Mark Douglas insists that the potential takeover of Newcastle United is still something that could happen, despite most of the noise dying down.
The takeover was reportedly close to being completed last April, after the process had reportedly begun as far back as January, only for the deal to be called off in July. Since then there hasn’t really been much concrete movement to suggest that the potential move is in the process of being started up again.
But speaking on the latest Everything is Black and White Podcast (37:41), Douglas revealed that he has been speaking to people within the takeover process, and insisted that whilst there hasn’t been anything significant reported, there are still those within the respective camps that are hopeful the deal will go through:
“You know, I spoke to three people within the deal, including one very high ranking person at PIF who, who ran me through the exact business plan and what they were going to do and it was impressive stuff. I mean, it’s no secret because it all eventually came out in the summer anyway, as part of the sell to Newcastle fans. Is it still a thing now? All I can say is, you know, the same voices that were talking about it in the summer are still talking about it as a slight possibility.
“I think PIF are being less diffusive than they were last summer, because, they’re not talking specifically about it at the moment, you know, you’re not probably going to see a public statement from them either. But, you know, I all I can say is that, you know, if it was something when they weren’t talking about it, and if people are just thinking we’re just kind of flogging a dead horse here. That’s not the case, you know, because the people around it are still hopeful.”
Do you think the takeover is dead in the water?
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No
TIF Thoughts on Mark Douglas’ comments surrounding the Newcastle United takeover process
As we have touched on before on This Is Futbol, Douglas’ comments come across as ‘no smoke without fire’. And until there is something serious to suggest that there is some actual progress, like what happened last April when papers were exchanged at Companies House, then there’s nothing really for fans to get excited about one way or the other.
At least then it will give Newcastle fans something to talk about rather than just speculation.