Mike Ashley now sick of Saudi takeover saga? – Now he knows how we’ve felt for 13 years..

After weeks of wondering, it’s been widely reported that a £300m Saudi-backed takeover will be announced ‘this week’.

Last night, however, a concerning report from The Guardian claimed new legal documents had been sent to the Premier League which threaten to delay the deal even further.

Predictably, an article has now arrived from the Daily Mail today, stating that Mike Ashley is “growing increasingly annoyed” by the time it’s taking for this big money buyout to be concluded, stating he expected the deal to be wrapped up ‘at least two weeks ago’.

For starters, he won’t be nearly as frustrated as us fans. He’s a billionaire who’s been relaxing in a family mansion in Miami as he waits for his £300m to arrive, all while us Newcastle fans sit in self-isolation biting our fingernails and refreshing Twitter every 5 minutes, as we desperately await official confirmation of a deal that could revolutionise our sleeping giant of a football club for the better.

That’s not even the main part of it all, however.

If he thinks waiting a few more weeks for the ‘good news’ is annoying, he should try living in our shoes for the past 13 years. We’ve pumped our hard earned money, precious time and all of our emotions into this football club for over a decade – all to see it go absolutely nowhere thanks to one man’s greed and neglect.

Just about every generation have become disillusioned, lost hope or fallen out of love with their club. Teenagers on Tyneside know nothing but a miserable Mike Ashley era and fans who were brought up on the competitive Keegan days forced to sit through TWO relegations and constant scraps for survival. We’re the only ones who should be frustrated here, Mike.

Not only that, this is a man who refuses to communicate, making his “annoyance” at any delay and a lack of progress laughable. What about the time you left us in limbo for MONTHS last summer when we were waiting for news on a takeover, a new deal for Rafa Benitez or a permanent deal for Salomon Rondon, Mike?! We were given no guidance and then no hope, with all three possible deals coming to nothing.

This isn’t the first time either. How many takeover sagas have we been forced to sit through for months on end – only to be let down time and time again. Periods of uncertainty which ultimately end in disappointment are something us fans have become all too used to, sadly, so it’s about time that ended.

Thankfully, it’s well documented that contracts have been signed, deposits paid and all the terms agreed ahead of this Staveley-led takeover involving the Saudis, so it’s no longer in Mike Ashley’s hands.

If the Premier League approve the deal – which I still think they will – and the £300m then arrives into Ashley’s bank account, there’s nothing he can do.

It shows his petulant nature that he’s become annoyed by a two-week wait at a time where this global crisis has slowed everything down. This is the same man who’s refusing to stop season ticket payments or refund fans hit badly by COVID-19, despite the fact football at St James’ Park will clearly not be returning anytime soon.

We all want this takeover to be announced ASAP for our own sanity, but it’s almost amusing that Mike Ashley is finally getting a taste of his own medicine after he’s constantly ignored and completely neglected us for 13 years.

The sooner we get this parasite out of our football club, the better.

(Fancy writing for us? Get in touch 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.

376 thoughts on “Mike Ashley now sick of Saudi takeover saga? – Now he knows how we’ve felt for 13 years..

  1. If this had been a takeover of a southern club and I mean from Manchester to London this desk would have been concluded look at his west ham got away with two illegal players should have been relegated, I think the tax payer pays for everything including the corner flags. Has Upton park been sold and if so by how much and who received the money as you can tell this has wrangled with me for a couple of years

      (Quote)

  2. Oh god Olly we only just got rid of that **** video and it’s back with the change of main thread ??

      (Quote)

  3. Hidden in all of the repetitive **** in The Chronic is a story that the FA have activated their “special share” option that says the current season must complete. This means there must be promotion and relegation.

    I don’t think this necessarily means that they have to play the games to settle it but they do have to find a solution, even if that is just leaving the standings where they are now.

