Sean

Who cares? It's mental that we'll know our fixtures before we know who our owner or our manager will be.

Hopefully this is the case, I'm not convinced though.

If we are getting new owners, makes not a jot of difference. If we aren't Rafa won't be hanging around anyway so not surprised he couldn't be bothered to reply. was more the fact that no one else had reported it. just wondering whether the local journos are now just making things up as they go along because they know rafa and the club wont comment. Yeah but honestly why did Ashley meet Rafa about his contract, not agree a new deal, then suddenly the takeovers on so contract talks go on the back burner. OK it came out of the blue to us (and Rafa), but Ashley has known about this since April at the very latest. So why go through the pretence of meeting Rafa? Just seems rather strange to me.

more on topic than a lot of this thread.

I've always felt that him being a willing seller was utter BS though (stated purely to ease tensions with the fans)... even if he scooped 350M from the sale, that's nothing compared to the meagre funds he outlays on the club vs all the TV money, free SD advertising, player sales etc. over the long-term. We've never been anything more than a SD advertising vehicle and a steady stream of proven income in his eyes. I'm definitely not banking on anything until it's official like. This is what gets me also. He took £33 million out of the club less than 18 months ago, plus free advertising, some money from our merchandising and god knows what else. He hasn't reduced the price by £33 million though, notice that. Why would you sell? You'd gamble on staying up and taking more money out surely (if you are a selfish c*** that is). I've been as cynical as anyone about this whole thing I'll admit, however at least it would appear as if we have a willing buyer. Although we've been here before and it hasn't come to anything. I really want this to be different but I still can't believe until it's official either. Rafa and new owners who aren't a disaster is still a dream to me. It's way far more advanced than where we have been before. Staveley or Kenyon were not in this position as they either couldn't agree a fee/raise the necessary funds. Not a chance he would lower the price as he is a businessman. Still maintain he is a willing seller and looking to use the money to invest in his actual dedicated expertise. Time will tell though (but it's happening ) Err, I'm pretty sure Staveley's camp believed they had agreed a fee and were doing the deal 100% (we had well respected posters on here with good sources saying it's as good as done). I really hope he is finally a willing seller. She obviously didn't have the funds then to process it through if that was the case as I said. Ashley was shit hot fast to come out and call her a time waster. Not heard a peep so far! You're just taking Ashley's word at face value as the gospel truth now like?

I've always felt that him being a willing seller was utter BS though (stated purely to ease tensions with the fans)... even if he scooped 350M from the sale, that's nothing compared to the meagre funds he outlays on the club vs all the TV money, free SD advertising, player sales etc. over the long-term. We've never been anything more than a SD advertising vehicle and a steady stream of proven income in his eyes. I'm definitely not banking on anything until it's official like. This is what gets me also. He took £33 million out of the club less than 18 months ago, plus free advertising, some money from our merchandising and god knows what else. He hasn't reduced the price by £33 million though, notice that. Why would you sell? You'd gamble on staying up and taking more money out surely (if you are a selfish c*** that is). I've been as cynical as anyone about this whole thing I'll admit, however at least it would appear as if we have a willing buyer. Although we've been here before and it hasn't come to anything. I really want this to be different but I still can't believe until it's official either. Rafa and new owners who aren't a disaster is still a dream to me. It's way far more advanced than where we have been before. Staveley or Kenyon were not in this position as they either couldn't agree a fee/raise the necessary funds. Not a chance he would lower the price as he is a businessman. Still maintain he is a willing seller and looking to use the money to invest in his actual dedicated expertise. Time will tell though (but it's happening ) Err, I'm pretty sure Staveley's camp believed they had agreed a fee and were doing the deal 100% (we had well respected posters on here with good sources saying it's as good as done). I really hope he is finally a willing seller.

I've always felt that him being a willing seller was utter BS though (stated purely to ease tensions with the fans)... even if he scooped 350M from the sale, that's nothing compared to the meagre funds he outlays on the club vs all the TV money, free SD advertising, player sales etc. over the long-term. We've never been anything more than a SD advertising vehicle and a steady stream of proven income in his eyes. I'm definitely not banking on anything until it's official like. This is what gets me also. He took £33 million out of the club less than 18 months ago, plus free advertising, some money from our merchandising and god knows what else. He hasn't reduced the price by £33 million though, notice that. Why would you sell? You'd gamble on staying up and taking more money out surely (if you are a selfish cunt that is). I've been as cynical as anyone about this whole thing I'll admit, however at least it would appear as if we have a willing buyer. Although we've been here before and it hasn't come to anything. I really want this to be different but I still can't believe until it's official either. Rafa and new owners who aren't a disaster is still a dream to me.

