Exciting news yesterday as the takeover talk took a big step towards being a reality with confirmation that NUFC is officially up for sale (again.) An official statement was released to the media as it finally appears that Ashley has accepted that he is holding the club, and his investment, back now.
How likely is a takeover to happen & why does it seem like Ashley will be gone for good before long?
We have been here before, right?
My first thoughts were excitement at a potential new owner but this was also quickly followed with doubt by so many; how is this different from the other failed attempts to sell? Ashley has clearly valued the club too high previously and is known to be a difficult seller. Football clubs are usually sold behind closed doors, it only appears to be Ashley who flaunts the club like it’s a pair of trainers on eBay. The statement this time though is a step up from him sending an email address for interested parties to Sky Sports news (as he did 8 years ago) and at least was released through the club not other outlets.
Ashley lacks class and his communication methods don’t follow football protocol but I think its genuine this time. He knows he doesn’t have the money to compete, or that he doesn’t want to spend the money to enable us to compete. Wages continue to rise, transfer fees are becoming ridiculous, Rafa may be a top manager but with that he’s a very well paid one and the HMRC probe continues to hang over us. These are all things that inhibit his ability to make NUFC a ‘money making model’ on the cheap and I think he’s realised his race is run here.
He probably thought he spent good money to get it right with McClaren, but it sent us down. With the new TV deal, maybe Ashley feels he has been priced out the market and wants to sell it before the Premiership bubble bursts? Who knows, but he’s clearly a motivated seller this time – something we haven’t seen before during his timid attempts to sell in the past.
The facts
An interesting part of the statement was that they admitted ‘several’ non discourse agreements have been signed and they expect more interest. A Christmas deadline is also exciting for Newcastle fans. In reality though, takeover talk has been rife for almost 12 months now and the reality is that the statement has probably been used to drum up late interest? He is woefully inadequate as a Chairman but you know he is not going to sell on the cheap.
Another key part of the statement yesterday was the fact Ashley would accept payment in instalments. There could be good cash flow reasons for this but my concern would be if a potential owner does not have £300m up front, then will they have the capital to really back Rafa in the transfer market? It could just be hinting at trying to get a quick sale but let’s pray Ashley sells to someone who is right for us. It would be a nightmare to jump into another period of mediocrity. An owner with ambition and good intentions is essential.
Why NUFC is an attractive proposition
The global reach and new TV money deal has dramatically increased the value of all Premier League teams overnight. I am sure foreign investors would love to buy a Manchester United, or a Liverpool over ourselves, but the asking price of those teams would be over £1bn.
At around £300m, NUFC is far cheaper and the only ‘bigger’ club, certainly stadium and support wise, that could be bought. It has potential to get back into the top 6 with the right backing.
Having Rafa Benitez will also be viewed as a massive bonus. Having a world class manager in place behind a one club city and devoted fan base will only help interest. On the face of it, everything is in place for Newcastle to thrive if we had serious investment.
Do you think we will see a new owner come Christmas?
Staveley is a deal broker. Not a big dog. I dont like the talk of ‘her’ going for the club. I can see us end up being owned by a consortium of hopeful relative paupers being played like puppets by MA, who creams the profits off us still in the long term and stunts any slim potential for growth.
shamrock(Quote)
I said that earlier. You should read what I say.
Or maybe you shouldn’t 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
As I said he would Rafa has rejected approach from Everton to become their manager and will stay at the toon
Icedog(Quote)
So Stavely was dating Prince Andrew, The Duke of York.
I was explaining to my girlfriend the other week about penises and semis in Duke of York terms, she found it funny anyway (she has been married before so she knows) …
It’s like:
The Grand old Duke of York
He had 10 thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
and he marched them down again,
and when they were up they were up,
and when they were down they were down
and when they were only half way up
they were neither up or down
Eric Sykes(Quote)
A formal approach Ice?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
YES
Icedog(Quote)
Here’s how I see it –
The football club is owned by Ashley but it’s a separate legal entity. If somebody pays £300m to buy the club they acquire all the club’s assets and liabilities. One of those liabilities is the Ashley loan which THE CLUB will need to repay at some stage. So ultimately he ends up pocketing over £400m
Chris G(Quote)
Sham – My view is that she’s brokering a deal for someone else. That someone is 99% likely to be Middle Eastern, that’s where her contacts are. She’s trusted by them and apparently “not one Middle Eastern family doesn’t know her personally.” I would see it as a positive that we don’t know the identity of the purchaser. Although my money would still be on Saudi money. They’re yet to come to the party.