      (Quote)

  4. So, there will definitely be promotion and relegation.

    The other news is that UEFA may extend their deadline for the PL to decide if they can play the remaining games behind closed doors. The deadline is currently May 25 but this gives the PL clubs more breathing room.

    This saga is set to continue Kimtoon and Stuart. I know you wanted to scrap the season but this is going to drag on and on, and on.

    Next up will be if the players push back as Danny Rose has already done.

    We will have to ask Phil Neville as he seems to know everything now. I never minded PNev until he started saying a few stupid things recently. Please do not become football’s Piers Morgan or your brother.

      (Quote)

  5. Seems like when you get clarity on one issue, something else pops up. A bit like the NUFC takeover.

      (Quote)

  6. Yup there are so many people jealous people at that who do not want this takeover to go thru. Its sickening if its not human rights its TV piracy christ any other club and it would b done by now. This is clearly the best thing that could ever happen to our club hopefully we will hear the news very soon.

      (Quote)

  7. Personally I think many will be disappointed with the new owners and their money they spend in the transfer market. I think it’s highly unlikely we will be in the market for Stella players. We will do more than previously but I think a few will be disappointed.

      (Quote)

  8. Stuart79:
    Personally I think many will be disappointed with the new owners and their money they spend in the transfer market. I think it’s highly unlikely we will be in the market for Stella players. We will do more than previously but I think a few will be disappointed.

    Agree, i think it will be steady progression rather than stellar signings, if it happens.

      (Quote)

  9. kimtoon: Agree, i think it will be steady progression rather than stellar signings, if it happens.

    We can get a free agent older super star like Cavani and get a loan of a very good player like Coutinho. There will be plenty available because nobody will have any money.

    Then we can buy a couple of players for the present AND the future.

      (Quote)

  10. 33 days and counting. No masks.

    I think we are about 2 weeks behind the UK and 3 weeks behind Germany in dealing with this.

    There is not guidance or money from the Orange Man (#WorstCrisisManagerEver) so it is pretty chaotic. More so than even Hackney.

    States going it alone because all the Agent Orangutan cares about is himself. Who would have thunk it from his election rallies, eh…

      (Quote)

  11. Not sure what will happen first, my masks arriving or the NUFC takeover? Maybe neither will happen 🙂

      (Quote)

  12. Please get rid of the **** video on all main threads so that we can comment without a stupid video box getting in the way

      (Quote)

  13. Another US Department Store filing for bankruptcy this Friday. JC Penney, which is the suburban mall place where middle class parents go. I think that leaves Macys which has a big online business and that is about it. Why is this relevant?

    Because the Fat Man is probably going to lose his shirt on the House of Fraser and Debenams deals and will have no money to put into NUFC which will also be fcked after this virus. It makes the Saudi buyout more important than ever.

      (Quote)

  14. With these department stores all going bust, it is quite likely that the Fat Man will lose his shirt. That is a scary thought. It will be like the pictures of fans with giant bellies with NUFC tattoos except he will have a Sports Direct Tattoo on his belly.

      (Quote)

  15. Stuart79:
    Personally I think many will be disappointed with the new owners and their money they spend in the transfer market. I think it’s highly unlikely we will be in the market for Stella players. We will do more than previously but I think a few will be disappointed.

    Stu – I hope you don’t do a City mate. I’d be happier if we got young players in and coached them well.

    Players like the young Norwich full backs and Edouard from Celtic for example – with a Poch coaching them and building.

    I would like a top central midfielder and right winger too.

    5 players and Poch – I think that’s a fair ask.

      (Quote)

  16. If it goes to points per game Norwich and Villa are gone either way.
    But if they go just points per game Bmth join them. If it’s more detailed with home & away bonuses, then it’s WHU go down – that’s the one for me then ??

      (Quote)

  17. Just looking at some of the free agents available in the summer and Ryan Fraser at Bmth is out of contract – I would take him.

