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!)
This German business. Is it really footy? I was always suspicious of that Bundesliga stuff. The crowd is very quiet as well…. pretty unenthusiastic…..
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Keep up the good work Olly by the way. Are you related to Sally Hawkins? Always liked her….
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Kim – I would support any single parent who took whatever actions were needed to provide the best possible care for their dependents.
The rules were ‘essential journeys’, which he obviously felt was essential with he & his wife ill.
If you took ill and they wanted to put Lewis in the unit while you recovered – but you felt that your daughter would provide better care, or would be better for Lewis who may get anxious in the unit with you not there – would you put him in, or would you insist your daughter look after him. I don’t ask that question lightly or to prove a point necessarily – more to highlight how difficult that decision would be. Whatever your answer I would never judge, because you know what’s best for Lewis – and I suspect Cummings made the decision putting what was best for his family first.
There have been numerous footballers who breached the rules for their own personal gain – I don’t remember any media chasing them round or suggesting their clubs sack them – I don’t even remember reading they had received a hefty fine from their clubs.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – are you still in lockdown in Chicago?.
Florida has been almost back to normal for two weeks , restaurants open and beaches full of people.
Is Illinois a Democrat State ? Only asking because I am being told that the Republican States are all open but the Democrat ones are all staying in lockdown. Is this true or is it just a wind- up ?
sidekick(Quote)
Sharpy, they made it quite clear they are not in favor of mixing households, especially as she works with 3 chaps in supported living at the moment.
It’s not what i want for Lew at all and they know it, but it’s government guidelines, or it was 8 weeks ago when we first chatted.
For me this isn’t a left or right issue politically, it’s more a wrong or right issue . That’s just my opinion. Have spoken with a lot of pals online and family about this , many Tory voters among them and all are very angry about it . Many sticking rigidly to the rules of lockdown and some not seeing a soul for weeks now .
I know one thing for sure, i have no hesitation in demanding Lew stay here with Hazel if i should end up going down with it. They can fine me to F&%£ i don’t care anymore.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – my opinion has nothing to do with political views. I neither like or dislike the fella – all I know of him is he works with Johnson. But none of that impacts on my opinion.
He didn’t commit a crime, so it’s not a simple case of right or wrong – breaking a rule must come with a why imo. The medical advisor in Scotland was a holiday home and she did it multiple times. Cummings left his address for very different reasons. If it came out that he took his kid up coz it was his birthday and they wanted to visit family, I’m totally with you.
Each to their own opinion, but I come at it from an angle of what would I do?!. I have to be honest and say, give the information I’ve heard, I’d probably do the same regardless what Boris said ??♂️
Sharpy17(Quote)
Total lockdown mate. Supposed to open up a bit at the end of the month.
JB Pritsker is a c@nt.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
He did not break the law! What’s not to understand.
This is just sad and pathetic. It’s almost like there’s nothing else for the media to be looking into or questioning the government about…
Stuart79(Quote)
I am neither a Republican nor Democrat. They can both wear the dunces cap.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart Thatcher:
You are on one side all of the time. I don’t know all of the politics in the UK anymore but I do know that you always side with Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Wow! A sudden outbreak of calls for media balance! Amazing what happens when you have to defend your puppet masters.
I can’t recall balanced arguments about Mike Ashley. Only a couple of Aussies were pointing that out to people. But those guys have been well ahead of the game for years.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Bris – he’s not my puppet master, and I made plenty of balanced posts regarding Ashley – Aussie will vouch for that … and I’m a Geordie not an Aussie.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Blimey, even the daily malicious is turning on him now !
Watched good morning Britain as Piers Morgan isn’t on it this week so instantly watchable again.
GMB poll on whether Dom Cummings should be sacked
80% yes
20% no
Seems the media not quite as out of touch with public as some think.
kimtoon(Quote)
Where’s this b loody takeover.
kimtoon(Quote)
A couple of Aussies never said anything. They (he, I think they are the same person) came on a b!tched for 20 minutes and then left for a month. As they always do.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kim – I really think there is a problem with society – not just with Cummings, but Flack and many more cases. There’s a lack of understanding and sympathy to people’s situations and one mass we want to punish immediately.
Is what he done REALLY a sackable offence?.
I really hope people don’t live in glass houses, because everyone taking that high ground really don’t leave themselves much room from throwing a few stones.
The Scottish medical advisor I get – she went to a holiday home numerous times and was out walking and totally disregarding her own advice. Cummings was definitely different.
Oh and GMB with or without Morgan – the viewers of that show remain the same, and most will still have the political views of Morgan – who throughout all of this has been an extremist f&ckw!t imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – I remember watching footage of Cummings running down Downing St clutching a bag and looking very anxious – I joked with the missus that Boris must have given him a b0ll0cking.
It turned out that was him leaving Downing St to go and collect his wife and son and head to Durham.
But I remember how anxious he looked. I don’t know much about him and certainly don’t know his personal circumstances but he looked worried that day – it wasn’t arrogance or a blatant abuse of position.
The biggest problem is that this government doesn’t seem to want to divulge anything about their personal lives. Boris is another one. If Cummings came and an explained his rationale for it – well some will still want to hang him out, but some may just sympathise with his situation. Mind you, I can understand why he doesn’t want to explain when he has press hounding him like they are.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, the problem is that Cummings helped draft the lockdown rules which most of the British people have diligently followed with many unable to visit elderly family when ill or to even offer consolation when a loved one has died.
There are now reports coming out that the day he went there was when his uncle died and that the reported visit to the castle was on his wifes birthday.
Suggestions that he was there to console his mum over his uncles death, his mum confirms that his uncle had died and that they were/are a grieving family.
Well there are lots of grieving families, who have had zero contact with love ones.
I have a feeling that there is much more to come out about this, it will do untold damage to the government imo.
The child is the trump card, and now we are told he is autistic, there are endless stories of parents with autistic children having to self isolate alone with no help and family who could of helped who live miles away. Yet these parents stayed at home and coped.
When Boris & co told us to stay at home if we had symptoms he did not say at any point that we could travel hundreds of miles to get help from family.
It may well be in the guidelines but who actually reads them ? It should of been made clear in his broadcast.
As for the repugnant Piers Morgan and his viewers, well, he actually voted Conservative in order to get Brexit done and the majority of his viewers are raving brexiteers and tory if you follow his twitter from pre election time. So i’m guessing it’s the same lot still viewing ?
Cummings wife Mary is a journo and Cummings a government advisor, who looks after there child when they work ? Could that person not of continued for a couple of weeks of lockdown ?
There was no need to travel all that way imo.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – for the record, my stance is this. If his trip was to safeguard his child and seek help from relatives because he and his wife were unwell – which up to now has been the story – then I have no problem with that.
If it transpires that it was due to the death of a relative or his wife’s birthday, then I’m not ok with that – that is an abuse of position and then he should be sacked – and so should Boris for trying to brush it under the carpet.
On Morgan, I actively avoid him. I have no interest in any journalist who wants to make the story about them. He gets people on and just talks over them, and it’s no wonder the government refuse to go on.
No man should be that angry when you are sat with Suzanne Reid all morning ?. I think she’s a very good interviewer with a very balanced approach, but is often talked over by that clown.
There may be more information that comes out about Cummings that makes me change my mind. But that information needs to come out before I shout hang the man.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So Someone advising the Government is not acting in accordance with Government guidelines that he helped develop. But that’s OK because he panicked and acted instinctively. Just the sort of behaviour you want at the centre of Government, NOT. To put it in perspective this was what he was advising people to do.
“So my dad died on his own because we weren’t allowed to stay with him. Despite every instinct as a daughter to be there, despite the NHS staff desperately trying to work within Government instructions, the nearest I got to a goodbye was kissing his cold face through full PPE. Every fibre of my being was screaming out with the instinct of a daughter wanting to hold my dad’s dying hand. How despicable and self-serving is our PM to suggest that Cummings acted with instinct and integrity. Absolute *****-houses, every single one of the cabinet ministers who have stood in his defence. You utter bastards. You should hang your heads in shame.”
PremAndUp(Quote)
Fair enough mate, we will no doubt be watching to see what transpires .
kimtoon(Quote)
And that Prem is exactly the issue and why so many folk are cross about it.
Boris is implying that the rest of us not doing what cummings did don’t care for our relatives. Completely disregarding the fact that we are all observing government guidelines , even though our instincts tell us to do differently.
kimtoon(Quote)
I have lost 3 friends and Relatives to this Virus, people who I would be visiting and enjoying their company. As it is I haven’t even been able to attend their funerals. I don’t need people telling me that he’s a good boy and we should have sympathy. My parents generation was built on the ruins of deaths in the Spanish Flu, with which there are remarkable similarities. If you want to feel responsible for more deaths, be like Dom.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem, that’s awful, sorry for your losses.
kimtoon(Quote)
Perhaps read the statements from the residents of Bernard castle who state that he was on the streets without PPE infecting whatever he touched. Perhaps we have a new Typhoid Mary.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – I’m not saying sympathise because his situation is worse than yours or anyone else’s. He didn’t leave to go to a funeral or visit a dying relative (at least not until Kim has mentioned that this morning).
As far as I’m concerned, and the information that was presented up to yesterday – he was faced with a potential situation whereby both he and his wife would be bedridden with the virus (if not potentially hospitalised) with a 4 yr old child (now known to be autistic) needing cared for. If he made the trip faced with that scenario, I have no issue with that. I’d feel the same whoever was faced with that – and I tell you know, I’d make the journey too.
But if it transpires that it was because of other reasons like Kim is saying this morning, then no, that’s not ok and he should be sacked.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Prem – nobody was wearing PPE in the streets of Barnard Castle. It’s never been a requirement to wear PPE outdoors.
But further to that, that story is ‘witnesses saw someone who looked like Cummings’. Even in Barnard Castle people have camera and video phones, yet no evidence it was definitely him.
Those ‘sightings’ were on the 19th April – outside his quarantine period so unlikely he was infecting anything – that said, he should have been there – if he actually was.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yet he himself admits to being infected, thus justifying his behaviour. Was the closest help really in the NE, are there no child care workers in London. If he believes he took the best possible actions, despite the medical advice he was involved in issuing then that may be acceptable for an individual, but not in a cabinet minister of political advisor.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Please god, bring back football…!!! ????????
Toon Toon (ex Dubai Toon)(Quote)
Yes indeed
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – why? – aren’t they the same as any individual? – does his autistic child need less looking after because he’s a political advisor?. I’m not looking to pick a fight or be a d!ck about this at all mate, I just genuinely don’t understand why his situation would be different – regardless of whether he helped write the rules or not.
I’ve just watched a clip from GMB of a doctor saying if Cummings doesn’t quit, I will – great gesture ?? That’ll help. He also went on to say he doesn’t know the full circumstances of Cummings going to Durham – brilliant so you want him sacked or you are prepared to quit without knowing the full circumstances ?.
Like I say, if it transpires that it was more than just getting child care for his son then hang him out. But we need to know the full craic before demanding action don’t we?!.
I hear the argument of child care in London. I don’t know the level of autism his son suffers, but maybe that played a part in having family the child is comfortable with rather than a complete stranger.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Amen to that mate ?
I’m starting to turn on these Saudis already ?. Get ya **** finger out you lot!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
No if you act in a way that is against the advice you are giving, if your response is contrary to to what everybody else is being advised to do then you cannot stay part of the organisation that issues that advice. If you put you own interest above those of your employer you resign simples.
PremAndUp(Quote)
I echo Kimtoons sentiments.
I try to get my head around all of this CV-19 but Boris and Trump just confuse me.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Prem – sorry mate, I’m fortunate that none of my loved ones have died or been hospitalised because of this virus (touch wood). It’s horrible that you have experienced it mate, and I understand where you’re coming from.
I’m not staunchly defending Cummings either. If it comes out that he’s breached it worse than initially reported then so be it. But if not, we’ll agree to disagree ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
So Cummings is making a statement and answering questions later today. Good, I hope he’s grilled and I hope he’s honest about what went on.
I’ve just watched a clip on the Sky news app where he’s walking down the street and people are hanging out their windows shouting at him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, it’s good he is giving a presser, one way or another it needs sorting.
Also as far as autism goes, part of lews condition is an array of autistic traits. I also know many parents of autistic children because of lewis and our contacts.
In pretty much all cases autistic kids /adults, like repetition and routine and familiar surroundings. They don’t normally like spending time, especially overnight in unfamiliar surroundings or with people that don’t care for them on an everyday basis.
I made the point earlier that both parents work so they must have a carer for their child, since it would be pretty much impossible to get work done at home when also watching an autistic child.
For the sake of 14 days lockdown the carer of their child could of helped surely.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – it’s all what’s, ifs and maybes at the moment. My friends son is autistic and there is only his parents and 1 set of grandparents he will be left with – others can visit providing mam and dad are there. My son is one of only a few children he will play with. It’s tough, and it’s why I put a case forward for Cummings – but I don’t for one second claim to know facts and once they are presented, then I will make my decision on the matter ??♂️
Sharpy17(Quote)
You should read the government guidelines so you’d know he did follow them.
Some people really don’t seem to have more important things to be bothered about.
Stuart79(Quote)
Btw – If he broke the law or specifically went against the guidelines then in today’s day and age of people desperate for people to blame then he would resign I imagine.
But when I see people comparing it to not being able to see parents dying or going to funerals I mean ffs! Get a grip! The guy went in a car, drive to Durham and isolated in a house. It’s because of who he is – simple. The only way he’d deserve this pile on was if he stopped off at every service station to fill up, spat on every pump, went to every village on his way and left infected particles on every car and door handle he could find.
Stuart79(Quote)
Really ? announced o before his visit to the NE. Self Isolation was already in place.
If you’re just joining us, UK PM Boris Johnson has just announced a major ramping up of coronavirus measures.
Here are the major points of his speech:
From tonight, people in Britain will be allowed to leave their homes for only “very limited purposes” – shopping for basic necessities; for one form of exercise a day; for any medical need; and to travel to and from work when “absolutely necessary”
People are warned not to meet friends or family members who they do not live with
Shopping is only permitted for essentials like food and medicine, and people are advised to do it “as little as you can”
Police have powers to enforce the rules, including through fines and dispersing gatherings
All shops selling non-essential goods, such as clothing and electronic stores, are ordered to close
Libraries, playgrounds, outdoor gyms and places of worship are to close
All gatherings of more than two people in public – excluding people you live with – are banned
All social events, including weddings and baptisms are banned
Funerals are not included in the new restrictions
Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed
Restrictions “under constant review” and will be checked again in three weeks. They will be relaxed “if the evidence shows we are able to”
PremAndUp(Quote)
Drove to Durham, stayed in a car and self isolated. You actually believe that he had no contact with anybody else? If that were the case he could have self isolated at home. He clearly did not self Isolate because there was no reason to drive that far to self Isolate
PremAndUp(Quote)
I doubt you’ve been following the story too closely if that’s what you think.
Stuart79(Quote)
Witch hunt. Pay back because Cummins doesn’t like the media do tells them. Pay back because he’s seen as a driving force behind Brexit and this horrible, terrible and evil Tory government.
It’s well over due a government telling the media to **** off
Stuart79(Quote)
If you really think that this is what this is all about then i despair mate.
kimtoon(Quote)
Also, for any government to react in the way you suggest towards the media when ever they start asking questions of them would suggest we now live under a dictatorship.
kimtoon(Quote)
Media a joke, Kim. Not interested in the what’s happening – more interested in catching the government out. Pathetic.
I don’t remember the media piling on to this extent when Alistair Campbell was Tony Blair’s advisor when he literally sexed up a document that led to us going to war ffs! No wonder he’s been quiet.
Stuart79(Quote)
People comparing it with a government scientific advisor leaving his house to go and have a shag with his mistress. That’s laughable.
It’s also laughable that people in the civil service hate Cummins so much they even tweeted yesterday from the civil service account.
Basically people don’t like change and he’s there to change their cushy little lives.
Stuart79(Quote)
I also have no idea why Cummins is making a statement and then answering questions from the media. It really doesn’t matter what he says. The media have made up their mind and have their guns ready to reload regardless. Staggeringly some still believe everything they read in the paper regardless of whether it’s true.
Stuart79(Quote)
Now we have a Durham police statement that is already making the Mirror row back… ?
Stuart79(Quote)
Today would have been a great day to announce the takeover by the way!!.
The Saudis would have crept under the radar while the National went after Cummings ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
I hope idiots are listening to Cummins. Media lies create outrageously dangerous and worrying some situations. Why should this guy have threats of violence because the media print things about him that aren’t true?
Disgusting.
Stuart79(Quote)
BBC with a whopper! Apparently now government guidelines are loop holes ???
Stuart79(Quote)
Beth Rigby another pathetic idiot with an agenda.
Just completely ignoring the fact he hasn’t broken the law and acted within the guidelines.
Stuart79(Quote)
Don’t remember this outrage at the character assassination dealt at Corbyn.
PremAndUp(Quote)
?????
Stuart79(Quote)
I don’t remember it against Alistair Campbell who’s actions led to war and a government official committing suicide… oh well – they’re not part of a Tory government.
Stuart79(Quote)
Why in the world has number 10 not issued him security if his home and family are under threat.
I would resign for that reason alone. No way would i stay in a job where it had that knock on effect.
kimtoon(Quote)
Are you kidding me, he’s still getting flack for it to this day.
kimtoon(Quote)
Quite
kimtoon(Quote)
So the press is pro Labour Anti Tory.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Simple question, if he had no help with his son in london, why not get permission for his niece to come up from Durham ? One healthy person travelling instead of 2 possibly 3 travelling .
Does anyone really believe the government wouldn’t of facilitated that for him.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim, Stop being reasonable,
PremAndUp(Quote)
Can a landrover discovery sp really cover all them miles on a full tank ? impressive if so.
kimtoon(Quote)
Yes no probs
PremAndUp(Quote)
Well done Stuart. Do you know someone in the Government?
It is all about Brexit. The remoaners are now absolutely desperate to get rid of both Boris and Cummins and their howls will reach fever point by December.
I do know (from a person in the Government) that a department was set up on the day after the referendum and tasked with preparing the UK to leave the EU on 31 March 2019 with no deal.
Britain was ready to leave on that date, with no deal, but the remoaners were able to thwart this.
Now, because of the hounding of Cummins , I think it very possible , and I would even put money on it , that the UK will leave with no deal long before December.
sidekick(Quote)
Father Ted give Cummings an eye exam.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=father+ted+dougal+cows&docid=608022186107734871&mid=9AA71EF98F6C552C3B499AA71EF98F6C552C3B49&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I know it might sound reasonable to someone who thinks they are smarter than everybody else to say that he went for a drive to test whether he could actually drive, but… aren’t there easier ways to test your eyesight? Read a book? Look at cows in the distance (see previous post), count how many eyelets are on your shoes.
I don’t think you actually need to drive to test whether your eyesight is good enough to drive. What happens if he runs somebody over, does he say – ah, I suppose my eyesight wasn’t good enough for me to drive after all.
This guy is playing everybody for fools.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And Stuart: it is not a political thing about Cummings. It is a bullsh!t thing. It is pretty easy to spot his BS whatever political leanings he may have.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yep.
kimtoon(Quote)
Sidekick, this has nothing to do with brexit, it’s yesterdays news and compared to the s hite we and the rest of the world are in with covid and climate change issues, brexit is small fry.
Really, it’s done and dusted, deal, no deal, whatever, no one cares .
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon: he is getting sacked or resigning soon. I have no doubt. Boris has jumped off the Cummings ship. He was communications director? What an idiot! Some of his spin is almost Trumpian in its stupidity.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
OK Mrs Cummings. I have this theory that my eyesight might have been compromised by me having CV-19 so I am going off for a drive to make sure that I am OK to drive and will not kill anyone whilst driving. Fine then Pet, and if you get home safely let me know how your other theory of jumping off a cliff to test if it will break every bone in your body is going.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And Sidekick: putting this Cummings BS in the context of Brexit is the ultimate straw man argument. And Stuart’s theory that it is all a left wing media conspiracy is the same type of straw man. There is hardly any left leaning media in the UK or US. It is all a klaxon call of the far right now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I didn’t even know who Dominic Cummings was until 2 days ago but I do know a bullsh!tter when I see one.
Eric Sykes(Quote)