Premier League has questions to answer over buyout, says Howey

STEVE Howey admits he thought the latest Toon takeover bid was ‘the one’ and has called for the Premier League to give Newcastle fans the answers they deserve.

PCP Capital Partners, the Reuben Brothers and the Saudi Public Investment Fund pulled out of their bid to buy Newcastle United on Thursday.

Amanda Staveley, who would have held a 10 per cent stake in Newcastle had their bid been successful, laid the blame firmly at the door of the Premier League.

The bid reached the Premier League owners’ and directors’ test 17 weeks ago but the piracy issues and human rights atrocities attributed to Saudi Arabia led to an incredibly complicated takeover process.

The Saudi-backed bid felt extreme opposition from Amnesty International, BeIN Sport, the ex-fiancee of the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi,

MPs and even rival Premier League clubs.

With a lot of questions and answers in short supply, former Newcastle defender, Howey, has called for the Premier League and its CEO Richard Masters to offer some clarity.

He said: “There is anger and huge disappointment. It is devastating really.

“Newcastle fans have been through this before but this one for me, and I think for a lot of fans, felt like it would be the one.

“Unfortunately, it has fallen through and it is devastating news.

“The city, the players, the club, have to pick themselves up and go again.

“There are a lot of questions up here and Richard Masters is not on anybody’s Christmas list this year.

“The fans’ questions need to be answered and the Premier League need to explain what their reasons were.”