The Chronicle are reporting that takeover talks have now reached a ‘delicate stage’ between Mike Ashley and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, with the NUFC owner aware he has a ‘big decision to make’.
They claim Ashley is currently at his holiday home in Miami, escaping the negative spotlight he has been attracting in the UK in recent weeks, stating discussions between himself and the Public Investment Fund are ongoing.
The PIF have seized on the economic opportunity the coronavirus has presented in recent days, buying up shares in four major European oil companies, and it is thought they see now as a perfect chance to prise Newcastle United from under the grip of Mike Ashley.
Lee Ryder’s piece also highlights the fact Mike Ashley is yet to knock back talk that he’s ready to sell – despite being handed many opportunities to do so – also confirming that nor the club or the Premier League have denied claims that paperwork for a new owner has now been filed.
That being said, we’ve been here many times before, and if the PIF were serious about buying the club, why haven’t they stumped up the funds already?
This is something the Chronicle also highlight, with them stating that Mike Ashley is also ‘wondering what the hold up is from one of the richest companies in the world‘.
Something is definitely concerning about all this news being leaked if there’s yet to be an ‘official bid’, as Ashley himself said last summer the first we will hear of a sale will be the day that one happens. He has lied in the past, but I believe what he says here from a business sense.
I’m paying devil’s advocate here, but cynicism is inevitable after the number of false dawns we’ve been dealt!
Ashley will never sell , it is the only business he has that makes money , every thing else is in trouble, plus he like the power he has over supporters still take season ticket money , and given nothing back !!!
William Hutchinson(Quote)
Back around the time McClaren was playing Head Coach for the Toon, scuttlebutt was that that Mikhail Prokhorov (subject to a NDA) had agreed a price with Mike Ashley, only for the latter to change his mind and hike up the asking price overnight.
You have to keep in mind that Ashley has rarely ever been forthcoming or honest, with his high street expansion even being relatively sudden and out of the blue.
As has been said, he has had plenty of time to back up his words of selling NUFC, but to be honest he is far too fond of the easy money and the power. Look at his attitude and actions (attempted and in place) during the lockdown/Covid crisis. The man has no morals or shame. So even now he’ll over price anything he owns to squeeze out extra income.
My only suprise is he hasn’t hiked the price by 50% and claim it’s at a reduced rate on an original price 100% of what he has been “asking” for these years.
Brian Wade(Quote)
He wont sell.. he dosent care. . I hope this pandemic bankrupts him.. chance will be a fine thing.. hes a cockroach would probably survive a nuclear disaster.. I’d take football in the championship season after season if it meant getting rid of this Ahole I haven’t spent a penny on merchandise for years and I haven’t encouraged my kids to support newcastle either.. all because of this cancer killing our club..
Simon allen(Quote)
Be cynical – and face the fact these stories pop up every time he has bad press or he;s bored in Florida.
sickandtired(Quote)
We’ve all been here before.
Why won’t he sell?
He must know he’s the most hated man in Newcastle.
WALK AWAY..GO ANYWHERE.
Jean(Quote)
Hopefully this time he’ll sell, his ownership of the club has cost him his anonymity so when he pulls stunts like keeping his shops open it’s his face on the front pages not his shops. He knows wherever he goes people recognise him and revile him for the way he does business and he can never feel safe from abuse……that’s why he’s fled to a country in meltdown
Bob(Quote)