morpeth mag

I was thinking down a similar thought process but surely this would have been discussed privately with the parties involved? With the information that’s come out and the consortium seemingly putting the entire blame on the Premier League it doesn’t really add up for me. They seem to be claiming the issue isn’t with Ashley or a second bidder. Fine. They’re claiming they’ve answered every question posed and the withdrawal is directly related to the Premier League not making a decision or putting a date on the decision. So why pull out then in this big toys out of the pram style of demonstration. I’m absolutely no business expert here but if they’ve been involved this long and we’re truly winding down to the last stages here what’s another couple of weeks? All parties agreed to pull out, why? I think I agree with most here it’s a formal withdrawal, there’s nothing for the Premier League to do anymore. They’ve made the process so obtuse and beyond the realms of the O&D test that the buyers have backed off without putting them into a situation where they’ve had to make a decision upsetting a sponsor. I don’t think enough of the focus is on why they’ve pulled out though. The dangling of the unlikely carrot is frustrating by them and another party involved in this with a complete disregard for the fan base. No one has lost more than us during this whole process and when this takeover disappears out of the news by the new season we’ll be expected to lap up the shit football and know our place. Staveley has said the O&D test is still open, the PL have not been formally informed of their withdrawal. Putting out press statements isn't formally withdrawing from the process. There will be a reason why this is being played out so publicly, and directed so squarely at the PL. To enable the UK Government to step in?

That part of it doesn't add up for me. He's got his info from a senior exec at league level - why would they be talking to Stevie Bacon? What would Bruce actually be furious about, other than losing his job? MA's last task is to sack Bruce and he hasn't got round to it?

I would probably still pick Saudis ahead of most others tbh. If they're good enough partners for our govt, Amanda and the Reuben bros, they are good enough for me. Exactly these journalists now preaching we should be wary of their motives can f*** off. I’d happily see them purchase the club without passing the test, and then just fold the club to f*** off the PL. These journalists would be better off investigating which clubs are actively pulling Masters strings to prevent this and also what extent Bein are medalling behind the scenes. I’d say you’d be more of an idiot to continue to want Sports Direct FC to represent our great city, in a league who clearly would only value us as being continued cannon fodder for the big 6. But each to there own I’m sure you’ll be amongst the thousands who continue to rock up and happily take it up the arse. Most of those who are against the takeover probably don't attend games anyway. Some of them might be actual moral objectors. Although they'll probably happily join millions of others in marvelling at football played by clubs like Chelsea and City with their angelic owners. And most of the people in favour of the takeover has no idea who MBS is or what he has done and are willing to do to get what he wants. Don't get me wrong, I would love Newcastle to have bottomless pits of money and compete with the best in the world. But I don't want MBS as our owner. Doesn't mind Amanda Stavely or the Reuben brothers though, think they could be good owners without PIF. Has it taken you 16 weeks to realise MBS is no angel ? You should apply to the PL for a job, I think you’d fit the criteria there looking for. So you either like MBS and what he stands for or you just don't give a s*** and want Newcastle to get his money. I'm more worried what he could do to Newcastle when/if he looses interest. How would he react the day the fans will drive him out as with Ashley right now. He could build a theme park on Barrack road for all I care if this doesn’t got through. When the PL start caring about ethics and applying it across all areas of their business then I might consider it a valued argument. I'm with you on that. I think if the Premier League reject our takeover they should look at all Premier League clubs owners. There are quite a few owners that should not be allowed I think. And what would they do with them if they said they weren’t appropriate? Make them sell up? How quick? For how much? To whom? Ban the club from the PL? But that's all that's happening now. Ownership values is either a rule or it isn't. The present bidders would meet UK standards for Directors of limited company. It is the EPL that is setting higher standards.....for new entrants only.

Peter Withe, different top six then mind

Does anyone know what Qatar said in response? They had the next agenda item.

WTO piracy complaint kicked into the long grass.

Anyone know when the judgements due on this ? October

So it isn't automatic promotion for the top two from the championship. They just earn the right to go directly into the ODT process?

Sounds like the EPL is insisting MBS is in charge whatever the corporate structure says. Interesting that we are in deadlock and that they haven't dared yet turn the bid down. Can't believe the consortium haven't got more political leverage than the EPL.

It's like the EPL are working through one issue at a time. It is a fair question to ask the devolved authority of the PIF members of the nufc Board. If the Board decide to buy Messi for £250m and they have the funds does the decision need to go to PIF for MBS to say yes/no? The EPL probably want nufc to be a stand alone entity but know that is not the way things work in Saudi and similar cultures. Can't believe the legal teams can't find a way through this.

Deal ain't happening soon if they have just approached Hammond.

Only NUFC would have the chance to finally get out of 13 years of Mike Ashley purgatory only to become a geopolitical football for four months. I'm just fucking tired of it all. Chair and Vice of the EPL Board are both ex bankers so Hammond may have history with them

I took their one year introductory offer to avoid this type of disappointment. Should have gone five.

Because they have no legally sound grounds to reject it on / rejection of it would be too politically sensitive. Their only option, if they don't want to approve it, is to delay until it goes away. Spot on....if the ODT is turned down expect trade discussions to slow and a Saudi spokesman to say he hopes they resume 'soon'

Completed passes?

Doesn't the Bein deal only last for one more season? Hardly something to hang your hat on especially if it pisses off the richest potential bidder for the next round due to start in the not to distant future. Two years I think

100% this The card they don't have is Boris. That's why the buyers are still confident.

Maybe the people involved are top professionals, unlike the usual lot.

If BEIN have agreed to separate out KSA from the region they stand much more chance of winning the next TV rights bid.

Because the EPL has paused the case against MC breaking domestic FFP rules until this verdict. Case goes against City then they almost certainly broke domestic rules too. Case goes for City then FFP is probably dead in the water.

EPL will be busy this week dealing with the fall out from the Man City FFP verdict.

Maybe the PL want the TV rights to go there and not for them to buy NUFC. Like 'nevermind that, can I interest you in this'. certainly think they're c*ntly enough and Masters would at least be in compliance with his job remit (least the only way it will be judged inside football) that way, of improving PL revenue. If KSA wanted EPL media rights it wouldn't buy them through PIF.

Bruce is getting an 8 year contract and he is recommending the club pursue high quality signings. England's Danny Rose is first in.

In the past 3 days Raab has identified the 20 bad Saudis and said the rest were jolly good chaps who could fire a British gun in the right direction (mostly).

The KSA says it was a rogue operation involving 20 people. UK Government issues sanctions against the 20; implying they accept the rogue operation explanation. EPL can then claim to Qatar that nobody in PIF involved as far as UK concerned.