum. Into each life a little sunshine must fall and all that. Let it in 22.
It’s very spectrummy to carry on as you do. Visions of a drunken Jib, in his underwear and string vest at midday in a seedy, low cost bedsit, on here 24/7 come to mind.
Ketsbaia9
Jul 21, 2021 at 12:46 PM
Comment #43Not really. Just being realistic. We need to get rid of 11 players.
Ketsbaia9
Jul 21, 2021 at 12:46 PM
Comment #44Bruce has made a mistake letting Lejuene go. He’s better than Lascelles and Clark.
cleveleysbob
Jul 21, 2021 at 12:48 PM
Comment #45Can’t argue with that one.
Mister Tuff
Jul 21, 2021 at 12:50 PM
Comment #46See the Wife silently struck last night with an unexpected run of the swamp pump and caught an offender – if you pardon my expression – by the short and curlies.
Yeee haaaa get in the wife get those mothers rounded up into the blog corral (naughty step).
Yeeee haaaaa. Get in the wife.
Adamn_92
Jul 21, 2021 at 12:51 PM
Comment #47Bob
The most daunting thing reading through that Man City case, is just how little progress has actually been made since December 2018 when it started.
‘It is surprising, and a matter of legitimate public concern, that so little progress has been made after two and a half years’
Like you say, unless some sort of settlement is being worked on out of court, we could be in for a very very long wait. Interestingly Newcastle also get’s a mention.
‘Second, I was not impressed with Lord Pannick QC’s argument that publication was not in the public interest because the Club’s complaint was specific to the Club’s case and, in any event, the judge had simply applied the principles recently confirmed by the Supreme Court in Halliburton. I consider that there is a legitimate public interest in how disputes between the PL and member clubs are resolved and, in particular, in the allegation of structural bias made by the Club which appears to have led to a change in the Rules. As HHJ Pelling QC said at [21] of his judgment in the Newcastle United case, there is a public interest in the publication of a judgment determining an application under section 24 of the Arbitration Act (in other words a judgment dealing with an allegation of apparent bias), because there is a public interest in maintaining appropriate standards of fairness in the conduct of arbitrations.’
lochinvar
Jul 21, 2021 at 12:51 PM
Comment #48Liverpool has been stripped of its World Heritage status after a UN committee found developments threatened the value of the city’s waterfront.
The decision was made following a secret ballot by the Unesco committee at a meeting in China.
Unesco had said that the developments, including the planned new Everton FC stadium, had resulted in a “serious deterioration” of the historic site.
Pity their other football club along with 5 others such as Man U, Man City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea who shall remain nameless haven’t been stripped off their EPL status.
Romford mag
Jul 21, 2021 at 12:55 PM
Comment #49Strange !
lesh
Jul 21, 2021 at 12:58 PM
Comment #50Bettysbollocks
Thanks for your advice about the Grauniad.
Like most of your generally juvenile posts, I’ll give it the consideration it merits – then bin it!
Mund
Jul 21, 2021 at 12:59 PM
Comment #51Rom
Very 😆
cleveleysbob
Jul 21, 2021 at 1:02 PM
Comment #52Adam, as you and I pointed out, little or no progress for almost 3 years! And the PL seemingly happy for it to just trickle along.
I’m falling very quickly towards the negative camp on this now, it’s beginning to look like either a settlement (unlikely, looking at PL’s previous actions) or a very long process, not looking good at all. Funny that we have to see how it’s unwinding in a completely unrelated case to get a reasonable picture of what might be happening to us, because no one tells us anything!
As OP said, I think yesterday, sick of being treat like mushrooms!
cleveleysbob
Jul 21, 2021 at 1:06 PM
Comment #53Might I suggest to all interested supporters of NUFC. A sit in (on the pitch) just before the KO for the WH game and every home game after that until someone, somewhere takes some bloody notice of the crap we are being subjected to.
Enough is enough, surely??
Mund
Jul 21, 2021 at 1:07 PM
Comment #54Newcastle United FC
@NUFC
·
38m
? A limited number of tickets remain for this Friday’s pre-season friendly against Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Tickets are on general sale and are can be purchased online.
cleveleysbob
Jul 21, 2021 at 1:09 PM
Comment #55Oh, and I mean everyone inside the ground not just a dozen hardliners. We need to swamp the pitch so that stewards etc can’t shift us.
Stop the game and every game until the PL honours it’s duty and commitment to the fans to look out for our best interests.
Lying shysters!
Adamn_92
Jul 21, 2021 at 1:15 PM
Comment #56Bob
It doesn’t look good on the time frame that’s for sure, i’m not aware of any but are you aware of any times the league have settled something out of court? If they can delay cases this long then they may just hope they can continue to do so with ours in the hope PIF just walk away entirely to buy someone else. Let’s hope there’s a settlement out of court being discussed, or the CAT case genuinely can’t be delayed any further and will throw light onto their corruption and help us hugely.