    He’s only 26 and would be a good addition to the squad imo. Can play both flanks and is lightning quick. He would chip in with his goals and assists too. He’s a player that seems to work his socks off each time I’ve seen him play too.

      (Quote)

  18. Sharpy – that’s not the Fraser we’ve seen all season. He’s been moody and non committed. He wanted out at bournemouth last year.

      (Quote)

  19. georgio:
    Sharpy – that’s not the Fraser we’ve seen all season. He’s been moody and non committed. He wanted out at bournemouth last year.

    Georgio – yeah you’re right this season mate, but that’s coz he’s been left out for Harry Wilson. He’s barely been given a sniff and Eddie Howe didn’t speak to him about it (from what I’ve read).
    Think he’s just been a bit miffed at how he’s been treated.

    But I think I think he’d be a good player to have in the squad, especially on a free.

      (Quote)

  20. Stuart79:
    https://talkradio.co.uk/news/mike-graham-rips-guardian-over-boris-johnson-criticism-20051233305?fbclid=IwAR1lpqVZyM_pgbPmyo67wrAQQoLHTKX0k8JDkk02u6mNaYVJK5Uy750dPZY

    Absolute quality. Sums it up perfectly.

    Seriously Stuart! This guy is a right wing nut job who stands in for Rush Limbaugh over here. Limbaugh is a bloviating blowhard who caters to the lowest common denominator of racists and conspiracy theorists. There is quite a big audience for that sort of thing in the Mid-west and South and he knows it and has enriched himself with his wackadoodle ideas. He has created a whole industry of copycats who see there are dollars to be made by pumping out even more craziness than Rush – Breitbart, Glenn Beck, Drudge Report etc

    Limbaugh calls feminists feminazis. If that is not childish and stupid I don’t know what is. And this guy Mike Graham is his standin.

      (Quote)

  21. The first game in the Bundesliga is Dortmund/Schalke. This should be a big test to see if fans turn up outside grounds as this is the biggest local rivalry in Germany.

    I know that some restaurants are opening in Germany but I am not sure what the rules are for mass gatherings. Bundesliga is behind closed doors though so this will be a guide for the PL.

      (Quote)

  22. And Stuart: if you think Marxists are bad, the right wing talk radio hosts over here are the biggest whingers and moaners you have ever heard in your life. I heard Mike Graham when I rented a car and the previous renter had the radio tuned to him. All he did was moan about “liberals”. I think both extremes, left and right are off their heads. The Guardian is not that far left except for a few of their op-ed writers who get on their high horse the same way as the talk radio hosts do on the other side. Richard Wolfe comes to mind at The Guardian.

      (Quote)

  23. Talk Radio over here is 90% moaning about “liberals” and “lefties” and 10% praising Trump even though the majority were against him until he was elected. They know that the orange one brings them the green (money).

      (Quote)

  24. Ed Harrison is trying to push an agenda that we have played better this year. I assume he means since the turn of the year. What games has he been watching? We did OK against lower league teams in the Cup. Apart from that the only game where we went for it was Southampton. Ed says we have done well playing a counter-attacking style. If that means leaving Joelinton isolated and having Miggy or St Max try to take on the whole opposition team by themselves then he is right.

    It is extreme recency bias based on one PL game.

    I predict that Ed will try to use this as an excuse to keep Bruce on for the remaining games and will follow the lead of the moron pundits that Bruce deserves to finish the season as he has done a terrific job. Not from what I saw. I stopped going to the pub to watch our games as it was such torture.

      (Quote)

  25. Eric – I listen to Graham sometimes in a morning and he actually has quite liberal views but he certainly doesn’t like left wing lions who take the whole liberal thing far too far! A bit like me…

      (Quote)

  26. Every newspaper I see has pictures of beaches, parks, supermarkets and packed motorways. Why are people too scared to go back to work but don’t give a **** about gathering in crowded places?

