Mike Ashley is now ‘seeking clarity’ from Sheikh Khaled according to the Press Association, with him keen to know just how much progress the Bin Zayed Group have made as they push to complete a takeover.
It’s stated that he’s wanting to know where several of the interested parties stand, however the Press Association claim that the Dubai-based billionaire is Ashley’s main focus.
The PA also claim that any final deal may yet be ‘several weeks, if not months’ away, with them also suggesting that the club could hand any new manager a ‘short-term’ deal at the club as a result. The former is a concern, but the latter hints that a takeover is very much in Mike Ashley’s immediate plans.
Here’s a snippet from Damian Spellman’s piece for the Independent, with the takeover situation reaching a key stage ahead of the club’s potential search for a new manager:
‘Newcastle’s search for a replacement for manager Rafael Benitez will be dictated by the state of play in Mike Ashley’s efforts to sell the club.
‘It’s understood that the Magpies’ owner is seeking clarity on the progress being made by interested parties, principally Dubai-based Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with which his representatives have been holding talks in recent weeks over a potential takeover.
‘At best, any conclusion appears to be several weeks, if not months away and that could mean appointing a manager on a short-term basis.‘
While it’s frustrating to hear that a takeover may be far from imminent and still some time away, the fact club may give Rafa’s eventual replacement a short-term deal suggests Ashley is still preparing for a takeover in the near future.
After all, any new manager would surely be given a longer-term contract if Ashley was planning to sit tight and take the club off the market?
That’s what you’d like to believe anyway, although it does make sense – even if this situation has now become made needlessly messy and complicated after the club’s unforgivable decision to let Rafa Benitez go.
That said, you can’t help but fear that this drawn out process feels like Groundhog Day and typical Mike Ashley. Is he playing a game once again in a bid to avoid spending this summer? Is he delaying the process for the BZG to buy time for his good pal Peter Kenyon to come back into the takeover mix?
Who knows, but one thing I do know is that a takeover has never felt more key.
We’ve already lost Rafa, but he’ll lose several of our star players and thousands of fans if he doesn’t sort this mess out soon.
Mike ASHLEY IS A FST LYING **** WHO SHOULD BE DRAGGED DOWN AND HUNG FROM THE BRIDGE.
HE IS THE BIGGEST ARSEHOLE THERE HAS EVER BEEN IN FOOTBALL.
EVERY TIME THE FAT ******* OPENS HIS MOUTH MORE AND MORD ***** SPEWS OUT.
ASHLEY SHOULD BE BAND FROM EVER OWNING A FOOTBALL CLUB AGAIN. AND BE BAND FROM EVER SHOWING HIS FAT FUCKING FACE IN THE NORTH EAST AGAIN.
Allan(Quote)
Slightly confused here. Why is Ashley asking the potential purchaser for an update. Surely Ashley is the one holding things up.
Dutch Docherty(Quote)
Its time to go on the attack again against anything and everything that hss the fst bastsrd ASHLEY’s fingers on it or in it.
Cyber attack everything to do with him lock down everything his distribution network,everything SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN and DO NOT STOP until the ARSEHOLE has left our club.
Allan(Quote)
ASHLEY should have been STRUNG UP a long time ago, he is pure EVIL.
Allan(Quote)
Also it was being reported last week that the BZG were hoping to takeover at the end of this week. More fake news.
Dutch Docherty(Quote)
MIKE ASHLEY LIES
THAT IS ALL YE KNOW AND ALL YE NEED KNOW
Mikeashleylies(Quote)
Fake takeover. He Is just trying to sell season tickets.con the fans with buy now and see the new owners later. It’s a cashless con.
Chris cooke(Quote)
Well this blog is going downhill rapidly, the language is unnecessary, try and put an asterix in places if you need to swear, we would still understand what you mean, everyone is frustrated but can still be civil. HWTL
Whinger(Quote)
What it should read is this ‘It may be weeks or months, we don’t have a scooby do what’s happening. We will just make it up as we go along’.
t00nraider(Quote)
Hi mike Ashley
I would like an update as to where we are with the fake over as to how much you are going to fleece the club by this summer?
Cheers from another fan ready to ignore the toon till it’s sold
Return of the Rafa required(Quote)
Sick of all this cloak n dagger 5h!te.
I shall hibernate till the horrible fat git is gone.
FATBASTADOOT.
H W T L.
Peter Henderson(Quote)
Just seen Dennis the rodent wise in Morrison’s wearing sheikh costume trying to sell season tickets,don’t be fooled says fcb will give new top and pie voucher to the first 52,000 sold. Keep the faith lads ashleyoot
davep(Quote)
Ha ha wouldn’t surprise me if Ashley selling hotdogs outside Morrison’s greedy fat mother less git
Eddy(Quote)
I’m done ,he’s had enough of my hard earned money ,die a slow painful death just like our club has you fat c–t ,very soon I hope
ringo64(Quote)
As a Sunderland fan , Newcastle derseve better for loalty of the fans you mags have shown under being ****** like him really tells the story.He did it to offers for his own greed by putting price of the club up for 450 million which these people have offer to buy your is really good price,well Man City were brought at reasonble of 60 million,look it make them a force right now,I am no Newcastle hater,you lot and us can be the best the fanbase we two have.People blame Sir John Hall the answer is no.Ashley is playing these games with competent with fans and ex players,managers.the man is arrogant,as Liverpool fans had their say on Raffa leaving.Raffa is a really world class coach.
Lee Freeman(Quote)
Lee Freeman(Quote)
Well it can work if you lot do not go the games ,we mackems did it when Short was taking the ****.We hated doing it like you lot do noy put anymore money in his pockget,thats downside.Ashley he will sooner realise,his greed will bring him down one day,when that day comes.
Lee Freeman(Quote)
Season Ticket sales are down so FMA has to string those people along enough to get them to renew. Then the takeover talk will cease until next summer.
Colin(Quote)
Boycott Newcastle home games and do not buy the club’s merchandise. Squeeze Ashley out of the club.
Rodney Naidoo(Quote)
We should reveal him for what he is and get venom to “Eat both your arms then we will eat both of your legs then we will eat your face right of your head. So then you will be this armless leggless faceless thing, like a turd in the wind” I mean the fat **** would go it to us
Anon(Quote)
The only way to get rid of Ashley is for all the fans to hit him in the pocket
It’s the only thing he cares about.
Yorkie(Quote)