Speaking in a new interview with ITV Tyne Tees, Amanda Staveley has reminded Newcastle United fans that she remains ‘committed’ to completing a takeover on Tyneside.
The Dubai-based businesswoman spearheading the Saudi-backed bid also highlighted her plan to have the arbitration hearing held in public – something she spoke about at length in her appearance on Sky Sports News earlier this week.
Staveley reveals that she and her husband, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, have received ‘thousands’ of letters from NUFC supporters, telling fans – “we don’t want to let you down.”
She also told ITV that fans should be given the opportunity to follow the ongoing legal battle – especially when the outcome could have a huge impact on the club and region in these tough post-COVID times.
Here’s a snippet from her appearance on ITV Tyne Tees today, followed by additional quotes from her interview:
“I’m frustrated and saddened [by the delays]
“This is an investment post-Covid, post-Brexit that is going into Newcastle and the North of England and I think it’s really important.
“We’ve had thousands and thousands of letters.
“We read and we can’t respond to all of them but we are so grateful for the support we’ve had and we don’t want to let you down.”
“We are still here today, still waiting patiently, for this process to go forward.”
Here’s what ITV reporter Chris Conway has had to say after interviewing Staveley earlier today, insisting she was ‘engaging’, ‘charming’ and ‘incredibly passionate’ about Newcastle United and the impact a takeover could have on the North-East:
‘After 15 months, it was great to finally get to meet Amanda Staveley (albeit virtually). She was engaging, charming and very passionate about Newcastle United. She was also incredibly passionate about the impact her deal could have on the wider North East.
‘Make no mistake, this is not just a deal to buy a football club – it is also a deal that will have far wider implications for the North East and its economy too. From speaking to her, you sense that Amanda Staveley gets it and gets Newcastle. She certainly talks a good game.
‘The problem is that with each month that goes by, it feels it will be harder to get the deal over the line. Mike Ashley is a willing seller. Amanda Staveley is a willing buyer and is adamant she has assembled the right business minds to make the takeover a success. But the deal remains stuck in legal limbo. When will fans finally get the takeover they’ve waited more than a decade for?
‘That remains the £340 million pound question.‘
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