    We will no doubt have a second wave and people will blame the government and totally ignore the people who have clearly flouted their rules.

      (Quote)

  27. Stuart79:
    Eric – I listen to Graham sometimes in a morning and he actually has quite liberal views but he certainly doesn’t like left wing lions who take the whole liberal thing far too far! A bit like me…

    Hasn’t he been banned from some country, can’t remember which? He was wittering on about it when he was on over here. There is a vast right wing media conspiracy that tries to say the rich are over-taxed which is a complete lie. The social security tax is 15.6% on the first $120k which hits the working and middle class hardest. Then there is regular tax and state sales tax which is 10% in Illinois. They even have an extra hotel tax and soda tax. It is a myth that taxes are lower in the US. The only thing that is lower are the services our taxes buy – no medical for anyone under 65.

    But capital gains tax is 15% so if you are rich and make your money off investments then you are quids in. But Fox News and all of the other vast right wing conspiracy keep moaning about a liberal conspiracy. The right are worse because they are all shouty and in-your-face. Just watch a Trump rally or confederate flag march.

      (Quote)

  28. Stuart79:
    Every newspaper I see has pictures of beaches, parks, supermarkets and packed motorways. Why are people too scared to go back to work but don’t give a **** about gathering in crowded places?

    We will no doubt have a second wave and people will blame the government and totally ignore the people who have clearly flouted their rules.

    Not here Stuart. There are joggers and dog walkers and delivery trucks and that is about it. I look out on a usually very busy intersection and there are hardly any cars now. I would say 90% of people have face masks now. I think it is just peaking in Chicago and people are scared. The TV is definitely stirring the pot. And there is no guidance from the Orangutan who changes his mind daily.

      (Quote)

  29. Also, Stuart I am far from a liberal and have very strong anti-communist views. I think Marxism was just a bunch of drivel. I went to college in the 80s and there were still Marxist professors. I was forced to read some of that shyte and realized it was shyte from word 1. But I wont get too deeply into that 🙂

      (Quote)

  30. Are you on about the same, Guy, Eric? I can’t imagine anybody banning him from any country. He really is pretty standard and if he was so offensive he certainly wouldn’t be allowed on mainstream radio in this country!

      (Quote)

  31. Stuart79:
    Are you on about the same, Guy, Eric? I can’t imagine anybody banning him from any country. He really is pretty standard and if he was so offensive he certainly wouldn’t be allowed on mainstream radio in this country!

    I could be wrong. I looked up Mike Graham and it didn’t mention the Rush Limbaugh show. Sorry if it was a different guy. I am not sure now. However on your point about not allowing nutjobs on the radio. There are many on radio and TV espousing completely mad conspiracy theories.

    You should ignore what I said about Mike Graham though as I cannot prove it was him.

      (Quote)

  32. Probably should stick to football 🙂 It is this Covid-19, it has everybody riled up. Including me. I have the feeling from the latest testing numbers that Chicago will be locked down for at least another month. That will make it 3 months as this started on March 13. I am already going stir crazy.

      (Quote)

  33. Back to CV-19. There has been a big spike here today. Just looked out the window and there was a woman probably in her 30s walking with 3 kids. They looked about 4, 6 and 7. She had a mask on and they didn’t. That seemed a bit odd to me but I should mind my own business. I did, I didn’t rush out and call her a child abuser.

      (Quote)

  34. Eric Sykes: Also, Stuart I am far from a liberal and have very strong anti-communist views. I think Marxism was just a bunch of drivel. I went to college in the 80s and there were still Marxist professors. I was forced to read some of that shyte and realized it was shyte from word 1. But I wont get too deeply into th

    Good. If all you can do with Marxist thought is equate it with Communism then you obviously have no idea.

      (Quote)

  35. Oh, I should listen to someone living off his friend before cars, planes and phones were invented and believed in a dialectic where everything since the dawn of time was leading to some tinpot theory he had pulled out of his ****.

