A lot of Newcastle United fans have flocked to a post from Keith Downie as he provided an update on what Mike Ashley is doing after the proposed takeover by Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed consortium fell through.
On 30th July, the consortium withdrew its bid to buy Newcastle from Ashley.
This led to a statement from the Toon owner, via Lee Charnley, claiming that he was still ‘100% committed’ to the deal.
Now, Downie has claimed that he is ‘continuing dialogue’ with the consortium and that he is ‘personally trying to resolve the situation’.
This drew a huge reaction from these Toon fans, who actually want Ashley to succeed at something.
Are you pleased by this move from Ashley?
Yes, he clearly wants to sell the club
No, it is all a trick
I’ll reverse my own personal ban of buying stuff from his various shops should he sort this out!
— steven bell (@steviebe) August 10, 2020
This is very positive. If this is true, we might actually get new owners soon.
Ashley might be a lot of things, but he often gets his own way in business. For once I’m rooting for him.— chris tucker (@christuckersluc) August 10, 2020
Oh my god you’ve made me want Ashley to win at something ?
— Stuart McNichol (@stumcnichol) August 10, 2020
For once in the 13 year stint i am actually backing Mike…. can’t belive i just said that
— ???? Daniel ???? #WeWantSaudi?? (@DanielEliassen1) August 10, 2020
My hero ??
— ?? ella ?? (@nufcfootballl) August 10, 2020
Downie does not specifically state what Ashley has planned, but there was a report in the Shields Gazette that claimed that he was preparing his legal teams, so perhaps that is what was meant by ‘personally trying to resolve the situation’, as per the Sky Sports man’s tweet.
This post from the Sky Sports reporter continued to draw the attention of many Newcastle fans who were happy.
Thanks for the update Keith. Hopefully we all get the solution we would like ?
— Phil Carlson (@pipin86) August 10, 2020
Great news, Keith.
— Darrin Smith (@OleDJ) August 10, 2020
Keeeeeeèeeeeeeeeeeeeeith maaaaaaan !!!!!!
— Robbo?? (@JOHNROB79) August 10, 2020
The deal for Ashley to sell Newcastle was agreed in April, and a deposit was paid to him; however, the Premier League took so long to decide, that the consortium withdrew its bid.
Since then, many MPs, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, have urged the Premier League to comment on the situation.
A petition has been set up that has over 100,000 signatures on it, demanding an independent investigation into what happened.
So, the pressure is building, and it now looks like Ashley is going to step in to sort this takeover out.
This could be one to keep an eye on over the coming days and weeks.