Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has told senior figures representing him that he is demanding not only proof of funds when it comes to a takeover but the ability to take the club higher than he has taken them, according to the Chronicle.
The newspaper claim on their website that the Magpies are still up for sale and have an arrangement in place in case a suitor who can tick all the boxes set out by the current owner comes along, in a bid to smooth the process and ensure it goes through as quickly as possible.
However the report states Ashley is not open to frivolous approaches and is demanding potential investors prove their spending power before official talks take place – with a staggered buyout option still a possibility.
Opinion
The Toon Army have probably given up all hope of seeing Ashley out the St James’ Park door any time soon but it sounds like the British businessman is still very much open to selling up to the right party – and is even taking action to try and make sure that when that individual or conglomerate do come along, things can be completed with haste. It would be the ultimate Christmas present for fans to see Ashley sell to someone else before the new year, and while he has been under-fire from the supporters for much of the last couple of years, he does appear to have the club’s best interests at heart by making demands to his representatives for when someone does come along. Newcastle finally have a win on the board in the Premier League and a couple more positive results will see them catapulted up the table rather than languishing in the bottom three. Maybe then interest will start to ramp up – for no one wants to take over at a club destined for relegation.