Jackie Broon

Absolutely clear. The PL have been getting away with brushing this under the carpet, they are clearly not acting in accordance with their own rules. The vague calls for 'transparency' are easy for the PL to bat away and ignore, but this is something clear and unequivocal that the PL shouldn't be able to hide from. So why aren't any of the local journalists flagging this and pushing and pushing the PL to respond. There too busy regurgitating shit from twitter as its an easy living thats why! Exactly, the PL have been given far too much of an easy ride on this from journalists, supporters groups and MPs. What they have said about the process (not being able to make a decision until they've received a declaration from another entity) seems to have just been accepted without scrutiny or question. Anyone who actually takes the time to read through the rule on the O&D test could see that they've blatantly disregarded the proper process.

Absolutely clear. The PL have been getting away with brushing this under the carpet, they are clearly not acting in accordance with their own rules. The vague calls for 'transparency' are easy for the PL to bat away and ignore, but this is something clear and unequivocal that the PL shouldn't be able to hide from.

I can't help but think this was to draw the PL out into a public statement. We're still waiting for a decision and there's 100% grounds to reject it. It's clear the PL are willing to let this impasse go on indefinitely so the club needed to act. It's further evidence that they aren't acting apporiately, which is the point of the statement. Makes sense to me. Absolutely. Pure speculation, but it was possibility intended to force the PL into a position where they had to either: Accept that they had made a formal decision disqualifying PIF, which could be appealed, when they responded with their view that the KSA should be declared as a director. Or, publicly state that they had not made a formal decision disqualifying PIF, which is basically a clear admission of breach of contract (the contract being the rules of the O&D test process). Then possibly use the threat of legal action to force them to make a decision.

Any way they can, other than actually disqualifying PIF as a director.

This is pissing me right off now. Why is he saying (again) that they thought approval would come this week when from what I can see, the PL don't appear anywhere close to approving it. What information does he, the club, and the consortium have that have given them that impression ? I mean it's a hearsay atm so who knows what to believe. Maybe the consortium we're confident they had established clear separation between pif and state, but the PL stood firm with their legal standing on it? Whilst I'm pigging sick of it, I'm intrigued to see what/if anything comes of this shit slinging. The PL are clearly not that confident of their position, otherwise they wouldn't be so reticent to actually disqualify PIF on that basis. This increasingly looks like a play to try to force their hand to make a decision.

Not entirely, the PL's position before was that PIF had withdrawn and so it was done with.

The PL have taken a very risky line because their rules are absolutely clear that a formal decision should be issued in that circumstance. It's one thing making a decision that they can then potentially reasonably defend, but their actions seem completely indefensible.

Aye, the declaration of a proposed director is submitted by the club, it's probably only the club who can withdraw the declaration and stop the process. If the PL have made the assumption that PIF have withdrawn, without the club withdrawing the declaration, it sounds like they're probably on very shaky ground.

From what I recall you've spent a the past month and a half shouting down anyone who dared to suggest that the deal might not be completely dead and that talks were possibly happening in the background. Yesterday's statement proves that was actually happening, that it clearly wasn't dead. What's it going to take for you to admit that you were wrong? PIF hadn't really gone away last time, so what makes you so sure they have this time? Well it actually doesn't prove it at all. It's a Mike Ashley statement which doesn't mention ongoing talks. But still, what I've actually been "shouting" about is the fact that the PL would reject it, so technically I'm spot on. So what's it going to take for you to admit it's over? The club being sold to someone else or a CAS case being lost. Staveley, the Ruben Brothers and PIF don't strike me as the type of people / organisations to just give up. I think it's highly likely that they will continue to work towards a solution. Even if they don't, I think the club is likely to appeal the decision with or without them. Without them though the takeover can't happen, so what would the club be appealing? Have to be clear here, I really don't want to be right. I hope I'm completely wrong and the takeover happens. The club have the right of appeal against the PL's decision to disqualify PIF. Ahh sorry, I misunderstood your "with or without them" line. So what would the overall goal be of that? To convince PIF to actually come back in (thus removing the "without them" part)? Yes. If Ashley does want to pursue legal action it'll probably severely weaken his case if he hasn't pursued an appeal, which makes me think he is likely to whether or not PIF are involved. If he wins that appeal independently it seems likely that PIF would come back.

From what I recall you've spent a the past month and a half shouting down anyone who dared to suggest that the deal might not be completely dead and that talks were possibly happening in the background. Yesterday's statement proves that was actually happening, that it clearly wasn't dead. What's it going to take for you to admit that you were wrong? PIF hadn't really gone away last time, so what makes you so sure they have this time? Well it actually doesn't prove it at all. It's a Mike Ashley statement which doesn't mention ongoing talks. But still, what I've actually been "shouting" about is the fact that the PL would reject it, so technically I'm spot on. So what's it going to take for you to admit it's over? The club being sold to someone else or a CAS case being lost. Staveley, the Ruben Brothers and PIF don't strike me as the type of people / organisations to just give up. I think it's highly likely that they will continue to work towards a solution. Even if they don't, I think the club is likely to appeal the decision with or without them. Without them though the takeover can't happen, so what would the club be appealing? Have to be clear here, I really don't want to be right. I hope I'm completely wrong and the takeover happens. The club have the right of appeal against the PL's decision to disqualify PIF.

