The Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) have released a powerful Monday night statement following news that the hearing surrounding the ongoing Saudi takeover saga has been postponed until ‘early 2022’.
The Trust have branded the situation “unacceptable”, with the latest developments leaving us to suffer – after a 15-month wait – and our club in limbo with an owner who no longer wants to be here.
Read their statement in full below:
STATEMENT – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 19/07/2021
NEWCASTLE UNITED FANS DESERVE BETTER
“This evening it was announced that the arbitration case between Newcastle United and the Premier League has been adjourned until early 2022 due to issues with the disclosure of evidence.
In our view it is unacceptable that Newcastle United has been left in a state of limbo for 15 months by the Premier League’s opacity regarding the Owner and Director’s Test, and what actually happened last Summer. Another delay of at least six months reinforces the need for transparency across all aspects of this situation.
In a scenario where the owner, the buyers, and the majority of the Newcastle United fan base want this deal to proceed (96.7% of Trust Members stated they were in favour of this takeover when polled), we are disappointed to see that further obfuscation is taking place. We believe that this entire saga emphasises the need for fundamental reform of football governance in the UK, and we will continue to explore all legitimate avenues available to the Trust to call for transparency in not just this issue but in all matters affecting our club.
Newcastle United fans want this takeover because we want to believe in our club again, we want a club that competes, we want a club that tries to improve every single day and strives for sporting excellence. We don’t demand a team that wins; we demand a club that tries.
That has not been the case at Newcastle United for a long time. The prospective buyers’ vision for Newcastle United is why the majority want this takeover to go ahead. Last Summer Richard Masters told the Trust that the Premier League’s role was to protect Newcastle United; we believe we deserve to see evidence of how they are achieving this.
While we also await the outcome of the ongoing Competition Appeals Tribunal Case (CAT) a resolution needs to be found to allow a decision on this takeover to be made as soon as possible to allow Newcastle United to prosper.
The Summer transfer window is also critical and the incumbent owner (and management) at Newcastle United must ensure the playing squad is strengthened sufficiently. Relegation to the Championship could be catastrophic.
Newcastle United and our fans continue to be let down by people in positions of power. We deserve better.”
Premiere league playing for time in the hope we get relegated next season and it then becomes an the EFL problem!
Richard Masters and co really are an unscrupulous bunch of corrupt individuals, they are frightened to have the hearing in public and frightened about what will come out.
Need more time to try and cover their tracks!
Joseph(Quote)
I wholeheartedly agree with this. Richard Masters better not show his face in Newcastle. Can’t understand why this is taking so long. If it were Liverpool, Manchester United or anyone else it would have gone through no problem.
Robert Hogarth(Quote)