Latest takeover update reveals worrying admission on the transfer front – Has Ashley messed up again?!

A slightly concerning admission was made in a takeover article by the Chronicle last night, revealing that Staveley and PCP attempted to aid NUFC in the transfer window this month, but discussions over them offering potential financial support this January were not conclusive – suggesting any spending will have to come out of Mike Ashley’s pocket.

In one sense it’s positive to hear that PCP were ready to put money into the club (signalling their positive intentions and serious interest in taking over at the club), however it is a worry that these talks did not end up being successful, perhaps highlighting the biggest problems we are all dealing with here – Mike Ashley.

Here’s the snipper from the Chronicle last night, revealing that PCP did make attempts to aid Rafa in the market:

“It is believed that PCP did offer to aid United this month, but discussions over a potential January kitty – Ashley would likely have paid for players up front, then he would have been reimbursed further down the line – did not prove fruitful.

“Instead it is Ashley who must support Benitez this month and, as things stand, the Newcastle manager is likely to have a restricted budget from which he must operate.”

It seems as though Staveley and co. were willing to offer financial help to support Benitez and NUFC’s cause this month (via a loan or reimbursing what Ashley spent once a deal was agreed), but hearing that an agreement could not be struck is disappointing on a few fronts.

A) It will almost certainly limit our spending this month and B) also makes you doubt a takeover deal itself being agreed upon – with this round of talks of transfer funds clearly not going as PCP and Staveley would have wished.

It won’t have been a straightforward discussion, (a takeover deal hasn’t even been agreed so there’d be fine details of potential loans or reimbursements that would be difficult to agree upon) but it’s a slight concern to hear a compromise couldn’t be met and a blow to Benitez’s immediate hopes of bringing in fresh blood.

Considering how important new signings could be to our chances of survival this season, it’s a quite concerning to think that Mike Ashley could now be the man we must put our faith in to make much needed arrivals happen. A penny for Rafa’s thoughts..

Not what we wanted to hear. Is Ashley up to his old tricks again and using a takeover as a reason to not spend once again in January? It’s a cynical way of looking at it, but it’s hard to avoid those sort of thoughts after years of betrayal and deceit from the NUFC owner.

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