The Telegraph is the latest outlet to provide yet another update on the NUFC ‘takeover’ today, claiming four parties remain interested but there are still concerns that buyers don’t have the funds to match Ashley’s asking price – with two ‘struggling’ to cough up the cash.
Ex player Steve Howey was the latest pundit to claim a takeover was close, only to be left a little embarrassed yesterday evening as he has previously stated a new owner would be announced before we hosted Manchester United at St James’.
The fact that multiple outlets are all claiming that parties are struggling to meet the valuation is alarming. Let’s face it, the fact the club has still not be sold after countless attempts shows how difficult and unrealistic Ashley is to deal with.
Here are some selected quotes from the article in the Telegraph’s latest piece:
“Although there are believed to be four interested parties who have approached Ashley’s representatives, none have managed to push through a deal and at least two of them are understood to be struggling to match the asking price.”
To further infuriate Newcastle fans, it appears Ashley is openly taking money from the club – never mind investing in the playing squad this winter.
“Ashley has already taken around £10m out of the club this season in order to repay a short-term loan he gave the business during Newcastle’s season in the Championship and it is thought he is due to receive another larger repayment this month.”
If true, this claim makes a mockery of the open letter the Maggie Group and other pressure groups penned to the Sports Direct owner. Ashley it seems, sees no harm in alienating our manager and the fan-base, so long as he makes a profit. The lack of good news on a takeover puts more pressure on the decision by the Mapgie Group to cancel the Wolves boycott; one of the few things fans can do that seemed to cause concern to Ashley, considering the impromptu Sky news interview shortly before it was due to take place.
Let’s hope a takeover still materialises in time to help Rafa this month but like most fans, I think patience and hope is wearing incredibly thin.
Cannot raise the money or only think the club is worth £200 million – they are different things.
Trev(Quote)
Sure I read this article week ago so regurgrated **** again
G R Bell(Quote)
More bull to wind up the fans off the back of the open letter! Ashley and his cronies really are deplorable.
Trenger(Quote)
Steve Howey’s comments last week are more than embarrassing. The guy is a complete joke writing an article like that. Talk about Fake news.
Dutch(Quote)
Exactly what I think, Kenyons backers are an equity based investment group and will have there own evaluation of a realistic price for Newcastle…
T(Quote)
I for one am not going back this season.
My tickets paid for , Ashley has my cash , but I won’t give him anymore of my time .
I’ll go when the greedy sods left , but I think he’s here long term as the club makes him too much money .
It’s wearing very thin with me and lots of other fans I know.
I feel for Rafael as the only way we grind results is to play on the break and pack the defence , if that owner doesn’t recognise we desperately need help he’s an even bigger odious greedy idiot than I even thought.
Mick(Quote)
Just to say with regards to what Steve howdy said the other day he said there would be an announcement before last night’s match from a good source and not to shoot the messenger not that a takeover would be announced.
E(Quote)
Howey not howdy ****ING auto correct.
E(Quote)
I wonder if the other payment he wants to take at the end of this month will be by selling a player like Dubravka ?
X,Y,WHY,MAN.(Quote)
Are you serious? Do you actually believe this garbage you’re writing?
The fact that 2 buyers out of four cannot make the asking price suggests that maybe 2 can.
This does not mean that Ashley is difficult or unrealistic to deal with. It means he’s not selling cheap.
As for Ashley wanting to make a profit, oh how conveniently you forget how much Ashley has put into the club in interest free loans. So he’s currently owed around 120 million . In which universe does that translate into a profit?
As for making a mockery of the “Maggie” group’s open letter, when is an open letter to anyone ever anything more than an attention grabbing gimmick designed by an author who doesn’t have sufficient presence to get their message across in a more conventional way?
BS all the way down, and as I said before, you’re writing for the wrong website. You should be with the Mag – they are the ones peddling Ashley hatred at the cost of everything else
Brrrian(Quote)
If Ashley does not sell then Rafa will walk at the end of the season (understandable and justified). The only way then is for the fans to walk to get rid of Ashley. How much will the club be worth then Mike; and what damage will the adverse publicity do to his other business interests. The sale of the club to new ambitious owners is in everyone’s interest.
Mike Gilhooley(Quote)
I have a 2007 BMW X3 that I am advertising for £20K, many people are interested but none have yet met my valuation of my car that in reality is only worth £5k……Does this sound familiar..
I have a contact in Bahrain who keeps telling me there is a middle east buyer who is very serious about NUFC and taking the club forward but they are at present unable to deal with Ashley as he changes his mind on the price, and the terms of a deal every day, and they are unwilling to accept SportsDirect as their main trading partner and introduce Ashley into their middle east partners.
People just want to buy the club….Ashley wants to sell with many, many strings attached.
BillyTheFish(Quote)
I don’t buy any of this they haven’t got the money stuff. Who is leaking this? There are only 2 sides involved, the seller and the buyer(s). If it’s Ashley’s side, what’s the benefit for him as it just upsets supporters who are now thinking no sale will happen. If it’s any of the buyers, why would they admit they haven’t got the cash?? Also when ANY negotiations take place, whether it’s buying a car, a house or a business the buyer will NEVER disclose how much cash they have. In the case of Ashley this would be a must as if he knew you had £300 million he’d demand £400 million.
Much like the comments above I think it’s more to do with the club being overpriced. The squad is poor and not of great value, the ground and the facilities elsewhere need upgrading. The only assets are the fans and Rafa and both of these are pi**ed off!
Doug Sweeney(Quote)