OPINION
Newcastle fans received another update on the Bin Zayed Group takeover on Monday morning, but it isn’t the news they were looking for.
Peter Redding, broadcaster on Capital Radio, tweeted a communication from the BZG on his personal Twitter account which said, “Both parties have worked diligently in finalising a deal, none more so than ourselves. We have completed every aspect required in a takeover process.
“Press claims of no bids or Premier League approval processes are simply untrue.
“The current owners have cooperated amicably throughout this whole process and if a deal is not forthcoming it will not be due to a lack of effort from both parties.”
This is a great example of a statement that says nothing at all and only muddies the waters further.
Stripping out the pertinent detail, the BZG has said they’ve done everything that was required of them. They also claim that Ashley has cooperated and that if the deal doesn’t go through it won’t be from lack of trying.
But, if Ashley wants to sell and the BZG wants to buy, what’s the problem? And why would the BZG put out a statement through Pete Redding rather than through official channels?
The statement certainly reads as if it’s laying the ground for news that the takeover has been unsuccessful.
It could be down to finances, with the two sides unable to meet on a price for the club or the structure of the deal.
Or it could be that there is a hold-up with Premier League approval. But if that’s the case, why not just say so?
If the BZG is keen to keep fans in the loop they should make clear what the hold-up is. With the start of the new Premier League season just five weeks away, that’s the least Newcastle fans deserve.