ROBOT WORS
Toon takeover saga takes a bizarre twist as the latest would-be owners step forward
BARACK OBAMA, Cristiano Ronaldo, domestic robots, butterflies and diamond necklaces have become the latest symbols of an increasingly bizarre Newcastle United takeover saga.
Step forward the latest wannabe Toon owners – the Bellagraph Nova Group and glossy business trio Terence and Nelson Loh and Evangeline Shen.
Claiming to be “the world’s fastest growing 360-degree lifestyle platform” their credentials to rebuild a football club look slim.
On Sunday a corporate Twitter account posted a picture of sparkly jewellery with the blurb: “Beautifully crafted... designs with precision, knowledge, ‘savoir faire’, and most importantly, with passion.” Diamond geezers, these latest bidders. It wrote of “establishing new synergies with players such as @Cristiano” complete with the Juventus star wearing bling.
The billion-dollar fund managers have had an initial £280million offer turned down after sending a 29-page proposal to Mike Ashley, who had agreed a £305m sale to a Saudi-led group before the deal collapsed last month.
Bringing a former US President into the Newcastle takeover mix is a new one, though. In December, the trio sat with Obama, discussing how Artificial Intelligence will bring about the next industrial revolution.
They explained the BN Group wanted “to channel its energy and global resources into the development and commercialization of the rapidly growing global robotics market.” Could there be synergies for Steve Bruce to exploit? Perhaps a 6ft 4in robot centre forward capable of outscoring Joelinton could be in production soon?
The meeting with Obama hints at credibility. Their new website claimed on July 5, “enormous success” with “31 entities spread across over 100 countries and revenue exceeding US$12 billion”. Lawyer Shen wants to run the club, with her background at UBS and Morgan Stanley, before launching a jewel and medical business. “Evangeline Shen is herself the embodiment of success,” a company press release boasts. “Eva has amassed an awe-inspiring story and become a modern legend.”
So modest, too.
They claim to have “enlisted the help of England captain Alan Shearer and former player Michael Chopra”.
The same Chopra, ex-Toon striker, branded a “delinquent” by a senior figure at the club last season and who seems the most unlikely of strategic footballing brains to advise on a huge punt on a club.
The latest bidders have followed a wellworn PR formula for extracting maximum pre-purchase gain. Vow to bring back Shearer. Drop the names of club legends and vague hints at city-wide investment.
“Our emblem is the butterfly, the symbol par excellence of endurance and perennial metamorphosis...” they say.
As with all takeover rumours, the same questions apply.Why go public? If you have the cash, just do the deal.
The same issue also remains. Newcastle need a fresh start under a new owner who wants to build and show ambition.