No idea who the manager will be, no idea who the owner will be, an effective transfer embargo until then. Oh and it won't be finalised any time soon. You couldn't make it up. Well, actually you could with Ashley.

Amen. Anybody who is entertaining the idea of changing manager, takeover or not, surely doesn't appreciate a) what Rafa has done for this club, and b) what he embodies Even if the takeover happens and we sign £30-50m players, I'd be absolutely gutted if Rafa wasn't here. Exactly. Any group taking over would surely keep Rafa. If they didn't even try to then it would be a bad omen for the future. No one could be that stupid. Whatever "source" started this Mourinho / Wenger shit is playing right into the clubs hands, we've actually got fans discussing whether they'd take Mourinho...meanwhile the clock is ticking on Rafa's contract. This basically

This is what I suspect also. 26 days left now and no pressure on the club still..

Think this is a good article that sums up our present situation quite succinctly: https://www.football365.com/news/takeover-or-no-takeover-rafa-benitez-must-stay-at-newcastle

If contracts have been signed as the Sun journo suggests, then Ashley's role in this is legally over. Proof of funds is irrelevant, that's way in the past. All that will be left is for the conditions precedent (such as the F&P test being confirmed by the PL) being complete, that's all very common. MA can't just change his mind. You're misreading my post. And you might be misreading what the Sun journey wrote also...what type of contract do you think he means has been sent? They are not normally legally binding on the terms. And I know you have every faith in Mike Ashley to act with integrity and all that, but I don't. Have I entered a parallel universe here? A contract (I'm assuming the journo is referring to a sale & purchase agreement) will be very much binding on terms, otherwise what sort of contract is it? If you don't fulfil your end of the bargain then there are consequences. There will be a schedule to the contract outlining what still needs to happen for the contract to become effective and this is certainly include passing the FA tests. Why are you assuming it's a sales & purchase agreement? They haven't even claimed that themselves.

When Rafa's contract runs out?

Theres very very little info available about them.

If contracts have been signed as the Sun journo suggests, then Ashley's role in this is legally over. Proof of funds is irrelevant, that's way in the past. All that will be left is for the conditions precedent (such as the F&P test being confirmed by the PL) being complete, that's all very common. MA can't just change his mind. You're misreading my post. And you might be misreading what the Sun journey wrote also...what type of contract do you think he means has been sent? They are not normally legally binding on the terms. And I know you have every faith in Mike Ashley to act with integrity and all that, but I don't.

Agree. The application of the rule (and interpretation from the media) seems to have got softer and softer to the point of 'was the ball struck from more than 2 yards away? Yes equals penalty.'

27 days left and no pressure on the club now to sign Rafa up.