    OK then. I fully embrace Marxism.

      (Quote)

  36. I am not equating Marxism with Russian or Chinese communism. I am equating it to Marx’s communism. He did have a Communist Manifesto after all.

      (Quote)

  37. We will never get along BrisV. May as well ignore each other. As a parting shot though, I find you negative about everything so let’s never talk again.

      (Quote)

  38. Eric – the takeover is probably pretty complicated and also I suspect the PL legal team is also working through Covid issues. But the longer the PL drag it out the more they’re going to have complaints to deal with and I imagine they have to look through every one. I have a feeling today might be a big day…

    Oh and I can’t see what I am typing as there’s a stupid fucking box covering my worlds!

      (Quote)

  39. La Liga have said they will block big money transfers even for Real Madrid and Barcelona if they exceed financial guidelines. Not sure how they would do it but they said they will. Also said they see more swap deals with little money changing hands. Ed Woodward has also said he does not see any big money transfers this year.

    If our buyout goes through this is all falling into place for us. Very little competition in the transfer market which means lower prices and salaries. Some excellent free agents as well but I hope we only get 1 and max 2 of the older ones. No to Bale because of his wages and injuries and he is 30.

      (Quote)

  40. Looks like another week is passing by again. Doing my head in and sending fans to Marxist land.

      (Quote)

  41. There is something really dodgy going on with The Mackems. I am pretty sure the season will be called off because there aren’t the funds for CV-19 testing. That means no promotion and no gate money. At best that will be 3 years in League 1. The only assets they have are the stadium and training complex and they are pledged to that Yank Hedge Fund in return for the loan which kept them going this year. Their players aren’t assets, they are more of a drain. Can they sell any of them?

    When their season is called off I give it maybe 2 months before administrators come in or the Yanks force Donald and Co out for next to nothing. The Mackems are finally waking up to the fact that their owners did not buy the club for anything other than to make a quick buck and languishing in the 3rd division put a stop to that.

    Is there another season of Sunderland ’til I Die? Should be very interesting watching them implode. Slow motion train wreck comes to mind.

      (Quote)

  42. Eric – it will not just be Sunderland going into administration if football has to be played behind closed doors for some time.

    Not sure , but I think all clubs in league 1 and league 2 get the same amount regardless of their final league position (not like the Premiership where each position is worth over £2m).
    I think the clubs in league 2 get £500k each per season. Definitely don’t know the league 2 pay out but possibly not much more.
    It costs quite a lot to put on a home match and travel costs for away games will also be high.
    Then you have all the wages to pay.
    With all players and other club staff having to be tested on a regular basis and no gate receipts bringing money in , that £500k will be soon gone and some clubs could start the 2020/21 season and be in administration before xmas.

      (Quote)

  43. Sidekick: there was a big article on one of the Sunderland Blogs over the weekend outlining what the Chancers that bought Sunderland had done. It was pretty much what I have been saying for 2 years – that they bought Sunderland with Sunderland’s money and were looking for a quick buck by getting back to The Championship. That was obvious from the getgo and the only reason it went through in the first place was Ellis Short threatened the EFL.

    But there is something else going on. I feel it. They are being just too opaque about the finances and making stuff as they go along if they say anything at all. It reminds me of another fat Oxfordshire businessman the way they are communicating (or not) now. I really hope they are still doing Sunderland ’til I Die. The 2nd season was fascinating and I felt sorry for the Mackem fans.

      (Quote)

  44. Politics or the mackems … god we need the takeover or restart badly now don’t we?!?!!! ?

      (Quote)

  45. So now there’s to be a Parliamentary Select Committee on the NUFC takeover. This could go on until xmas. Where on earth are all these objections coming from? Sky? BT? It’s becoming ridiculous.

