Mike Ashley admits he helped ruin huge takeover with multi-billionaire investors – Report

As revealed by the Times, Mike Ashley has admitted to making a “regrettable remark” after Dubai-based takeover talks in 2008 – something that’s believed to have blown his chances of selling the club to wealthy Middle-Eastern investors.

The comes after news that the NUFC owner is now in the middle of a legal battle with the ex-director Tony Jimenez, who’s accused Ashley of making insulting comments about the Dubai Royal Family, the Islamic faith and Kevin Keegan.

Ashley has denied most of the allegations, but has admitted that he may have made what he’s described as a ‘regrettable remark’ towards the Middle-Eastern group of investors who had been negotiating a deal to complete a takeover at Newcastle United just earlier that day.

Here’s a snippet from The Times’ latest piece on the matter:

“Mike Ashley has admitted he may have made a “regrettable remark” during a bar room incident in Dubai which is alleged to have cost him the chance to sell Newcastle United to Middle Eastern investors.

“The Newcastle owner, who is engaged in a potentially explosive legal battle with the former club director Tony Jimenez, is accused by Jimenez of making insulting comments about the Dubai Royal Family, the Islamic faith and Kevin Keegan more than a decade ago.” 

It’s even been suggested that Ashley ‘feared jail time in the UAE’ after ‘insulting Dubai royal family’

Exactly what this remark was is not yet known and I doubt it ever will be if he can help it, but it seems Ashley has practically admitted to playing a major role in ruining what could’ve been a game changing deal for the club.

It’s not made clear who exactly he insulted in these latest findings from court, but it was reported last year that it current Man City billionaire Sheikh Mansour who was the man he was in talks with during this ‘incident’ in Dubai over 10 years ago.

Just when you think Ashley couldn’t get much worse in the eyes of us Newcastle United fans..

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

7 thoughts on “Mike Ashley admits he helped ruin huge takeover with multi-billionaire investors – Report

  1. For many years my mate who is a banker and lives in Bahrain has told me this story of Sheik Mansour trying to by NUFC before Man City, however I never believed that anyone, including Ashley could be so stupid…Until now of course..
    You really have to dislike this oaf..

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  2. Yeah but, just remember, as Wise, Sherwood, Ferdinand, Keys, etc all say – we are SO lucky to have him.
    W@nkers.

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  3. it,s about time Newcastle and Sunderland fans stop having a pop each.Stop these childish rants and raves,yes Mike Ashley is a greedy business man and thief,we should look at our positions in our leagues instead of stuiped statements

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  4. sickandtired:
    Yeah but, just remember, as Wise, Sherwood, Ferdinand, Keys, etc all say – we are SO lucky to have him.
    W@nkers.

    These ex footballers know nothing about running clubs

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  5. So once again the BIG FAT C B has dropped us in the sh– he couldn’t keep his mouth shut and has cost us the chance to be one of the best teams in Europe with the sale of our beloved club to the Saudi Royal Family. I actually heard about this off friends who often goes to Dubai but now its been made public its a disgrace to our Club and our magnificent fans. Can not wait to see the back of this horrible man to treat one of the best managers in the world the way he has is disgusting KEEP THE FAITH Geordie Jim.

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  6. Not only that, but the insulted investors also have strong influence with other Middle Eastern influences and you can bet your bottom dollar they’ll be advising keeping a wide berth of that fat infidel.

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