I tired to suggest a similar thing earlier, forcing our home games to repeatedly be delayed or cancelled due to peaceful sit ins would show that we won’t stand for being ignored or kicked down the road any longer. If you can delay us repeatedly, we can delay you repeatedly. It would have to be an all or nothing initiative though, or at the very least a few thousand so it’s not police-able. It’s times like this we need groups like NUST to rally fans for these type of protests too.
geordietom
Jul 21, 2021 at 1:17 PM
Comment #57rom very very strange …
Wor B
Jul 21, 2021 at 1:22 PM
Comment #58“Anarchy and rebellion!”. Shouts the CEO.
“Mr Ashley, the fans are revolting”
😆
jazzyp
Jul 21, 2021 at 1:52 PM
Comment #59The bottom line is the PL starts in a couple of week.We have no back up for Wilson.Midfield is as slow as this takeover and we have nothing going forward.
Villa are on the verge of signing leon bailey for 30 mill and we are scrambling around for youngsters on loan from other clubs.We are a fooooooooòooooooooooooooooookkkin joke and an embarrassment. Every season clubs come up and they out spend us and the the hierarchy cant understand why we so shite and are nothing more than relegation fodder.
But look on the bright side…Toon 22 will be around for yet another season
dabassman
Jul 21, 2021 at 1:53 PM
Comment #60Adamn_92 #56 You cant be serious all that will do is ensure that Ashley wont be able to sell the club
Take it one step further and the PL fine the club police called in to remove protesters games cancelled no income club goes into administration NUFC wont exist anymore.
While i respect your right to protest this one is a non starter mate.
If you feel that strongly find an other team-the one down the road-to support
cleveleysbob
Jul 21, 2021 at 1:54 PM
Comment #61Adam, because the PL prefer to do everything without the glare of publicity, we’d never know if they “settled” any cases with anyone.
My only glimmer of hope now is that with the Court of Appeal insisting on the matter being “of public interest”, is that Ashley’s Legal team are all over this ramping up the demands for everything in the open and that genuinely the PL doesn’t want this and will get ‘around the table’ to thrash out a compromise. The whole things become farcical in the extreme. 🙂
Notice the Court went against both the wishes of PL and Club in this case as both wanted it private and the Courts have said no. Is it possible our legal teams knew this was about to come out and have acted accordingly?
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 21, 2021 at 1:56 PM
Comment #62The Wife/Neil
It just occurred to me that you probably have to read every comment made on the blog to catch out any that do not get caught in the moderation net.
If this is the case then I have a mixture of total respect and sympathy for you, it’s bad enough for us mere mortals to even skim through comments, some very good ranging through to utter dross.
Just hope your brains aint tuning to mush from doing it! 🙂
dabassman
Jul 21, 2021 at 1:59 PM
Comment #63@ Jazzy
rome wanst built in a day players are coming in
Lee Ryder put the whole thing in perspective You own a house that to all intents and purposes is sold Just awaiting registration and the exchange. Do you decide to put a conservatory on the house?
There is a delay so now you have to do a bit of maintenance in order for the house not to fall into the state of disrepair and the sale collapsing completely.
Thats where ashley is now he will open the purse strings a bit to ensure that the club is an attractive buy and maybe a top 10 finish
cleveleysbob
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:02 PM
Comment #64Dabassman, isn’t the expression something like, “you can’t bake a cake without breaking eggs”.
Either the fans of NUFC shut up and live with the dross for another indeterminate period or finally do something that will be (a) noticed and (b) make a difference.
Yes the consequences could be dire, but given the sh**storm we’ve already kicked up at Parliament etc, I doubt the PL would act too harshly against us as it would just give us more ammunition against them. The Government could effectively shut them down and appoint someone independent to oversee the Premier League. It’s a risk, but isn’t it time we took one?
cleveleysbob
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:04 PM
Comment #65Movie time, head done in, again, bloody club! 😆
jazzyp
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:04 PM
Comment #66Dabasman
Lee Ryder spouts as much crap as the rest of em and as for the property analogy ,All Ashley does is paper over the cracks.And before long that crack goes past repair…As in another relegation.
