Wandy

Even if it goes ahead, the PL will not fold until right at the death. Which could be years away. The Saudis will not wait that long, we just are not that important. They will move on to the Italian league.

I can paste if allowed.

Likewise. I'm hanging around here for a few weeks more in the faintest of hopes that a deal is done before the summer window closes. Not going to happen of course, but may as well hang on for a few weeks more. If the CAT gets the green light I will check the thread updates in page 1 from time to time for any developments. But really, there is nothing to discuss on this topic anymore. The only thing either of the two threads on here will be good for will be Twitter ITK bullshit.

Yes. And for that reason I don't know how any longstanding NUFC fan can continue to follow the game after this.

Below is from The Athletic.... "Could the CAT break the logjam? In theory, yes. In practice, nobody knows because sports disputes very rarely end up in CATs. This partly explains why the judge has given the league two extensions to gather evidence for its request to have the case thrown out because the tribunal does not have the jurisdiction for disputes such as this. We await the judge’s ruling on this matter but if anyone thinks this tribunal is a shortcut to a takeover, they could be in for a further disappointment. As of today, there is only one hearing scheduled in July before a summer break. The next set of dates for case management conferences are in October and the three cases in question started in 2018. There are 105 active cases on the tribunal’s diary list — only one is newer than Newcastle’s. What does this mean for Newcastle on the field in 2021-22? In all likelihood that Ashley will remain owner for the vast majority of the season. At least." 104th in a list of 105 cases. This will take years to resolve and the Saudis simply won't wait that long. It's over.

The article in The Athletic is grim. This is simply never going to happen. Consider me fully back in the pessimistic camp.

If a supposedly "simple" process like arbitration can be continuously kicked down the road so often and for so long, then it's not unreasonable to assume that the CAT could literally be years away.

I now think that in reality they have walked away, and meant it last year when they said it back then. They were prepared to come back if they did not have to submit the evidence that is obviously crucial for this to have any chance of happening. But the reality of it is that they were always going to need to submit that evidence, even for arbitration. The PL have played a blinder here and I think Ashley's legal action now looks like a cost-free punt that he has essentially paid for with Staveley's deposit.

Makes no odds. He has got this one right.

Another strongly worded letter. Go and fuck yourselves NUST. You are an embarrassing joke of an organisation.

Yep, there you go. It's over.

The guy is a complete helmet. Its clear that the PL don't give a fuck about the CAT case either and know that it won't hurt them, beyond a pittance in compensation to Ashley.

Unfortunately, my gut instinct says he has got it right. I think Ashley will quietly let this fizzle out and start sounding out alternatives. Honestly, its time for people to decide if they want to continue their interest in football in a post-failed Saudi takeover world. I know what my answer is to that particular question.

Did Benitez get wind of this happening, hence the move to Everton? Certainly looking like it now.

I am amazed at how unbothered I feel by this, even though it does feel like it's over. What I would say though is, if the CAT does go ahead and NUFC are relegated this season then Ashley could legitimately claim the damages for it this time IMO. This is beyond parody now.

Holy Shit. I can't see the Saudis coming back now. This has gone way, way beyond a piss take.

The thing about Rafa is he gets half decent players performing briliantly as a collective. Therefore signing the likes of Townsend (still a very good player btw) might not blow people's socks off but you just know that collectively they will have Everton easily pushing for a top 6 place.

Christ, I had no idea it was going to be that concealed. Surely the club can at least release a statement stating that it has concluded?

I know that we failed to get transparacy of all the intricate details as to how the arbitration verdict was reached but....the actual verdict has to be made public as soon as it has been reached, doesnt it?

Just because the majority of NUFC's support are not interested in protests, this does not give the NUST a free pass to say that they shouldn't do it either. In the late 80s the Supporters For Change group had a similar uphill battle, trying to get fans to boycott matches in order to force out Gordon McKeag and his cronies, and allow John Hall to get control of the club. The fact that only a few thousand, at best, took part in the boycotts, this did not deter the SFC in carrying on with their campaign. And eventually, they played their part in getting the change that was needed. Our support has always been like this. The vast majority just want to turn up and watch the game, and cannot be bothered with the politics. It's unfortunate, but that's the way it is and always will be. Which makes it even more important for a supporters group to be vocal...and militant...when real change is within grasp. NUST don't want to do the real graft like unappetising protests 300 miles away and want to stick to lame, powderpuff stuff like strongly worded emails and letters to politicians.

I'm neither a fan nor a detractor of him tbh. Yeah, he does the self publicity thing well, but plenty of people have used the club in the past for their own ends whilst still making efforts to make the club better at the same time. Sir John Hall being one of them. Hall made a fortune out of NUFC but that was fine as everyone knew he was also striving to make the club better too. Whatever you think of Wraith, his passion for NUFC is not in question IMO.

It's the most important thing to happen to NUFC and the city in generations and they have just sat on their hands. Fucking appalling.

Great to see this as she spoke so well. Passionate and eloquent too.

Yeah, because with their "status" they have made a world of difference to matters at the club, haven't they? This is the problem with that lot. Obsessed with their status and therefore dancing to Ashley's tune, and now the PL's too. What I'd like to know is, if the takeover is not in their scope, then what gave them the right to speak to Masters last year on behalf of the support? Do they just pick and choose when to take part in it, or is it just when they are invited to cosy meetings with the authorities to make them feel like they have "status". There is nothing that the NUST have done that a well run supporters club could do equally well or better. The whole fan ownership thing is a fantasy and would only antagonise owners, rather than getting them on board. And say what you like about Wraith, but he has done more work highlighting the problems at NUFC than the whole of NUST put together. And he is only one individual.

Because they are too busy pissing about & wasting people's money on a hare-brained 1% fan ownership scheme that will have zero effect on how the club is run or it's success on the pitch. It will make them feel ever so important though.