Some Newcastle United fans have flocked to a tweet that was recently posted by Kevan Jones, who is a Member of Parliament (MP) for North Durham, in which he shares a letter that he recently wrote to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters ‘to express concern at the current levels of transparency and accountability around the takeover process for EPL football clubs.’
This letter comes after the consortium that included Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben brothers ended their interest in taking over Newcastle United last week.
As per Sky Sports, ‘papers regarding the proposed takeover were lodged with the Premier League in April and were still being scrutinised’ when the consortium opted to eventually pull out of the deal last week.
After this group ended their interest in purchasing Newcastle United, ‘an online petition calling for an independent investigation into the Premier League’s handling’ of this takeover attempt gained plenty of support from Toon fans, as ‘more than 70,000’ Newcastle supporters signed the petition, according to the BBC.
Pat Ritchie, who is the chief executive of Newcastle City Council, recently wrote to Masters to get answers about ‘the delay surrounding the Newcastle United takeover,’ as per ChronicleLive, and now, Jones has joined Ritchie in contacting the Premier League chief over the handling of this takeover.
Today I have written to @premierleague to express my concern at the current levels of transparency and accountability around the takeover process for EPL football clubs. The EPL must listen to supporters and bring them closer to this process. pic.twitter.com/hvOiGNKd9p
— Kevan Jones (@KevanJonesMP) August 6, 2020
After Jones shared his letter to Masters on Twitter, his post caught the attention of plenty of Newcastle supporters, some of whom replied to his tweet to thank him and share praise for him.
Fantastic, thanks for your support this is about the NE not just Newcastle. The whole region will benefit from this.
— Bigkev1346 (Help us kill corruption) (@Bigkev1346) August 6, 2020
Thank you so much ? it’s good to see my views have actually been represented by my mp even tho this relates to a football club in a different constituency
— FPL_Stottie (@NufcStottie) August 6, 2020
Brilliant I was going to send a request to you, but you have beat me to it
— Ian (@iramshaw) August 6, 2020
Brilliantly worded and thank you
— Scott Holder (@ScottHo14019746) August 6, 2020
Are you happy that this MP sent Richard Masters a letter?
YES
NO
Thank you @KevanJonesMP we need this investment.
— Marc Wailes (@MarcWailes) August 6, 2020
Thank you Kevin Jones. The supporters of #nufctakover are indebted to you. https://t.co/DwB2Igr502
— Steve Corbett (@SteveCorbett64) August 6, 2020
Considering that the group behind this deal were reportedly set to become the wealthiest club owners in the Premier League if the takeover was approved and knowing that ‘figures linked to the deal said there would be major investment in the city as part of the new ownership of the club,’ as per ChronicleLive, it may be understandable why Newcastle United fans, the chief executive of Newcastle City Council and now an MP from a North East constituency have all expressed their frustration with the Premier League’s handling of this takeover after Amanda Staveley, who led the consortium trying to buy the club, pointed the finger of blame at the Premier League for the deal falling through.