Finally got a response from my local MP Harriet Harman bit of meh response:
Dear *****,
Thank you for contacting me about the proposed takeover of Newcastle United Football Club. I appreciate the concerns you raise.
As you may know, the CEO of the Premier League, Richard Masters, has written to my colleague Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central, setting out the Premier League’s response to questions asked about its approach to the planned takeover. Mr Masters said the Premier League had not been able to assess the suitability of the potential owners of the club because the consortium had not provided the required information. He said this was because the consortium disagreed with the Premier League’s determination of who the actual owners of the club would be after the takeover.
Mr Masters further stated that the Premier League would be reviewing the owners’ and directors’ test in the coming months to ensure it remains robust and fair to everyone involved.
I appreciate that many Newcastle United fans will feel disappointed at the withdrawal of the consortium’s bid for the club. I can assure you that I will continue to monitor any further developments on this issue.
Last year the Government promised to set up a fan-led review of football governance, which will include the owners’ and directors’ test. I believe the Government needs to get started on this review as soon as possible, so we can deliver a governance structure for football that is modern, accountable and above all, puts fans at the heart of their clubs.
As part of this review, I believe it will be important to consider who should be able to own a football club, as well as what information needs to be in the public domain regarding ownership, finance and structure.
Above all, I believe the review must be genuinely driven by what fans want and need. It is therefore vital that the Government makes clear what “fan-led” will mean in practice and, crucially, when we can expect change. It is almost ten years since the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee published recommendations on football governance – including for “a strong fit and proper persons test consistently applied” – and these issues are becoming urgent.
Thank you once again for contacting me.
Best wishes
Harriet Harman