JH

Freddy's takeover admission By COLIN YOUNG NEWCASTLE chairman Freddy Shepherd has confirmed that an American-Swiss consortium are in talks about a £227million takeover. Despite privately claiming last week that reports of the proposed buy-out by U.S. financiers Polygon and the United Bank of Switzerland was untrue — and putting out a similar statement to the Stock Market — Shepherd admitted the consortium have asked to look at the club’s accounts. The revelation came during Newcastle’s brief annual meeting in London yesterday. Last week Sportsmail revealed that Polygon and UBS were poised to make a formal offer. Former Newcastle chairman Sir John Hall and his family, who are the club’s biggest shareholders, are thought to be keen to sell to collect about £40m in the deal. But Shepherd, who owns a 26.7 per cent share, remains reluctant to hand over control of the club, unless it is at the right price. Polygon and UBS are on the verge of scuppering a bid by Jersey-based investors Belgravia, who have already studied Newcastle’s books during a period of due diligence. At the meeting, Shepherd confirmed that Belgravia are still in talks but he insisted a formal offer had not yet been made. Their interest is believed to have been sparked by the prospect of building a super casino at St James’ Park. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=423796&in_page_id=1779

Start a thread asking a question like that and you're begging to have the thread ripped to piss tbh.

Claims could rock Toon bid By Neil Farrington and Sarah Robertson, The Sunday Sun The Sunday Sun today sheds light on the would-be buyers of Newcastle United and the multi-million-pound collapse of a series of internet companies. Belgravia Group Ltd, a Jersey company, is expected to launch a £150m-plus bid for the Premiership side in the new year. We have uncovered documents which show that Belgravia's sister company, based in Gibraltar, was the majority shareholder of Unofon Group Ltd, whose failure sent shockwaves through Norway. Dubbed the Unofon Scandal by newspapers there, it resulted in . . . Scores of workers being left unpaid despite a court order they receive their wages 135,000 disappointed customers A probe into why millions of pounds from the coffers of the doomed companies ended up in Jersey bank accounts And the near collapse of the Unofon-sponsored Norwegian Speed Skating federation. A team of lawyers appointed by the Norway government is carrying out an investigation into the matter. We have a document that says Belgravia Group Ltd, Gibraltar, owned 57.5 per cent of shares in Unofon. The Belgravia Group, of Jersey, has launched the bid for Newcastle United. It is wholly owned by Eagle Holdings Ltd, of the Cayman Islands, which also owns 85pc of the shares in the Gibraltar company. Duncan Hickman is a director of this company and Ron Mitchell a shareholder. They are fronting Belgravia Group Jersey's Newcastle United bid. When a month ago we first approached Belgravia Group Ltd for comment about the Unofon scandal, its lawyer, Clive Sutton, told us: "Belgravia Group Limited had not been a shareholder of Unofon Group Limited at any time." The company's spokesman, John West, said: "Belgravia also confirms that it had talks with Unofon and reached an agreement, subject to due diligence, to buy a significant stake in the business. "During its due diligence on Unofon, Belgravia discovered a number of issues of concern, which resulted in them immediately withdrawing from the agreement. "From our point of view, I think some people have spotted that we are a Jersey- registered company and Unofon is a Jersey-registered company and put two and two together and come up with five." Mr Sutton then sent us what he claimed was Unofon's annual company return for 2005, which he stated was "conclusive in support of the same point". It said that Unofon was wholly owned by Baim Ltd, but the document we received from the Jersey companies registry was marked "amended copy". And the registry only received that document on November 22, 2006 . . . coincidentally the very day we asked Mr Sutton for documents to back his claims. After further investigation, we were sent the Unofon Group's original annual return for 2005, received by the Jersey authorities on February 28, 2005. It states that Belgravia Group Gibraltar owned a 57.5 per cent stake in the Unofon Group. When we spoke to Mr West on Friday he said: "You would have to ask Clive (Sutton) about that because I don't know what documents he hasn't sent to you." When reminded that he himself had denied on the record that Belgravia Group Ltd were ever shareholders in Unofon, Mr West replied: "I've got nothing further to comment on this. What I said was what I have been advised by my clients." After being presented with the document, Mr Sutton said: "What appears to have happened with regard to the original Unofon Annual Return received by the Financial Services Authority on the 28th of February 2005 is that the return was lodged on the assumption that the proposal would come to fruition when in fact, as I have informed you, it did not." He also stated " . . . any previous version of that annual return stating otherwise was erroneous." All versions of the annual returns for Unofon were signed by Toni Stevenson. A separate document reveals Toni Stevenson was secretary for Belgravia Group Jersey on February 26, 2006. When asked about both companies sharing the same secretary, Mr Sutton at first refused to comment, then added: "The secretary is not available at the moment. She's away on a long-term holiday on the other side of the world." According to media reports Belgravia Group Jersey is not the only company vying for control of Newcastle United, whose chairman in Freddy Shepherd. The club's board last week denied it had accepted a £227m offer from US financiers Polygon and the United Bank of Switzerland. Newcastle United plc's annual meeting is in London on Tuesday.

There's no way we'll get a draw at Bolton. Too strong at home this past few weeks. If anything we'll get a draw at Everton and lose 0-2 at Bolton.

