Pandemic is not to blame for takeover collapse - Maguire

CORONAVIRUS uncertainty does not wash as an excuse for the Newcastle United takeover breaking down.

That is the view of football finance expert Kieran Maguire, who believes the decision to outlaw BeIN Sports in Saudi Arabia offered a sign the would-be owners might have been ‘losing interest.’

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

A ‘heartbroken’ 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.

She also cited financial uncertainty caused by the coronavirus as another reason they pulled out of a deal to buy the club.

That excuse did not wash with

Maguire, though. He said: “The coronavirus has been around now since the start of the year.

“The initial offer only came in a few months ago so if they were focused on the pandemic the concern would have been then rather than now.

“This appears to be to do with the ongoing issues of the owners’ and directors’ test of the Premier League and whether or not the respective owners would have passed that test.

“That is linked with the close ties between the government and the PIF and also the issue of piracy of the Middle East broadcasting rights.

”The real losers are the Newcastle fans. They have had years of angst and they do deserve better.

“Steve Bruce is a loser as well. He would have been looking forward to an enhanced transfer budget this summer but that won’t be the case.”