Is the queen of deals about to rule Newcastle United?
A TOP businesswoman who once dated Prince Andrew is behind a £400million takeover of Premier League club Newcastle United.
Venture capitalist Amanda Staveley, 44, is one of the world’s most powerful financial players and is backed by £28billion from the Middle East and China.
She became known as the “queen of British football” after her role in the acquisition of Manchester City.
A former lover of Prince Andrew, she allegedly turned down his marriage proposal.
She is a friend of Theresa May and her investment fund PCP Capital Partners is linked to a £400million takeover of the top club.
Should a deal be done, she would become the new power behind the club at St James’ Park. It would see the exit of owner Mike Ashley, who put the club up for sale.
The Daily Express can reveal the mother of one is estimated to boast a personal fortune of more than £100million.
Success
As a child she was tipped for success in both showjumping and athletics. At 14, she clocked 12.6 seconds for the 100 metres and only a snapped Achilles tendon stopped her from a sporting career.
In her 20s, the daughter of Yorkshire landowner Robert Staveley took out a £180,000 loan to buy Stocks restaurant near Newmarket racecourse.
It was regularly visited by businessmen, trainers and owners, giving her an opportunity to make key contacts.
She had won a place to study modern languages at Cambridge University but abandoned the course after she suffered from stress due to the death of her grandfather.
In 2001, she met Prince Andrew in the United Arab Emirates. He enjoyed introducing people to his new “female friend”, whose glamour was equalled by her charm and intelligence. She became a regular visitor to Buckingham Palace and helped decorate Royal Lodge – Andrew’s home in Windsor Great Park.
Ms Staveley was introduced to his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie. She even met the Queen and Prince Philip who were impressed.
It is claimed that the Duke of York proposed in 2003, but she declined fearing a life in the public eye, explaining: “Andrew’s a lovely man and I still care for him a great deal. But if I’d married him, my independence would have disappeared.”
Instead she threw herself into business and turned to the Middle East to broker huge equity deals.
In 2005, she set up the Dubaibased firm PCP Capital Partners and used her Mayfair mews house to entertain the billionaire propertyowning Duke of Westminster.
Three years later, she was involved in the takeover of Manchester City that saw her company earn £10million and she was known as “the new Queen of British football”.
She also almost joined Liverpool football club.
In 2011 she married Iranian business partner Mehrdad Ghodoussi at a lavish ceremony in West Wycombe Park, Bucks. She has a grand Regency townhouse in Park Lane and a home in Dubai.
Speaking about the Prime Minister, she said: “I am a huge fan of Theresa.”