Huh? Spurs (h), Bolton (a), Everton (a), Man Utd (h) Granted we'll probably beat Spurs, Bolton and Everton are strong at home and Man U are Man U

I think we'll be lucky to draw any of those games never mind win them.

From next Saturday until New Years Day we've got Spurs (h), Bolton (a), Everton (a), Man Utd (h)

Charlton have the shittest atmosphere in the world. They can't even boo with any volume

imagine if the same happens to us with luque,because sib was class,he was just not giving the chance to show it with city You've either gotta be Luque, married to Luque, in love with Luque, related to Luque or a friend of Luque's because this obsession is just TOO strange

Luque could start every game between now and the beginning of January and he'd still leave. We know he's going, Roeder knows he's going and Luque knows he's going - if we can find a club for him of course

I think it's the Sun taking the piss

This was the best news I'd heard all summer. Never laughed so much in ages

GR's Official Fitness Update GLENN Roeder was happy to see Kieron Dyer, Scott Parker, Emre, Antoine Sibierski and Damien Duff back out on the training pitch on Friday ahead of the visit of Watford to St. James' Park this weekend. But there was also some bad news for the Newcastle United boss as he confirmed Charles N'Zogbia is unlikely to play again until after Christmas after suffering a knee injury at Chelsea in midweek. Skipper Parker (back), Dyer (gashed leg), Emre (ankle), Sibierksi (achilles) and Duff (knee) have all been among the lengthy list of casualties at various stages for the Magpies in recent weeks, but the sight of those players being put through their paces by the coaching staff on Friday morning was a welcome one for the manager. The gaffer refused to give away too many secrets ahead of hosting the Hornets at Gallowgate, but did say: "They all trained on Friday and they are all in the squad, which is good news. "We have got a lot of strength in those areas of the squad, but defensively it's very hard for us just now. We have Titus (Bramble) and Craig (Moore) maybe out for another month or so, plus Stephen Carr and Nobby Solano, who has done very well at right-back for us, still missing. "But the very fact the other five were out there training means they are fit. Some are fitter than others in terms of match fitness, some will be starters, some may be non-starters but will make the bench because they have had a few days' training." Giving an update on N'Zogbia, Glenn added: "Charles has some ligament damage but it will be the middle of next week when we know more in terms of his recovery time. "But I am looking at him being out for a few weeks, ruling him out this side of Christmas. It's a real blow for us and the boy. "The good news as far as Charles is concerned is that he won't need an operation. It's just a case of rehab with the physio and then building him back up to full fitness." http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~943461,00.html

Given Huntington Taylor Ramage Babayaro Milner Butt Pattison Duff Martins Dyer Subs: Harper, Parker, Sibierski, Emre, Luque

Bloody hell! Finally got Lawro giving us a positive prediction:

Roeder shouldn't be the manager of this football club, simple as really. We shouldn't be fooled by a couple of decent results where we have still looked crap in the some part of those games. We'll all be brought down to earth tomorrow night at Stamford Bridge.

We can't go 4-5-1, I don't think we have enough midfielders

No Butts - Nicky's Better By Gary Oliver NEWCASTLE United midfielder Nicky Butt has given manager Glenn Roeder a boost by shaking off a virus. The in-form star reported for training on Monday feeling under the weather and was promptly sent home. However, he was back for work 24 hours later feeling a lot better. The manager revealed: "Nicky came in yesterday and had a virus and a temperature. "We sent him home and he had a good night's sleep and typically of him he was in for training the next day and you'd never have guessed he was off yesterday. He's fine." http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~942228,00.html

Thats what I like to see, positive thinking. What's your prediction then? 3-0 to Newcastle tbh

Given Huntington Taylor Ramage Babayaro Milner Pattison N'Zogbia Luque Sibierski Martins

Finally Roeder talking sense for once: Opposite number Mark Hughes bemoaned crucial decisions going against his team, but Roeder was not sure what all the fuss was about. "Perhaps Mark has seen a video I've not seen. I did not think they (Martins and Taylor) were offside." On Henchoz's dismissal, Roeder was unsympathetic: "The rules are the rules - if you're the last defender, there's no choice for Dermot Gallagher to make." The biggest thing I hate about Mark Hughes. Whenever he loses, he complains his team has been "robbed" even when they weren't. Clearly Sibi and Taylor were onside and Henchoz was the last man by miles.

Apparently it's just to announce a charity match that's going to take place

I say we go for the Carling Cup. We can get a result against Chelsea, we have done in 5 out of their last 6 visits here. If we knock out Chelsea, then only one team IMO stands in our way of winning the cup and that's the winner of the Liverpool vs Arsenal game. Should definately be looking to get a trophy this year instead of admitting defeat so early on, even if staying in the Premiership is priority.

I have a feeling it'd be Martins since he's the main striker and is also desperate for a goal.

You are like David Beckham. You're everybody's scapegoat - when things are going wrong, they blame you. It's not always your fault though, so stop trying please them. Maybe you should go and visit the Wizard of Oz and ask him for an attitude. That way, when they come calling next time, realising everything isn't your fault, you can make the bastards beg.