      (Quote)

  46. So i went to the cemetery today to lay flowers at my parents grave, it’s the 5th anniversary of my mums passing. When i got there i found it was only open for funerals ! it’s huge, bigger than your average park. Managed to speak to an official who said you can only lay flowers between 4pm – 7pm. Difficult for me to go during that time slot and many others i would think.
    Nuts, you can wonder around a park full of people all day anytime yet you can only walk among the dead and lay flowers during 4-7pm 🙄

      (Quote)

  47. ليعذرنى الجمال دونج Geordie دائما يتسبب الزهور تزدهر!!!

      (Quote)

  48. I hope everyone gets that. It’s a bit hard to translate, so I won’t try…..

      (Quote)

  49. I feel horrible about the state the lower leagues are in. Once we have a vaccine many of the clubs will re-start I would hope. Can’t lose dozens of clubs to this.

      (Quote)

  50. Telegraph are saying that the request to review NUFC takeover by parliamentary committee will be rejected as they are too busy with CV-19. This piracy issue has been on the table for years. Why now? Sounds like some lobbying from Qataris. Maybe Richard and Andy invited them over for a spot of golf when the lockdown is over?

    I don’t think they want to p!ss off the Saudis at this critical time and they are holding the next G20 meeting FFS. Do they really only want the Qataris to be bidding for the next contract?

      (Quote)

  51. The Minister that told the SNP MP that the Govt would not get involved with the NUFC takeover was Oliver Darden, the Culture Secretary. He is the one who conferenced with the PL/FA today and gave the go ahead for resumption of training. Unless he does a complete 180 then there shouldn’t be a parliamentary review of piracy in relation to NUFC.

      (Quote)

  52. GeordieTwo:
    I feel horrible about the state the lower leagues are in. Once we have a vaccine many of the clubs will re-start I would hope. Can’t lose dozens of clubs to this.

    It’s not good mate, think a lot will go to the wall if we can’t get a handle on this virus.

      (Quote)

  53. There’s stuff saying we would not be willing to pay the 20 million or so release clause in Lazaro’s loan deal even though Bruce has thought he did well. Other people are saying he is not a right back. Then don’t play him as a right back, play him as a winger. We don’t really have a right winger unless you count Atsu and he will be gone. Ritchie is left footed and all he can do is cut in when on the right and he is too slow.

    So, you let the clause expire and put a lower bid in. I would say 10million in this market. Seems pretty simple to me and the release clause was there to stave off competition if he did really well. The world has changed a lot since then. If the season actually gets played we will have a chance to see if he can really handle the PL.

      (Quote)

  54. kimtoon: It’s not good mate, think a lot will go to the wall if we can’t get a handle on this virus.

    The unwashed will be top of the list. There is something really shady going on there even though Sharpy does not want me to talk about them. The other topics have been done to death and do you really want me doing more transfer speculation 🙂 We need the takeover done and football to return to stop me going in circles and chasing my tail 🙂

      (Quote)

  55. The government can’t openly court Saudi investment and then block Saudi investment… Not going to happen.

      (Quote)

  56. The Culture Secretary has already said this not Government business, it’s for the PL alone to decide.
    What is obvious though is that someone with an awful lot of clout is trying to derail the takeover. My money is on the Qataris throwing large amounts of money around.

      (Quote)

  57. georgio – The PL only need to answer this one simple question: Do they have a better chance of solving the piracy issue with a PL club owned by the Saudis or by rejecting the Saudis in their efforts to buy a PL club? What will give the Saudi’s more of a incentive to sort it out?

      (Quote)

  58. I don’t know if it’s relevant to the takeover but I have been keeping an eye on companies house Newcastle United page and in the last few days a new entry has appeared in which the club has filed paperwork for a dormant company with only 1 share in it. It was filed on 21st Feb but only just appeared. Might be nothing

    Olly please have that video removed for all main feature pages as it covers the text box and is very difficult to type. There is no option to click it away

      (Quote)

  59. They have done the same in other NUFC companies around the same date and other dates too

      (Quote)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *