According to a ‘source from inside the club’, Mike Ashley has told the Saudi consortium to get their money together and prepare for purchase next month – saying he is ‘certain’ he’ll win the arbitration case against the Premier League.
This comes from a bold Friday night ‘exclusive’ from The Sun’s Ken Lawrence, which states that the NUFC owner now believes the £300m deal will be given the green light.
After the would-be buyers reluctantly walked away last summer, the club has taken the Premier League to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) – a hearing scheduled to begin ‘next Friday’ – while a separate arbitration hearing is also believed to be pencilled in for July.
The same report also claims that the Government ‘hope’ a deal can be resurrected, states Ashley has remained in ‘close contact’ with Amanda Staveley since the deal broke down last year and reveals what a NUFC insider has told them about the current feeling behind the scenes.
Here’s what a source close to the club has told them this week:
“Mike Ashley is certain he’ll win his case.
“He has told the consortium to have their money ready to complete in a month.”
The Sun say that Mike Ashley feels the ‘real reason’ behind Premier League delays – which ultimately tipped the Saudis over the edge almost 12 months ago – were down to the ‘big six’s’ efforts to get the deal blocked.
Pinch of salt needed given what we’ve been through over the past few years, but we’ll have to hope there is some truth behind this latest takeover report!
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Season ticket renewal time again is it, watch out for the club email any time soon,
Save yourself some time olly reissue articles re a takeover from the last 10 years
Cc(Quote)
An inside source ??? What rubbish. Fake news yet again.
Dutch Docherty(Quote)
Of course he has, journalists wishing it to happen so they could re print the many articles from the last 18 months to say how right they where all along.
When these “Sources” get named I will believe it but until then I take it as Fake News, look at me and my article bollocks.
What a way to start weekend with a **** article.
Cocobear(Quote)
Spot on Cc the fcb can smell the season ticket cash rolling in already.
davep(Quote)
OLLY is just keeping us up to date with news doing the rounds,if you think its **** dont read it simples,thanks OLLY you dont make the news you just report
icedog(Quote)
Thank you! Exactly.
If it was negative and the same report said it was over then I’d report it.
I don’t pick and chose what comes out or ‘make stuff up’, I just share it and give my view. Appreciate the support!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
The news that Mike Ashley is “convinced “ the sale to PIF will go through is no surprise after the antics of the big Six and the European Super League fandango. It was obvious that Richard Masters and his gang at the Premier League existed previously only as an executive arm of Big 6 policy. The advent of a deal that would, at the very least, impact on their trophy chances and, in turn, the TV revenues, was total anathema to them. Unfortunately the buyers had, for once, a **** sight more influence and money that could be conveniently dismissed on a technicality. The Prem then reverted to the age old bureaucratic tactic of not making a decision and bunging it up stairs to an Arbitration Panel, hoping, rightly in this case, that the sound and the fury from the Geordie Diaspora would get everyone lost in the hurricane of blame that poured forth. The PL did not turn the bid down they simply said we are disputing some of the stuff in the Directors Crime Sheet so we need to have someone completely unbiased to give us a decision. They then offered that to the club, whilst stacking the Arbitration Panel full of Big 6 poodles. Come the New Year and the flagging hopes of the Children of Gallowgate on their trek in the Wilderness, Mike pulls a small rabbit from the hat and appoints a world class legal team. The counter from the PL – it will take months perhaps years. This only added to the downward trajectory of hope for the faithful which added to the dire series of injuries and results was the first case of national depression known since the St Cuthbert got trapped on the causeway at Lindisfarne after nipping across the water for a half dozen bottles of Dog and some ham and peas pudding stotties.
Then the European Super Money making machine with smallest risk possible, League showed its seedy face and all the calculations went south and fast. The fans response and the Big 6 realisation that they were not omnipotent, coupled with Mike Ashley’s legal pincer movement actually gets Masters and company off the hook and Ashley out of St James for good in a win win situation. Masters will claim that he was simply doing his job by not taking a decision and offering arbitration. The stuffing the arbitration panel could be neatly laid at the door of the Big 6 as another response to the ESL fantasy. The Big 6 wouldn’t dare oppose anything that was recommended until after the Europeans in case UEFA banned the players from those clubs from playing. Ashley wins because he gets his deal and sells the club to the PIF and Amanda Staveley takes over and within 3 seasons rewards the brethren of Buddle Road with a domestic trophy and then on to Europe and the Premier League Title. The Lawyers get loads of dosh and the fans get trophies (as well as higher ticket prices to pay for it all).
And they all lived happily ever after
William James Espie(Quote)
So how are you supposed to know its **** if you don’t read it?
Jeez that was a load.
I lost interest at “Unfortunately the buyers had, for once, a **** sight more influence and money that could be conveniently dismissed on a technicality. ”
The buyers money and influence counted for nothing. It was Ashley that kicked up a stink.
Helen Clarey(Quote)
…and with his big payoff
Bruce wants to help Sunderland get back to the Premiership as Director of Football = to repay the loyal fans!
He simply just doesn’t understand FOOTBALL & isn’t a MANAGER
KK(Quote)
One or 2 we’ll written well sourced items. The truth of the matter is, the deal will go ahead, common sense dictates that. Let’s all hope sooner the better.
Alan Dobison(Quote)