Wullie

New Set Piece Menu podcast is about the takeover. I'm already looking forward to next week's feature length episode where they read out Yorkie[/member]'s response.

Sheffield United have a Saudi prince as owner, however they aren't owned by the Saudi government. Amnesty have only come out today, when we're almost finished the deal. Man Utd/Liverpool never got nearly as close as this. Are we seriously trying to suggest now that Amnesty International are also biased against Newcastle? He's still part of the extended royal family, government and royal family are the same thing there. I'm not trying to suggest bias but where was the outcry from them at Qatar being granted the World Cup? Here. Here and here Out of interest did they write to the Premier League when Fosun took complete control of Wolves? China have arguably a worse HR record than SA. I can't find anything. Do you think the British state own Newcastle United currently?

Ah thanks so the PL version specifies that convictions abroad also count, but otherwise that particular rule is the same (as set out in Appendix 1). Don't see how it changes anything really.

This is the test (EFL website but I'm fairly certain that it is the same test the PL use): https://www.efl.com/-more/governance/efl-rules--regulations/appendix-3---owners-and-directors-test/ A lot of legalese that I can't really follow but I'm guessing this is the sticking point: (v) dishonestly receiving a programme broadcast from within the UK with intent to avoid payment under Section 297 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; It specifically states that it only applies to unspent convictions from within England and Wales though (which seems fairly ridiculous and anachronistic but there we go) so it's hard to see how this would apply.

Have you been declared bankrupt. Have you been convicted of a crime. That is all. It's not. There is mention in there of illegal broadcasting.

Sheffield United have a Saudi prince as owner, however they aren't owned by the Saudi government. Amnesty have only come out today, when we're almost finished the deal. Man Utd/Liverpool never got nearly as close as this. Are we seriously trying to suggest now that Amnesty International are also biased against Newcastle? He's still part of the extended royal family. I'm not trying to suggest bias but where was the outcry from them at Qatar being granted the World Cup? The UAE takeover of City? Chinese and Russian involvement in football? Did I miss something? Is this a wind up?

Mike Ashley isn't a country and he doesn't kill people Neither does Amanda Staveley. I'm actually embarrassed for you that you've posted that.

Just as well Liverpool didn't have this short term a view when they appointed Klopp. He'd spent most of his last season at Dortmund fighting the drop. Managers come to the end with one club sometimes, it happens. Pochettino is still on the up as a coach, with the best will in the world I don't think we can say the same about Benitez.

Apparently there is part of it to do with illegal broadcasts, bizarrely. It was posted earlier today.

Really good listen, this. The Tifo one Ian posted earlier is really good too, never listened to that before.

Aye he was there under Shepherd, basically as tea boy. He was last man standing when others were cleared out so was given the job by default as a cheapo option.

What's your point? Heads of state meet each other?

...what?

That Kate Stewart is definitely legit.

Chelsea's different, Abramovich is just a man, he may have made his money through unsavoury means but ultimately in the news you only really hear his name mentioned in relation to Chelsea. I think the danger we face compared to Man City is the prominence of Saudi Arabia in relation to Abu Dhabi, anything they do is a way bigger story. In normal non-Covid times they and MBS, who will effectively be our main owner, are regularly in the news with allegations of funding terror, the war in Yemen etc. Other fans won't hesitate for a second to get our name tarred and over years we'll be linked more and more whether we like it or not.

Isn't that the whole point? They will unfortunately become intrinsically linked.

The Chinese government aren't currently buying a Premier League football club.

I would agree with this. I think it's outrageous that football supporters are being put in this position where it does feel like you have to make a choice, and that's the fault of the football authorities for letting this happen. We'd think it was totally unpalatable if a British political party bought a football club in England, and it would absolutely feel like a political choice to attend/support that particular club in those circumstances. How on Earth have we let foreign governments buy them up? Jesus.

Guardian is Manchester-based, isn't it? Probably both clubs there now collectively shitting themselves. FFS man. Hasn't been the Manchester Guardian since 1959 and Squires lives in Australia but yeah, definitely a Manc running scared!!!

There's no way the PL will veto it, I don't see that they'd have grounds given Man City's very similar set-up. Pretty obvious to me that nation states shouldn't own football clubs but too late for that now.

Mack-amnesty! https://twitter.com/NUFC_Leazes/status/1252598067800481792

Aye it's decent like. Assuming neither of them are Newcastle fans? They have good knowledge of our players and the current fans view if not. I think Seb Stafford Bloor supports Spurs iirc, but he's written some great stuff on us in the last year or two. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/newcastle-fa-cup-steve-bruce-mike-ashley-sorry-stasis

Hey I like Benitez as much as the next guy, but unless agreements are already in place with him, I think they'd be mad not to go to Pochettino first. Elite clubs will be sniffing around him, no disrespect to Rafa but I think those days have probably gone for him.

Think the idea that pleases me most is the ground potentially looking like that again.

I feel the same, I'm surprised by the current poll results.