United’s hierarchy is still keen to sell – but attention is now on summer signings
NEWCASTLE United managing director Lee Charnley has revealed the club are still open to selling the club to Amanda Staveley, the Reuben brothers and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
The bidding group pulled out on a dramatic Thursday, blaming the Premier League and speaking of their “heartbreak” at the deal ending.
Now Newcastle have released their own statement.
However, the current regime says it is now going to focus on summer recruitment and it is believed to be working on its second signing.
Speaking on the back of a day of statements from the bidding group, Charnley said: “We acknowledge yesterday’s statement.
“Never say never, but to be clear Mike Ashley is 100% committed to this deal (sale).
“However, our current focus must now be on supporting Steve Bruce in the transfer market and on the preparations for the new season.”
Newcastle United remains on the market with owner Ashley a willing seller – something he has sought to emphasise through a rare intervention on Friday.
The club have maintained their counsel through months of speculation, only for yesterday’s statement to re-affirm Ashley’s commitment to the PiF and PCP Capital Partners deal which collapsed on Thursday.
Although there was a late attempt to renegotiate terms, Amanda Staveley has denied Ashley was a problem in the sale.
The Newcastle owner retains a desire to sell the club – to the point where he will facilitate any return to the table for the bidding party.
While much has been made of that prospect, it is difficult to see how it would work in practice given PiF sources believe the Premier League have proved “impossible” to work with.
We will play a waiting game on that front but the onus is on anyone trying to buy the club now to do it rather than talk about doing it – which is why it feels uncomfortable being too upbeat about the prospect of resurrecting this deal.
For a start, there would have to be a willingness to work with the Premier League – about whom Staveley has made incendiary claims.
It adds up to the fact it is the organisation and its lawyers who were critical to the end of this deal, not Ashley, who had agreed terms on a £305m deal.
For his part, Ashley – who Staveley said is “devastated” at the deal falling through – remains a keen seller.
If there is no return to the table from this consortium – and the Henry Mauriss bid does not materialise – it is difficult to see how he gets close to the £300m asking price again.
With revenues impacted by COVID-19 and football industry facing long-term financial hits he faces the choice of either lowering his price or ploughing on unloved and with a fanbase that wants him gone.
For Newcastle and head coach Steve Bruce, the break lasts only a few more days before pre-season begins ahead of a September 12 restart.
The despair in the city means this is hardly a message which will be popular.
However, the club’s approach in recent weeks has been to plan without a takeover, which senior officials believe will mean they are not unduly disadvantaged by the uncertainty.
The multiple long-running takeover sagas have at least given club officials a crash course in how to operate with uncertainty, and scouting meetings and recruitment plans are advanced. Similarly, contract talks