Stuart79(Quote)
Although there is one, massive, huge, gargantuan caveat to all this; Mike Ashley!
Stuart79(Quote)
The plot thickens. I’m just at the airport and there’s a UAE 777 plane parked up and apparently it belongs to a Arab prince. Mmmm
Stuart79(Quote)
There could be a method to the leaks from the Stavely camp. She might be trying to put pressure on Jabba. If everyone knows she’s interested and ready to move on it that gives Jabba no chance to wriggle about by saying he couldn’t find a buyer. Everyone knows she’s got the means.
Stuart79(Quote)
According to George Culkin, Amanda Stavely met with reps of NUFC over the weekend and signed a non-disclosure agreement. Supposedly there have been 3 or 4 other NDAs signed but there is no news of who by.
I am sure that any buyer will want the best deal possible but remember if it is 350 million or 385 million that is a difference of only 1 Oxlade Chamberlain.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have to be honest, my big hope just now is that it is Staveley and her gang buy us. It’s the one that feels the most comfortable over and American or Middle Eastern businessman.
She’s brokered the deals for City, which would hopefully suggest that she understands the modern day goings on of the footballing business world.
But more than that. As a Ripon lass, I’d hope that she has a bit of an understanding about how important football is in the North or the Country. I don’t expect that relationship that we had with Sir John, but it would be nice to have someone who made that attempt to build a bond with the club & it’s fans – and I do think she could be that person ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
from another site but i like it
She’s a little lass, she’s a bonnie lass and she likes hor beer, an they call hor Amanda Stavely and I wish she was here……
😆 😆
icedog(Quote)
check it out Stu
icedog(Quote)
It’s the hope that kills ya in the end…
Stuart79(Quote)
Irony klaxon! UAE are having a reshuffle in their government and they have a “minster of tolerance”
Stuart79(Quote)
😆 bloody hell
kimtoon(Quote)
Now Chronicle are reporting Amanda Stavely is doing due diligence… I think it’s fair to say that if this is actually happening she’s been in touch with the club a lot longer than people realise.
Stuart79(Quote)
Keith Downie
@SkySports_Keith
We understand Amanda Staveley’s group PCP Capital has signed a non-disclosure agreement with Newcastle United’s owners.
12:34 PM – Oct 19, 2017
Keith Downie
@SkySports_Keith
Andrew Henderson (lawyer for Mike Ashley): “Since Monday, a number of additional parties have come forward which we believe to be credible.”
12:54 PM – Oct 19, 2017
kimtoon(Quote)
Bid reports are ‘premature’
From Sky.
‘
Ashley is rumoured to want around £400m for the club, according to sources in the north east.
PCP Capital Partners are understood to be taking a close look at as many as three Premier League clubs, including Liverpool.
It is understood that reports of a £300m bid from Staveley are premature – with a formal offer not expected until accountants have pored over the club’s books.
kimtoon(Quote)
Sounds like both PCP and MA are being very public in their negotiating tactics so far.
shamrock(Quote)
Sham, Still reckon she’s using us to flush out Liverpool who’s she’s tried twice to buy.
kimtoon(Quote)
And MA using her too for that matter
kimtoon(Quote)
Believe absolutely nothing from Sky Sports. They get info from Ashley’s side and that’s will be likely to be bull ****
Stuart79(Quote)
It’s all brinkmanship and no doubt MA will keep moving the goal post and **** off any potential buyers. We are a million miles from being shot of him.
kimtoon(Quote)
Jumping the gun a little bit, but if Staveley does come in, does your expectations levels change in terms of what we could/should be achieving?.
I don’t think mine would. I think it would still remain that 6th spot and silverware in one of the cups – that was apparently Ashley’s aim, but it wasn’t ever gonna happen with him. It could and should with the right backing and I’d be happy for that to remain the target personally.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stu ,this is gonna drag on like a bad case of piles .
kimtoon(Quote)
Just consistent top 10 for a few years with a real go at the Cups would do me. Then try and crack Europe consistently – but that would be 10 years away. Any european footy in the meantime would be a bonus, nothing more.
