Thumbheed

I'll just stick to studying bread

This bit's an interesting take. I dunno about being told they aren't happy but Bruce will know his job's on the line so I bet his skin is extra thin at the moment. He'll be desperate to change the narrative as much as he can.

One down, one to go.

Supposing Ashley pulls this off and gets this pushed through, does this give him a clean slate?

this guys gonna keep Bruce in the job

Best I've seen us play in the last 2 to 3 years, that.

Feel sorry for people who can't appreciate a player like Ben Arfa.

Wouldn't it be fair to say that this is not a frivolous purchase but a key part of MBS Vision2030 plan? Are they cutting back on this project too? This keeps getting mentioned but I don't see how it has anything to do with the potential acquisition of NUFC. The main concerns with regards to Vision 2030 are: to diversify the economy away from oil (if this is related to that, there are far better options ROI-wise than buying a football club, especially in the current climate), improve the health sector, improve education, promote tourism (again can't imagine this would be enriched through buying nufc), facilitate more recreation activities and improving infrastructure. Hard to argue that buying the club ties into any of those goals in my humble opinion. Will the sports broadcasting right not form part of the diversification? They've recently created their own Sport broadcasting company so I'd have though having your own team within the the most watched league in the world will be the crown jewel for that. Furthermore, it's pretty fucking clear that Sportswashing works and they have proved the soft power they have over the government, which is handy when it comes to trade deal negotiotions for Brexit.

Wouldn't it be fair to say that this is not a frivolous purchase but a key part of MBS Vision2030 plan? Are they cutting back on this project too?

https://twitter.com/MoneyMikeAshley/status/1305469687497662464 The money shot.

He's already said they've provided enough evidence on the point of contention so this will be about the sale, not compensation. Ashley has seen the colour of their money and also will be thinking about his new contacts, the strength of which will depend on this sale going through. This will happen.

Aye, all this talk of split shares is nonsense. Ashley wants to sell to Saudi's and Saudi's only.

It begins.

Saudis setting up their own sports media company is also a another step in the right direction for us imo.

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.

"The Athletic understands that Ashley had been keen to use his new contacts to pursue wider business opportunities with the Saudis. He is said to be furious that he may now have lost out twice over." Reason 12847 why this is not over.

Well he was. He suggested on many occasions the ‘talking behind the scenes’ would lead to takeover being accepted...... .....PL rejected it I hope in the long run he’s right and it gets overturned on appeal or something Nah, no he didn't. He's been pretty clear he was waiting for exactly this kind of confirmation. He's taken some uneccassary patter.

Yea I’m a bit baffled by this. That’s how I see it too. Because there's clear indication that they don't accept the decision, which gives them thr option of seeking independent adjudication, free of bias and influence which has clearly corrupted this process. How can that not be a positive? Which is possibly what the premier league want as well as it takes any decision making away from themselves which stops bein getting p*ssed off with them. I thought this, but then if it was the case why didn't they reject it sooner?

Yea I’m a bit baffled by this. That’s how I see it too. Because there's clear indication that they don't accept the decision, which gives them thr option of seeking independent adjudication, free of bias and influence which has clearly corrupted this process. How can that not be a positive?

Seriously? Did you read the club's statement . . . "This conclusion has been reached despite the club providing the Premier League with overwhelming evidence and legal opinions that PIF is independent and autonomous of the Saudi Arabian government." "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." Yes. I have read it. It will all depend on whether their lawyers think the case is winnable. The problem is that PIF is clearly not autonomous and independent of the Saudi Arabian government. I know it’s complete hypocrisy when compared to Man City etc. but hey this is Newcastle United, what do we expect? But do you not think he'd have taken that advice before making such a incredibly strong statement? "overwhelming evidence" saying the top guy at the Premier League has "acted inappropriately". It's pretty strong for someone who's not yet decided his position. By the way we're is your evidence that PIF are clearly not autonomous? The PIF board: Ibrahim Abdulaziz Al-Assaf - Minister of State and member of the Saudi Council of Ministers Majid Abdullah Al Qasabi - Minister of Commerce Mohammad Abdul Malek Al Shaikh - Minister of State and member of the Saudi Council of Ministers Ahmed Aqeel Al-Khateeb - Minister of Tourism Khalid Abdulaziz Al-Falih - Minister of Investment Mohammed Abdullah Al-Jadaan - Minister of Finance and of course: Chairman of PIF Mohammad bin Salman - The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia... I can imagine you’d have to be a pretty bloody good lawyer to convince anyone that they are independent of the Saudi state... However maybe it is possible, or maybe they hope they can force the PL into submission through expensive litigation? I’m just not feeling positive about it. Where's the evidence PIF aren't autonomous get real this. Now we don't know what the assurances that were handed to the league about MBS and co not being involved, maybe they are completely credible and premier league not listening was unreasonable, however, PIF is the saudi state and claiming otherwise is willful blindness. This is the thing, just because 1 side says the evidence is overwhelming and correct doesn't mean it's correct. Interested to see which court is willing to call the Saudi Kingdom liars.

Any legal action will be for compensation not for the takeover to be approved. That's what I mean. It's just a bit of a shrug from me What compensation we talking here? Where's the monetary value in taking the PL to court? This is 100% to challenge the decision. They literally tell you as much in the statement. Its the clearest statement we've had in 13 years ffs

I'm trying to interpret what George is saying here. Is he saying that they were quietly getting things done behind the scenes but Ashley has f***ed it all with his statement ? "Escalation" reads to me as being part of the process.

Seriously? Did you read the club's statement . . . "This conclusion has been reached despite the club providing the Premier League with overwhelming evidence and legal opinions that PIF is independent and autonomous of the Saudi Arabian government." "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." Yes. I have read it. It will all depend on whether their lawyers think the case is winnable. The problem is that PIF is clearly not autonomous and independent of the Saudi Arabian government. I know it’s complete hypocrisy when compared to Man City etc. but hey this is Newcastle United, what do we expect? Isn't there already precedent of them being proved legally seperate?

It's all done via the club.

This is good news. We have clarity and by the sounds of it Ashly and the club do not accept the decision. They've clearly stated they've provided enough information to counter this decision so it looks like they'll fight the decision in court.