Steve Wraith was joined by Newcastle United writer Liam Kennedy on a recent episode of the NUFC Matters YouTube show during which they discussed a number of topics with regards to the Magpies.
The beginning of the show was dominated by talk regarding the potential takeover of the club and the latest developments which include the news that the Premier League have finally responded to the NCSL’s Letter Before Action and revealed that they are indeed involved in a legal dispute with the football club itself.
The Saudi-backed consortium who looked set to purchase the club earlier in the year pulled out at the end of July after lengthy delays around the league’s owners’ and directors’ test. Despite all that has occurred so far, Wraith appears to remain confident of the takeover being completed, here is what he had to say:
“My gut instinct, for me personally, I feel this will go through, these aren’t quitters, they’re not walking away and as you’ve just said, Mike Ashley wants to sell the club. Mike Ashley hates being told what to do and if the Premier League are telling him he can’t do it, there will be a way around it. They might not have thought of it yet, something will happen, whether it is legal or whatever, I am convinced it will happen.
“I guarantee there will be something [that] goes on over the next few months and I think Newcastle will have new owners.”
Do you expect a takeover to be completed in the coming months?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts on Steve Wraith’s comments regarding the proposed Newcastle takeover…
Despite the confidence displayed by Wraith in a deal going through, there has been nothing concrete to suggest we are any closer to seeing the club change hands.
It is unclear where Wraith’s confidence over an eventual takeover stems from, so it may be the case that the presenter was merely attempting to keep the fans’ spirits up, with the Toon faithful having endured months of deadlock and delay. The coming months may tell whether his stance is justified, though it can surely be argued that by now, any lingering hopes of a Newcastle takeover will be seen as nothing more than optimistic.
Either way, the Newcastle fans will no doubt be hoping for a swift conclusion to this saga given Mike Ashley agreed on a deal to sell the club all the way back in April.