Even with heavy investment, which is unlikely to every get to the 2 Manchester clubs’ level, we would still have about 6 top sides with loads of dosh to compete with year in, year out. So we should never expect to be in the Champion’s League year in, year out for example.
Just comfortable, with genuine long term ambition. A decent Academy and a team that tries. That would be nice.
shamrock(Quote)
me too mate, just want us to compete at some level and to have a level of honesty and ambition other than be used as an advertising vehicle.
kimtoon(Quote)
That I suppose will depend on who buys us. If it’s the Saudi sovereign fund then they wouldn’t be buying us to finish 6th. They’d invest hundreds of millions. Then everyone’s expectations should change. If not and it’s someone less wealthy who wants a more steady improvement then I suppose couple of top ten finishes with the opportunity to get in the top 7.
Stuart79(Quote)
Kim, I never doubt for a second Amanda is coming for Newcastle. Liverpool is not a typical acquisition subject at the moment. They don’t have a huge growth potential, and their owner’s intention is to hold it for long. Buyer has to pay lots of premium in order to get it. It won’t be a good buy at the moment. Newcastle has a huge growth potential. Amanda is coming for it. Believe me.
funrafa(Quote)
let me explain a little bit more: Liverpool financially healthy, good image (top 6 in PL), owner’s intention – hold for long. So an investor has to pay A LOT to convince the current owner to give it up. That is why i was saying it’s not a typical acquisition subject.
funrafa(Quote)
Let’s not get to carried away,toon are one of three clubs she is looking at,and we have one big problem “Jabba”
Icedog(Quote)
Arab jets, due diligence, NDAs, little rich girl all sounds very interesting for a novel.
Now, who’s in the team for Palace?
georgio(Quote)
Is there a game like? ?
Stuart79(Quote)
If there are 4 or 5 NDAs then it means you have a bunch of accountants poring over your books and taking up your staff’s time, including Charnley. If they are serious they will at the least be sending them documents and fielding phone calls from interested parties. If someone is really interested I would expect them to be down at SJP offices requesting document after document. You don’t just do this if you are not serious and you shouldn’t be letting anyone who you think is not a real possibility waste your staff’s time.
Ashley probably wants a bidding war but if he allows say 10 groups to look at the books it will be chaos down there and we need Charnley to be thinking about transfers as well. We can’t be signing any more Stoke reserves.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am having a hard time with this weekends game. On the one hand they looked good against Chelsea, might just have turned a corner, and have a decent team on paper. On the other hand, they did just lose 7 games in a row with no goals scored. If we get at them and hopefully score the 1st goal their confidence will probably drain from them. My worry is Loftus Cheek because he played well when they were doing badly. Townsend and Zaha are Jeckyll and Hyde so you never know what you will get with them. They could run us ragged or could be shying shots over the stands.
Mr. Roy was desperate against Chelsea so I don’t think he will be going all out attack again away from home. Going for a home win. 2-1.
More on Zaha, if he plays like he did against Chelsea we will have to be careful. But if he played like that every game he would not be at Palace. He more likely to have an off day than a good day.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yes. I am just saying I believe Amanda’s intention to buy Toon is genuine, but whether it can be done still heavily depends on the price negotiation.
funrafa(Quote)
If the business has been set up for sale then they’d have a data room set up that can be accessed on line via a password. That would give perspective buyers a chance to look at the business in depth. They wouldn’t necessarily need to be discussing with Charnley every hour apart from maybe to clarify the odd thing.
Stuart79(Quote)
Glad you think NUFC is that organized. I have visions of bankers lamps and those green visors with double entry ledgers, with Bob Cratchet Charnley coming in 5 minutes late on Christmas day and Ashley not allowing him to put another lump of coal of the fire.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I know most of it will be done by e-mail, but believe it or not I know a forensic accountant and they like to get their hands dirty and dig deep. He visits every company he looks into.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Zaha was missing when Palace were on their poor run wasn’t he. His first game back and a Chelsea team full of international weary players and an upset was always on the cards when you think about it.
