George Caulkin has been speaking on the latest episode of Pod On The Tyne, discussing the failed takeover of Newcastle United.
The Athletic reporter discussed all of the issues around the failed takeover after Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed consortium withdrew its offer to buy Newcastle from Mike Ashley.
This podcast saw Caulkin discuss the fallout from this decision by Staveley’s group.
Caulkin revealed that before their statement confirming they were pulling out, the consortium was actually preparing a different statement.
“On Tuesday, the consortium trying to buy the club were very close to releasing a statement, and that statement would have been a ‘gloves off’ to the Premier League; calling them out, trying to force the issue back into their court, telling them that constant prevarication, refusing to give a deadline for a decision to be made was unacceptable and throwing it back to them.”
So, it seems as if Staveley’s group were preparing to call out the Premier League publicly, but on Thursday of last week, they announced their intentions to withdraw instead.
Are you surprised the consortium were preparing this statement?
No, I am surprised it took them that long
Yes, the PL were just doing their job
TIF Thoughts…
Since the consortium has withdrawn its offer to buy Newcastle, Staveley has held interviews, including one with The Times and another with The Athletic, in which she has blamed the Premier League.
The Premier League is yet to respond publicly, though a slight indication of their thoughts was revealed in a piece produced by Matt Slater.
This has led to an open letter from The Chronicle and a petition from Newcastle fans demanding an investigation into the takeover’s sudden collapse.
It does not surprise us that the Premier League has refused to say anything because it has been repeatedly insisted that this is a confidential process, but we think what has happened should be explained.