Frustrated Ashley plans next move
THE REALITY OF THE MAGPIES TAKEOVER IS STARING MIKE ASHLEY FIRMLY IN THE FACE
MIKE Ashley is set to address a more detailed plan of action for Newcastle United if the proposed takeover by Amanda Staveley, the Reuben brothers and Saudia Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is not approved by the Premier League.
Despite reports of delays to the deal, the Premier League have again declined to comment along with the would-be buyers.
The situation leaves Newcastle in a state of utter limbo with the new season just six weeks away and current owner Ashley left with no choice but to invest in the squad for the 2020/21 campaign or face the prospect of a relegation fight.
The Premier League are understood to have asked whether Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would be fronting the Public Investment Fund’s part in the consortium.
However, for some time the group has insisted Yasir Al-Rumayyan would be the incoming chairman of the Magpies.
Al-Rumayyan, a former investment banker, was hired by Saudi’s Crown Prince to manage the country’s Public Investment Fund in 2015.
The piracy issue in Saudia Arabia has also made the deal even more complicated, Premier League chiefs looking to see whether PIF has any links with beoutQ, the illegal streaming service.
More recently, Saudia Arabia blocked beIN Sports from broadcasting Premier League football in their country, meaning there is no legal way to watch top-flight action there – something which seems strange given KSA are trying to buy a club nobody will be able to watch when the new season kicks off
Saudi Arabia would not have a chance of bidding for the rights for another two years, Qatar-based beIN having the contract for the immediate future.
All of the wrangles between the Premier League and the would-be owners spell trouble for the current regime.
Toon fans have wanted change at the top for years but Ashley is faced with the prospect of spending more money to preserve Premier League status or sell up to somebody else.
Attempts to get the Ashley camp to stand up whether the exclusivity period put in place for the Middle East group will affect their chances have been met with a no comment status.
It is understood American Henry Mauriss is also interested in buying the club but while he has met for talks with Ashley in the States it is not at an advanced stage yet.
Mauriss is said to be ready with a £350millon bid but cannot move forward until there is clarity from the Middle East consortium’s situation.
Whether Ashley pulls out of the Middle East deal in frustration remains to be seen.
He will face Steve Bruce and managing-director Lee Charnley over a Zoom call today with both men hoping to glean more information from the absent owner.
Bruce said on Sunday: “We need clarity. Is it going to happen or not? How long do we want?
“It is a frustration.
“The club needs that clarity, all of us, so let’s hope we can get that in the next few days or week or whatever it may be.”
Staff at the club, including Bruce, had to endure screaming headlines on Sky Sports’ yellow ticker in April which read “sale agreed” and which claimed Mauricio Pochettino was lined up to take the ex-Man United skipper’s job after less than a year in charge.
At the time Bruce said: “I am aware of all the speculation but I get on with it until I know differently.”
Newcastle’s silence on the situation has left fans frustrated but due to non-disclosure agreement papers Ashley kept his counsel.
For all that, fans feel they should still have been entitled to a short statement which at least acknowledged talks were ongoing and Ashley could still have re-iterated his desire to sell to somebody as supporters were left in the dark.