They have on paper some really talented individuals who should never be in the position they are in. All the same, players aside, I cannot see Mr Roy outwitting Rafa tactically and I will be disappointed if we don’t win.
kimtoon(Quote)
Should think so too, why wouldn’t you.
kimtoon(Quote)
Stuart: my job for 10 years was to work with Accountants to show them how to sell financial products. I know how their minds work. They will be fussing over every little detail and believe me phone calls will be made to Charnley and everybody else they think may have information. Remember they have to sign off on a multi-million pound deal and their heads are on the line. Not everybody is like Ashley who will write the cheque in a pub.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: it used to drive a bit mad working with accountants because it would be every detail, 2 or 3 times. They were all nice people, but nerds and wonks.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kimtoon: I was thinking of you when I was imagining the chaos that could be at NUFC. Was thinking about you selling your house and imagining having 6 or 7 prospective buyers all there at the same time with their Estate Agents. I know a lot is done via e-mail now but once a NDA is signed they will want to be in there.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Live tv fixtures and time/day changes
Saturday 2nd Dec v Chelsea away now 12.30pm live on Sky
Sat 9th Dec v Leicester City home now 5.30pm BT Sport
And Boxing day fixture v Man City now moved to
Wednesday 27th dec 19.45pm Sky Sports
kimtoon(Quote)
Eric, aye mate, open house is a bit like that and there’s always some nosey twonk who wants to look in your drawers to see what you have or worse wear ! 😳
kimtoon(Quote)
I have sold 3 houses and it is an absolute pain in the ****. People making bids, reneging, wanting the receipt for a boiler that was installed 6 years ago, wanting a 3rd and 4th viewing etc so I can only imagine what it is like dealing with 6 or 7 interested parties for a multi-million pound company all with the ability to pick apart the books. As usual I disagree with Stuart and think Charnley and his staff will be quite busy at the moment.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
NO. NOT MAN CITY!!! Our annual televised slaughter.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Olly: you are misinterpreting how these prediction leagues work. We are bottom of both Merson’s and Lawro’s PREDICTION leagues. The actual results/leagues do not matter and I am sure Palace have a lot more points than we do in the predictions league. We will be bottom for Merson, no matter what the actual result because he has predicted a draw. I am expecting a draw from Lawro as well.
It is quite funny how people have picked up on this now even though it has been going on for years and I think Lawro has Liverrpool undefeated for about 4 seasons – Lawro’s Invincibles.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Mind. With Ugly John and Schteve in charge I was predicting losses and I hate to pick against NUFC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, yep after we face City I predict us fans going into the new year a tad depressed 🙄
Just hope it’s a respectable loss.
kimtoon(Quote)
I was thinking about Managers and how they rank. There is Pep and Mourinho and then a few are about equal. We have one of them so that should make us pretty attractive.
Pep
Mourinho
Zidane
Rafa
Conte
Allegri
Heynkes
Ancelloti
Wenger
Klopp
That’s my top 10 anyway and Klopp is behind the others because in Germany you really only need to finish above Bayern to win the title.
Remember when Citeh were bought they kept Mark Hughes and gave him money 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Pochettino has won nothing. Maybe Simeone, but Athleti are a big team. They just don’t appear that big because of Barca and Real.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Spot the Englishman! Has there been anybody since Sir Bobby?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Generally they will go through the data room for the majority and then set a day or two aside for meetings with the club to go through things they’re not sure about or want clarification on. You’re right, at the end of the day, tbeyrebon the hook if they’ve missed something.
Stuart79(Quote)
I was thinking about Managers because what other team could these people buy where you have it already set up? Rafa has been here for a year and a half and you know he will have everything organized. What he hasn’t had is money to buy the players he wanted. Tell me Joselu will start if Rafa is given 30 million for a striker 🙂
The alternatives to buy are Stoke/Mark Hughes again! Burnley maybe? The rest already have investors.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Swansea, Palace, Everton, West Brom, Southampton all have new investors. West Ham cannot sell for 5 years because of the stadium deal. The top 6 are too expensive and that leaves a lot of former minnows like Watford, Bournemouth and Brighton.
When Ms. Stavely says she is looking at other clubs the cupboard is pretty bare. I think it is Stoke and then you get Mark Hughes and a 30,000 seater ground. Would you really want to be a very small Burnley fish in a massive North West pond with Man U, Liverpool and Citeh?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So, if you are going into negotiations with the Fat Man you would really like to have alternatives, to say you can walk away and look elsewhere. Well, you don’t really, not in England anyway. The good news is that Fatty is a motivated seller.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Watching Everton. 4 minutes in. Lyon are a good teams so I we will see.
