Mike Ashley has found out when his arbitration case against the Premier League will begin and Steve Howey, who played for the Magpies between 1992-2000, has exclusively told This is Futbol that Ashley does want to sell the club now.
The Sports Direct tycoon confirmed back in October 2017 that he was actively looking to sell the club, but fast forward three-and-a-half years and Ashley is still the main man on Tyneside.
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In yet another turn of events, court documents revealed that the Premier League asked for an extension ahead of their arbitration and anti-competition legal case against Ashley and Newcastle United.
Ashley claimed that it was ‘dark forces’ holding the club back from being a force in the Premier League, which signals he does want to sell the club, which are the thoughts of former defender Howey, who exclusively told This is Futbol: “I think these two legal battles could work for or against the club and we just have to hope that it works for the club.
“If there is one positive that has come out of it all, it’s that he did want to sell this time.
“He’s always said that he wants to leave the club in the hands of somebody that can take the club forward. So, as I’ve said, we just have to wait and see what happens and not get carried away.”
Since Ashley put the club up for sale, there have only been three parties credited with an actual interest in the club – Peter Kenyon, Henry Mauriss and PCP Capital Partners.
Steve Bruce will be hoping that the ongoing takeover saga does not affect his transfer business plans this summer, as he will want to try and push the Magpies up and away from the relegation zones in future seasons.