Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Toon fans in furious response
NEWCASTLE fans are overwhelmingly pointing the finger at the Premier League for the collapse of the Saudi takeover.
A mass poll reveals 94 per cent of supporters blame Premier League chief executive Richard Masters for Amanda Staveley’s consortium pulling out of the £300million deal.
And despite being a hated figure among the Toon Army, current owner Mike Ashley is deemed responsible by just one per cent.
The survey by Tyneside’s local paper reveals the vast majority of Magpies’ supporters want the deal to be revived.
Only last week, Staveley claimed her heart was still set on Newcastle, while the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the Reuben Brothers both released statements announcing they remain interested.
Sources close to Ashley last night reaffirmed he is still in dialogue with the PIF consortium and is committed to the deal.
However, the lack of a response from the Premier League, who have not commented in the 18 weeks since a deal was agreed, means the club remains in limbo.
Poll results in The Chronicle reveal 94 per cent blame the Premier League for the deal collapsing.
It also shows that 92 per cent want the consortium to succeed, 95 per cent believe the Premier League has an obligation to explain what has happened with the bid, and 90 per cent feel Ashley is a willing seller.
More than 60 per cent of those who took part in the survey left comments they want forwarded on to Masters.
A petition urging the Premier League to be more transparent has now attracted more than 100,000 signatories.
Furthermore, 16 MPS – from both main parties – have called on Masters to explain the league’s position.