Newcastle United writer Liam Kennedy recently joined Steve Wraith on the NUFC Matters YouTube show to discuss a variety of subjects relating to the Magpies and in particular, the latest with the regards to the ongoing legal dispute involving the Premier League following the collapse of the proposed takeover earlier this year.
According to the Shields Gazette, the Premier League revealed, in a letter to the NCSL (Newcastle Consortium Supporters Limited) that they are indeed involved in a legal dispute with the club and according to sources, ‘that represents a breach of Newcastle United’s confidentiality’.
Having been contacted by the Gazette, the Premier League declined to comment and Kennedy discussed this latest development further during the show, here is what he had to say:
“Again, people around the deal are far from happy about this, they are not happy that the Premier League have released this information against their will. So they’ll feel the wrath of that as well, I’m afraid, and then also the fact that the Premier League have responded to NCSL, and then prior to that being released, have actually leaked information to a journalist – who used to work for BeIN Sports, by the way, [and] has got a really discredited career in terms of, he’s actually banned by the BBC because of his indiscretions in the past.
“So it’s not the best place to be leaking it, but they have leaked that information, which again, is another breach of confidentiality. Incredible, incredible stuff, but this is just the tip of the iceberg with this governing body, they do not know how to act professionally.”
Does the Premier League's breach of confidentiality strengthen Newcastle's position?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts on Liam Kennedy’s comments regarding the leak of confidential information…
At this stage, it is unclear whether anything will come from the fact that the confidentiality agreement appears to have been breached but those hoping for a takeover to be completed may see this as something the club can use to their advantage as they seek to win their case.
Indeed, the club have since released a statement urging the Premier League to update supporters on the leaked information that Kennedy was referring to, while pledging to ‘continue to use its best efforts to press for a fair, full and timely hearing of its claim’.
In our view, the alleged breach certainly doesn’t show the Premier League in a good light and so it could probably be argued this misdemeanour strengthens the position of the football club further. Fingers crossed for these supporters that there is some sort of conclusion sooner rather than later given this saga has been rumbling on since April when Ashley and the consortium agreed on a deal.