Fans of Newcastle have been reacting to a post on Twitter, which relays a report claiming the HMRC could investigate Mike Ashley’s retail empire.
The report published by i News claims that ‘tax officials are considering an investigation into the retail empire of billionaire Mike Ashley’ that could lead to ‘the Treasury clawing back millions in furlough payments’.
After this report was relayed on Twitter by an account named Frasers Group PLC (FRAS), fans of Newcastle flocked to have their say on the matter, with many calling for the Premier League to approve the club’s ongoing Saudi-backed takeover bid in order for them to be rid of Ashely, while others have simply slated the Newcastle United owner.
https://twitter.com/DiscoDaveToon/status/1276476643922640897
Arrest him for fraud and TAKE #NUFC off hos hands, along the lines of what was going to happen with City when Shinawatra was found guilty of corruption in his home country. Ashley is NOT fit and proper in any way
— MCJ (@mjarvie84) June 26, 2020
Please be true & find him guilty
— Robbo (@Robbo_the_rhino) June 26, 2020
Ashley took control of Newcastle back in 2007, buying the club for a fee of around £134million.
However, his 13-year spell at the club could be nearing an end, after a £300million Saudi Arabian-backed bid was lodged for the club.
Although, this potential deal has drawn significant interest from numerous sources, some of whom have launched objections to the bid, and, as such, the Premier League have remained quiet as to whether or not they will be approving the deal.
However, judging from their comments, it would seem that many of the Newcastle United fans just want to be rid of Ashley, one way or another.
Dodgy dealing by Mike? Never!!! ? ?
— Roy Brown Jnr. (@RoyBrownJnr1) June 26, 2020
He really needs this takeover to go through
— Jay (@jaysta9) June 26, 2020
@premierleague this man is fit and proper to run our club !!!!! #nufc
Surely your test must be complete by now !!!— lee carr (@carsy108) June 26, 2020
Amazing how the @premierleague stay silent when it concerns Ashley. It’s almost like they are in his pocket ?.
— Raj Bithal (@Biffarinho) June 26, 2020
After almost three months between when the takeover bid was launched and today, one would assume that Newcastle fans will be hoping that they receive an answer from the Premier League on the deal sooner rather than later, if for nothing else to find out whether or not they will finally be rid of Ashley’s ownership.