Not one of those facts is verifiable. Also, all it actually suggests is that BZG know the price. They haven't paid for the club. "That paperwork" just refers to a bit of paper passed to the league stating the price agreed. Theres no requirement for the sale to happen at all. Anyone could sign that bit of paper. That is if those FACTS are actually facts. If it were any other club I'd say it would happen, but us? No chance. Imma keep tweeting him asking how he knows they're facts. That said that's my only worry, I'm not interested in getting bogged down in semantics and future scenarios where Ashley torpedoes the deal. For me if they've written the agreement, provided proof of funds and details are with the PL as this lad is claiming then it's done. I disagree that none of the facts is verifiable; they all are if you have access to the evidence, which this Sun journalist may well have had through whomever leaked the story to him. If the PL has in its possession a head of terms document in which a price is agreed and which has been signed by Ashley and the other party than that's where we are (and according to the second statement have been for 6 weeks) and if this bloke has seen the document or seen credible evidence of its existence why should he not be allowed to state these are the facts. Because other journalists and fans don't have the access level he does and are bitter/anxious about it? If he has seen the evidence people being cynical about it/him doesn't change the facts, does it? We know his version of events has been validated in two separate statements from the buyer, which adds significant weight to his claims. My worry is not if these claims are true or not (they most probably are), but what progress has or hasn't been made since. We've been here before with Ashley, multiple times, although perhaps not quite this far. I won't be able to believe the club has been freed from Ashley's shackles until I read the club statement confirming it. Even if they are facts it doesn't mean we're getting sold unfortunately, just means both parties have agreed on a price. IF they have provided proof of funds AND agreed a price, it should be a formality. I just don't believe this to be the case. It never is that simple with us (read, Ashley). Your whole arguement is, "we have MA, therefore good things wont happen." While that is understandable, admirable even, it's going in the face of the said evidence. Of course, you dispute the evidence but it makes it very hard to have a rational conversation with you, as you just say "I dont believe that," or "what about last time." Ultimately, none of us "know" how far along this thing is, and all of us are sceptical to varying degrees. All I will say is, dont trample on peoples hope, because whether it goes through or not, just for a moment i am enjoying the fantasy of having MA gone, and I'm entitled to do that. I'm not stopping you enjoying your fantasy, I'm just waiting for actual proof.

Not one of those facts is verifiable. Also, all it actually suggests is that BZG know the price. They haven't paid for the club. "That paperwork" just refers to a bit of paper passed to the league stating the price agreed. Theres no requirement for the sale to happen at all. Anyone could sign that bit of paper. That is if those FACTS are actually facts. If it were any other club I'd say it would happen, but us? No chance. Imma keep tweeting him asking how he knows they're facts. That said that's my only worry, I'm not interested in getting bogged down in semantics and future scenarios where Ashley torpedoes the deal. For me if they've written the agreement, provided proof of funds and details are with the PL as this lad is claiming then it's done. I disagree that none of the facts is verifiable; they all are if you have access to the evidence, which this Sun journalist may well have had through whomever leaked the story to him. If the PL has in its possession a head of terms document in which a price is agreed and which has been signed by Ashley and the other party than that's where we are (and according to the second statement have been for 6 weeks) and if this bloke has seen the document or seen credible evidence of its existence why should he not be allowed to state these are the facts. Because other journalists and fans don't have the access level he does and are bitter/anxious about it? If he has seen the evidence people being cynical about it/him doesn't change the facts, does it? We know his version of events has been validated in two separate statements from the buyer, which adds significant weight to his claims. My worry is not if these claims are true or not (they most probably are), but what progress has or hasn't been made since. We've been here before with Ashley, multiple times, although perhaps not quite this far. I won't be able to believe the club has been freed from Ashley's shackles until I read the club statement confirming it. Even if they are facts it doesn't mean we're getting sold unfortunately, just means both parties have agreed on a price. IF they have provided proof of funds AND agreed a price, it should be a formality. I just don't believe this to be the case. It never is that simple with us (read, Ashley).

Not one of those facts is verifiable. Also, all it actually suggests is that BZG know the price. They haven't paid for the club. "That paperwork" just refers to a bit of paper passed to the league stating the price agreed. Theres no requirement for the sale to happen at all. Anyone could sign that bit of paper. That is if those FACTS are actually facts. If it were any other club I'd say it would happen, but us? No chance.

HaydnNUFC. Common sense, well said. This could be a multi million pound takeover of a large business. These deals take months, are not conducted in the press, in public or with hourly or even daily updates. Sure, we all want to know if it's real, if it will it happen, when it will happen, but we are not going to know until it's done. If it gets done. Journos are guessing, we are guessing and hoping. In reality we all know bugger all really. We need to be patient, not listen to or read speculative crap. However difficult it might be! How do we actually know that Ashley wants to sell? That's not one of the facts in this. Exactly. It's all well and good talking 'normal business deals' but this is Ashley. We've been here multiple times before, and it's never once ended well. I don't get how people are just casually assuming it'll happen how we all want it to.

I'd be sickened if that were to happen. Rafa is the glue holding this club together, he's also the one who has been telling the world what a big club we are and should be and how attractive we should be to invest in.

Not confident at all, and I haven't been since the news changed from us actually being sold, to it being an ongoing saga.

Fuck off. Brings out the best in all of us, this. So true.