Thomas Horton, also known as @TheFootballLaw on Twitter, has been on the latest episode of the Everything is Black and White podcast to discuss the latest on the proposed takeover of Newcastle United.
Horton used his time to discuss the legal aspect of the latest news surrounding Newcastle’s Saudi-backed takeover bid, after it was announced that Mike Ashley had appointed two lawyers to help him in the dispute with the Premier League over the takeover.
Host Andrew Musgrove described this as a ‘legal bid‘, but that is not the case just yet.
It seems as if Horton does not think the Toon and Ashley have launched any kind of challenge yet and are still weighing up their options before taking any further action.
He said: “So, in so far as I saw that statement from Blackstone Chambers [on Monday], I understood it to be in respect of a dispute; I don’t think there’s been any formal proceedings or appeal launched as of yet.
“So, I think it’s important to make that clarification and that no one really knows what Newcastle are exactly doing at the moment.
“I think it’s more just a case of them looking at the possible avenues open to them, whether it would be an appeal or looking at something different.”
Do you think Newcastle and Ashley will launch a legal challenge?
Yes, it is coming
No, it will fade away
TIF Thoughts…
On Monday morning, it was announced that Nick De Marco and Shaheed Fatima had been selected by Newcastle and Ashley to help them in their dispute with the Premier League.
There was no mention of an actual legal challenge, and Horton seems to think Newcastle’s latest step falls short of that.
However, the appointment of these two lawyers is a clear indication that Newcastle are intending to explore every option available to them after they released a statement last week that claimed that the takeover by PCP Capital Partners, the Reuben brothers and PIF had been officially rejected.
The Premier League have denied this claim, but it looks like Ashley is prepared to take this matter to court and has every intention of forcing the takeover through.
So, although no formal legal challenge has been made yet, there could be one at some point.