Some big breaking news arriving this afternoon, with Newcastle United releasing a statement confirming that Mike Ashley has now put the club up for sale, stating he is now identifying potential new owners as he looks to sell up BEFORE Christmas.
It had been pretty clear the Ashley was looking to sell the club, with takeover talk dominating the headlines in recent weeks, however this provides us all with some much needed clarity on the matter.
Here is the full statement
‘As a result of increasing press speculation regarding the future of Newcastle United, the owner of the club, St. James Holdings Limited, wishes to clarify its intentions.
As one of the Premier League’s oldest and best supported football clubs – and for the benefit of its many fans and supporters in the UK and across the world – Newcastle United requires a clear direction and a path to a bright and successful future.
To give the club the best possible opportunity of securing the positioning and investment necessary to take it to the next level, at what is an important time in its history, its present ownership has determined that it is in the best interests of Newcastle United and its fans for the club to be put up for sale.
To give an incoming owner the maximum possible flexibility to make meaningful investment in the club, including in its playing squad, the sale process will give interested parties the opportunity of deferring substantial payments.
A process will now commence of identifying new ownership for the club that will be capable of delivering the sustained investment in and dedication to the club that is necessary for it to achieve its ambitions.’
A huge moment for us all, with this being the biggest indicator yet that Mike Ashley is finally looking for a way out of Newcastle for good.
There appears to be an acceptance here that he must move on to give the club a chance of ‘achieving it’s ambitions’, with the other key part being that Ashley is now open to interested parties paying for the club in instalments – suggesting he is very willing to do what he can to secure a quick sale.
Here’s some of the reaction online to the big news this afternoon:
Ashley says he'll only sell to someone who can take the club forward. He has promised to invest in the squad in Jan if it's yet to be sold.
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) October 16, 2017
Newcastle United for sale! pic.twitter.com/kHMs3CWNfE
— Randall Bell (@randallbell) October 16, 2017
Mike Ashley is attempting to accelerate the sale of Newcastle by offering interested parties the option of staggering payments over time.
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) October 16, 2017
Statement suggest Ashley is a motivated seller, which is not something we've seen before.
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) October 16, 2017
Great news!!! 😀 I have been wondering if this wasn’t something possibly discussed by the handlers of Lascelles and Merino when they put pen too paper on their respective new 5 yr term sheets. 💡
Also I have been wondering whether Rafa didn’t put aside any top shelf feather ruffling 😎 with assurances by Ashley an announcement of the club being put on the block before the Jan transfer window after that pile of rubbish that was the summer farce.
Toon Toon!!
Dallas Schwartz(Quote)
Putting all the past events, issues, incidents, comments aside, a win win scenario for all involved, current owner, potential new owner, Manager, players, fans, employees and anyone else I may have forgotten. Let’s look forward to an early Christmas present at St James Park #toon4life.
Mark Brown(Quote)