From what I recall you've spent a the past month and a half shouting down anyone who dared to suggest that the deal might not be completely dead and that talks were possibly happening in the background. Yesterday's statement proves that was actually happening, that it clearly wasn't dead. What's it going to take for you to admit that you were wrong? PIF hadn't really gone away last time, so what makes you so sure they have this time? Well it actually doesn't prove it at all. It's a Mike Ashley statement which doesn't mention ongoing talks. But still, what I've actually been "shouting" about is the fact that the PL would reject it, so technically I'm spot on. So what's it going to take for you to admit it's over? The club being sold to someone else or a CAS case being lost. Staveley, the Ruben Brothers and PIF don't strike me as the type of people / organisations to just give up. I think it's highly likely that they will continue to work towards a solution. Even if they don't, I think the club is likely to appeal the decision with or without them.

There wasn't an appeal to the PL, the proposed owner had his conviction overturned.

From what I recall you've spent a the past month and a half shouting down anyone who dared to suggest that the deal might not be completely dead and that talks were possibly happening in the background. Yesterday's statement proves that was actually happening, that it clearly wasn't dead. What's it going to take for you to admit that you were wrong? PIF hadn't really gone away last time, so what makes you so sure they have this time?

The Judicial review process only applies to decisions made by public bodies. I studied restraint of trade in sport last year and came across some judicial commentary that suggest judges may be open to extending judicial review to sports regulatory bodies in some instances. Doubt this case is one of them mind. Interesting, but whatever happens I think the most likely route for altering the decision is an appeal to the PL and then to CAS after that, if there is the will.

No, we can't. Apart from the fact that there is probably no way to do that, the O&D test is applied to directors/owners all promoted clubs, also at the start of every season for current PL clubs and can be reapplied at any time the PL become aware of a disqualifying event.

The Judicial review process only applies to decisions made by public bodies.

I was expecting that’s what we’d hear if we heard anything. I said on a few occasions there’s no way the PL would budge I genuinely feel sorry for the fans who convinced themselves it was still happening It sort of was though wasn’t it? Privately at least, the bid was re-submitted, pif was involved again. Now unless they’re prepared to go to arbitration that would take an incredible amount of time (no information suggests this is likely) it’s flat dead on its arse. It’s absolutely gutting. They can appeal, which is heard as soon as possible. There is nothing to suggest they’re going to though? Unless I’m missing something. Who says they won’t? People have been adamant they walked away in July, they didn’t (well, not for long). PIF are in as long as Staveley has confidence the deal can be done, they’ll only walk away if she does. She is still committed to the deal and will take it to appeal. If it’s rejected on appeal it will be interesting, at that stage MA could take legal action but I have doubts the consortium would hang around that long. I expect it to be approved on appeal. I honestly wish I had your optimism, I hope you’re right. Realistically I think Ashley will probably have to appeal it through the PL's appeals process before taking it any further. He can't go to the CAS until they've been through the PL appeal process and it would probably really weaken any legal case brought against the PL if they haven't exhausted the appeals process first. The club are able to appeal the decision with or without the involvement of PIF.

guess it's just confirmation that ashley actively wants out and seems willing to push things to be able to get it done And confirmation that PIF were never really out, and they now have a decision that can be appealed. It seems probable that the PL board would prefer to be seen to resist the takeover and for it to be potentially granted by a tribunal on appeal so they can distance themselves from the decision. But, ultimately, it's a bit gutting to know that we could well have been celebrating the successful takeover yesterday.

Just a misspelling mate. Meant to say c**t

Don't know if anyone else has picked up on this but there's some intriguing wording in the club's statement: "The club and its owners do not accept that Premier League chief executive Richard Masters and the Premier League have acted appropriately in relation to this matter and will be considering all relevant options available to them." Not owner, "owners"?

The club is 100% owned by the owner though, so it's the same thing, no? I don't understand business transactions of this scale so am happy to have it explained why I'm wrong: but surely if I want something to become my property - I give money to the owner of that property, rather than to the property itself? So the 17mill goes to Ashley and he can do with it whatever the hell he wants? So the toaster owner could put that fiver towards a new heating element to improve the toaster, but they're not entitled to. They could go and spend it on anything. I think the £17m went to St James Holdings Ltd, not Ashley directly. I'm not sure what that means in terms of Ashley being able to pocket the money.

I don't think they said that. People have assumed it. “Even now, if the Premier League came to us and said ‘we will approve you’ we would do this deal tomorrow, all three parties of the consortium,” Amanda Staveley interviewed in The Athletic on 30th July. Massive massive pinch of salt. I think that's pretty obvious. Why? Anyway, the point is that people haven't just assumed it, Staveley has been directly quoted as saying it. It's a fair point, yeah. But for me I think she's very calculated and says things for a reason. It's a moot point anyway, given we know it's not gonna get approved. I agree, but she would have no reason to say that if the deal were completely dead. We know absolutely nothing, everything that has been said publicly from every side possibly has an ulterior motive. For all we know there there could be an arbitration or appeal process going on or an alternative funding arrangement with more distance from the Saudi state is being worked out, or it could be completely dead. What we do know is that all of the publicly available elements of the the legal framework for the deal are still in place, so the deal could probably be concluded completely out of the public eye this time.

I don't think they said that. People have assumed it. “Even now, if the Premier League came to us and said ‘we will approve you’ we would do this deal tomorrow, all three parties of the consortium,” Amanda Staveley interviewed in The Athletic on 30th July. Massive massive pinch of salt. I think that's pretty obvious. Why? Anyway, the point is that people haven't just assumed it, Staveley has been directly quoted as saying it.

Apparently a Saudi government plane HZ-MF2 landed at Luton earlier today.

I don't think they said that. People have assumed it. “Even now, if the Premier League came to us and said ‘we will approve you’ we would do this deal tomorrow, all three parties of the consortium,” Amanda Staveley interviewed in The Athletic on 30th July.