It is business as usual at Newcastle United after a claim that suggested that owner Mike Ashley was closing in on a takeover deal involving a consortium from the United States, according to the Chronicle.
The newspaper report on their website that officials at St James’ Park know nothing of the suggestions from website Betaville which state that the Sports Direct supremo has been in the USA to finalise a deal which will see him hand over control of the Magpies to a consortium.
However, the north east publication’s report has left a glimmer of hope over a possible takeover, detailing that due to the advanced nature of negotiations between Ashley and any potential investors club officials may be unaware of what the businessman’s actions are, with only a limited number of people who know what is truly going on.
Opinion
Another month, another takeover claim at St James’ Park, and it does not sound like this has many legs to stand on. While the Chronicle’s claim that club officials not knowing Ashley may be up to are likely accurate, it seems strange that such a huge claim would be made by Betaville without any other noise escaping either on Tyneside or on the other side of the Atlantic. Things have been quiet of late and Ashley himself is claimed to have told the squad that he was not expecting a takeover deal any time soon despite the club still being up for sale, so could things really have changed that quickly? Whatever the case may be, Newcastle fans should not be holding their breath over a deal going through any time soon. It could well be that after the debacle involving Amanda Staveley last year, where things were constantly leaked, Ashley is wanting to keep things hush hush, and the first the Toon Army might hear of it is via an official statement from the club. They will be hoping that comes soon.