Let us see what calibre of player arrives eh,But I’ll edge my bets towards Hendricks calibre rather than bringing in another 3 or 4 Wilsons
Adamn_92
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:04 PM
Comment #67dabassman, it is not just me suggesting that idea. Ashley hasn’t been able to sell the club for 14 years, I don’t think that would hinder his chances. We have never as a fan base held any form of real hardcore protest against Ashley or the league for their current handling of us. When do we decide to take a stance, or do we just keep letting them do what they want and hope things get better? Why would I want to support a team down the road because I feel so strongly about Newcastle? That doesn’t make any sense haha I want what’s best for the club and we’re getting taken for a ride by our owner and the league right now. I understand your concerns about such strong protests but something has to change.
Romford mag
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:05 PM
Comment #68Bill
Sorry mate , I’ll try harder 😉
dabassman
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:07 PM
Comment #69@ Clever Maybe your right
But I don’t think it would work if we did that. I bet the club would wind up in administration and NUFC would be no more
We can only hope that sanity prevails or another buyer comes to the party as the Consortium right of first refusal has expired and Ashley has the right to accept another offer
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:08 PM
Comment #70Bob
Yes you ca!
Most Commonly Used Egg Substitutes for Baking
Mashed Banana.
Applesauce.
Silken Tofu.
Ground Flax Seed mixed with water.
Yogurt (dairy-free or regular)
Buttermilk.
Sweetened Condensed Milk.
jazzyp
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:08 PM
Comment #71Lads like me who have followed the club through thick and thin for 3 decades and refuse to give any more of there life to follow a shell of a club that doesn’t give a crap about the likes of you or I.
Led along a garden path to constant b@llocks fefuse to believe anything until the parasite has left the building
Goofy
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:08 PM
Comment #72The longer this case gets delayed the more chance it has of being sweeped under the carpet.
The courts are probably sick of seeing Ashleys fat face, with him appealing and being appealed against.
If we had a decent stand up owner we might have a chance but we don’t. His face has been plastered all over the papers for the greedy, selfish narcasist he is, he’s pretty much hated by everyone not just us fans.
The whole case reminds film The man who sued God with Billy Connolly, it’s a mammoth task. He probably has the best lawyers but it’s still his fat face that no one likes, even though Judges are meant to be unbiased, maybe i’m only projecting my own hate
Davas28
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:10 PM
Comment #73I’ve sèen the house sale analogy a couple of times but don’t really agree with it. aAhouse isn’t a business. If it was a supermarket being sold and it was held up this long you would still have to use the proceeds of your product to reinvest and keep the business going and competitive so that you still have a saleable asset
dabassman
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:11 PM
Comment #74@jazzy dont lose faith mate there are 3/4 really good players in this pudding and from what I hear at least 2 of them are done deals its a matter of when not if
This might be a lucky 15 for us and the end of the ashley era.
anxer
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:13 PM
Comment #75I don’t think Lee Ryder’s analogy to selling a house is particularly relevant. The football club is a business, like any business it has income and expenditure, cash and assets and liabilities.
If you had agreed a price to sell your business as a going concern, and then the sale was delayed by regulatory approval, would you allow it to run out stock, stop paying creditors, cease trading, or would you use the business’s resources to maintain itself as the going concern you’d agreed to sell?
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:14 PM
Comment #76Always hate the house analogy with regards to Ashley!
Selling a house is not the same!!
For a start a normal house wouldn’t have over 140 odd million income coming in every season while still expecting paying customers to pay for season tickets to view the entertainment……..
Ace50
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:15 PM
Comment #77Bob/Adam – the uncertainty about the objectivity and the duration (as shown in the Man City example) of the arbitration might have been the drivers in something ‘not being presented’ to postpone the arbitration. It seems that the focus is now on the CAT case – let’s see what comes from that. That should start soon. I hope it cannot be delayed (as that is what is being said, as it is an expedited CAT case) and that it transparently shows enough wrong doing by the PL so the TO is pushed through.
IMHO, if the CAT case is given the green light to go ahead (which is my main concern), then I can see an out of court agreement happening soon
dabassman
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:17 PM
Comment #78@jazzy
Ashley is defiantly selling What I would like to see is the consortium taking it because of what they bring in terms of regeneration for the area and obviously investment in the club
What I have been dwelling on is why the Rubens dont buy it outright or strake a 51/49 deal with ashley or even a 3 way deal Amanda rubens and ashley There is enough capital between them to get us to europe
One last thing in the 350 mil deal 150 of it is being carried by ashley so if they do a 3 way they only have to find 200 mil and about the same to run the club year on year
anxer
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:18 PM
Comment #79Fair enough if you do proper maintenance while waiting for a sale, but if your budget for maintenance is a tenner and the roof has fallen in?
lesh
Jul 21, 2021 at 2:19 PM
Comment #80Given delays and EPL obfuscation, surely the CAT can disregard EPL tactics and order the proceedings to proceed, whether the EPL’s ready or not.
It doesn’t seem right that one party to a case can use the law to delay said proceedings.