Damian Spellman (PA) has shared a considerable update on the takeover front this morning, saying Mike Ashley is in ‘ongoing talks’ with TWO other potential buyers – not just the Saudi Group.
The Press Association also report that these discussions with the ‘other two parties’ have been under way for ‘several months’, suggesting the Saudi group led by Amanda Staveley have competition.
Here’s what Spellman – the PA’s North East reporter – shared on Twitter in the last few moments:
‘NUFC owner Mike Ashley’s representatives are in ongoing talks with TWO potential buyers other than the Saudi group, the PA news agency understands.
‘For clarity, discussions with the other two parties have also been under way for several months.’
It’s never straight forward, is it.
In addition, Spellman also said the following when asked if the Saudi group are ‘as close as everyone is making them out to be’ to a takeover, insisting that their interest is genuine but a deal is ‘not there yet’:
I feel like we’ve been here before, more than once – and that doesn’t feel like a good sign given how these proposed takeovers have tended to work out.
‘Mystery buyers’ show up and disrupt a deal that appears to be in the pipeline. For a man that doesn’t like ‘leaks’, it feels like he instigates a lot of them..
Gee, really? I wonder who ‘leaked’ the Saudi interest then… KBA/Ashley written all over this again.
sickandtired(Quote)
This is exactly the same scenario as last year with the BZL group or whatever they were called. As soon as it disappeared remarkably do did all the other buyers.
Robert Gilmore(Quote)
The ‘other interested parties’ are totally irrelevant.
Ashley has always said he wanted some new owner to have ‘the financial capabilities to take Newcastle to the next level’. I don’t believe that these competing owners (do they even exist?) will have anywhere near the finance the Saudis will have so what’s the problem and what’s the delay?
Amanda get the deal done and let’s get rid of this parasitic, greedy and compulsive liar once and for all.
taken4mugs(Quote)
Looks like every other takeover saga, one group gets leaked and two more potential buyers pop up might I suggest changing the record Mr Ashley
Fastoon(Quote)