Oh, Lyon just scored as I was typing.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What I was going to say is that the commentator just said that Rooney has been one of the bright spots this season – he has been scoring goals. No he fckn well hasn’t. He was the worst player on the pitch last weekend and was just about to be taken off before he gets the penalty. He would have been 2 in 8 without it and got lucky to pad his stats. I know Shearer and Lampard did the same but they were also not **** and lucky to be still on the pitch.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
One of the criticisms levelled against a series of England managers is that they tend to select established ‘stars’ not players on form.
Could the same be true of the list of managers ?
Poch seems to have many admirers incl on this forum and spuds could be viewed as the biggest threat to the manc domination this season
When judging performance is it really fair to just judge on trophies without the context of money spent to achieve that success.
Not really challenging the list provided, just a thought i had as I read the post.
I really don’t know how successful those managers are as I don’t have time to closely monitor English football let alone European clubs
Anyhow just a thought as you seem to like debate 😉
GlosMag(Quote)
I have nothing against Everton. What I do not like is the pundits and journalists anointing them the winners of an arbitrary transfer window race. Some had them as 4th without realizing that that would mean that 3 of the last year’s top 6 would have to mess up even though they had spent as much as Everton. Now they are all wondering why they didn’t see that Everton might struggle replacing Lukaku. I will tell you why – because they have all had rose tinted glasses on for Rooney for so long that they could not see the bleeding obvious – you do not replace a Lukaku with a potato.
Keoman has one more game I think. At home to ****, who are also in a bit of a mess. Keoman said the board were behind him FOR NOW. His words. Ominous?
Apart from me gloating that these pundits that I often criticize are wrong again for their myopic love of Rooney, it is whether Everton will come back for Rafa. I doubt if he would move to Merseyside but who knows. Ancelotti and Mancini are out there and Everton have a decent squad. THESE TWO WOULD STAND UP TO ROONEY WHICH IT SEEMS KOEMAN IS INCAPABLE OF DOING.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Glosmag: less of debate, more trying to convince myself that someone would want to buy a basket case club like NUFC 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Glosmag: I am often just debating myself as well 🙂 The International week slows everything down, even when there is a possible takeover in the works.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Got a shock when I read this headline,until I read the smaller print
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/868704/Newcastle-takeover-amanda-staveley-worth-football-club-premier-league
Icedog(Quote)
Ice: I hope you are right about Rafa turning Everton down. He is out, he may have a stay of execution if they beat Arsenal. But he is a dead man walking.
You read this blog every day. You know I have said this for months, that Rooney would be the death of him – and I was preaching to the converted because I know you had the same opinion.
I can’t see any way back. Keep your hands off Rafa.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC yes I am right he turned them down that’s coming from inside,storey doing the rounds that the Everton manager wants to be sacked (money reason) if he walks he gets nowt,some sort of fall out with some players,true I don’t know
Icedog(Quote)
I am predicting the predictors. I think I might have said it earlier (I am sure I did but cannot be bothered to look back – see Stuart, I did it again 🙂 ) but I predict they predict a draw.
Owen waffled but really predicted a draw.
Paul Merson’s Giant Balloon Head went with a draw even though he wanted to say Palace.
Lawro, Lawro shyte has yet to opine. Draw. Liverpool win. I have no idea who they are playing, just going from past experience.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice: I have no inside information but I bet there was a deal that if Rooney is fit he plays. And I bet that is part of the discontent. When you watch a game it is like Rooney takes over. Even the Refs cower down to him. He can tell them to fuckoff to their face and nothing happens.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Would be astonished if Rafa even considered the Toffee’s
kimtoon(Quote)
Harry Enfield should bring The Scousers back for a special episode in honour of that Everton fan throwing a punch with his kid in his arms at the Lyon player.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If you haven’t seen it, here it is:
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/10/19/23/4580574D00000578-4998644-A_foul_by_Everton_centre_back_and_captain_Ashley_Williams_no_5_o-m-82_1508452944812.jpg
Eric Sykes(Quote)