Armchair Pundit

Settle down you gret fannies, there's still stuff to play out yet no doubt. It ain't Casanova til it's over

The guff on here man, too much knee jerk to everything put out there, emotion overload!

Fair enough question, it'll force the Prem's hand and they'll need to provide an answer otherwise it's back to looking like they're being deceitful, especially with the letter from Masters.

Erm, it appears to me, for everyone that's suddenly melting over Richard Masters' letter, why are you suddenly taking everything he says in it as gospel? I mean, it doesn't actually say a great deal in the grand scheme of things anyway and is potentially just as much smoke and mirrors as anything anyone else has said previously. Apparently it doesn't take very much to destroy all hope, belief or commitment some have, perhaps they give up too easily. Clearly it's easier than expected to derail the backing of the fans for PIF, the Premier League must be kicking themselves that they didn't put something out sooner and avoid all the social media abuse and letters from MPs.

Martin Samuel = Fat pig

So many negative Nellies on here...

Agreed. Any public sympathy is going to disappear the second the media get a shot of some moron shouting abuse at Masters and his family. What public sympathy? The vast majority of football fans will be on the PL's side if only out of self interest. Agreed, I think most fans of other clubs are missing the distinction between wanting answers from the PL, and wanting the takeover to go through no matter what. The petition is for an explanation and answers. I think the vast majority of us want the takeover to go through no matter what, and I couldn’t give a flying f*** if someone launches a firework at Masters while he’s sat on the bog.

i don't see how that's anyone's problem but his own, besides which, I'm not sure how that excuses him of anything. Though to be fair the organisation as a whole is equally at fault, he's just unlucky enough to be a public focal point. Do I or should I feel any sympathy for him? No, I don't think so.

Not really, Master has treated people like shit so he can expect it in turn

Personally, I don't see how it affects a PR battle in the slightest, the general public, certainly fans from other clubs generally have no sympathy for us. How this situation has affected each person individually is down to them and their conscience. If they want to knock on the door of someone who's address is most likely a matter of public record anyway is not different to the press doing the same. I wouldn't lose sleep over it, I don't see any mileage in taking moral high ground over people that don't have any morals themselves - I was always told to treat people how you expect to be treated yourself.

I guess it could be viewed that those bleating negativity over the actions of fans wanting to get answers through proactive means aren't really that bothered about a takeover happening or just like to sit on the fence with everything so they can always claim to be morally superior to everyone else, regardless of outcomes. Of course, I wouldn't think that myself though. ... I do however think my mouse is on it's way out from constant use of refreshing potential news source .

All this highly impressive contractual knowledge aside, would it be fair to assume that unless PIF officially retract their withdrawal statement or say they're making a new bid, the Prem could just sit there and assume there's nothing to approve or reject anymore?

Delilah!

Currently sitting around 76.5k signatures

Joined, can't quibble for £2!

Who's Dom Robertson?

No reason it shouldn't be on, other than the Premier League playing ostrich still... the dickheads

But that’s not what has happened. They’re not just gonna say “actually, no, changed our minds, we’re no longer withdrawing our bid, what’s the decision please?” The PL will simply state they’re awaiting answers from the buyers. The buyers will state they’ve given them. Nothing changes. Presumably the whole thing gets thrown out if the buying side publishes all the documentation and correspondence with the Premier League? It would be conveniently weighted to allow the Premier league protection to do as they please without recourse. Sounds fair and impartial.

Placing the club in further limbo for untold amount of time, with the season starting in weeks. Sounds great Can't see that the club being in limbo or not would affect the outcome on the pitch to be honest, s**** if we're in limbo, s**** if the takeover is off. Might as well do 'something'.

Doesn't mean people should just give up though, I think that's half the problem with many fans of NUFC, they give up and roll over too easy. It's all well and good being a blow-hard, moaning about stuff and screeching about the futility of it all but that gets even less results than someone at least trying. No wonder there's so much apathy, it seems ingrained in some.

Perhaps a few more MPs could do that, for the country, not just the North East.

I always find it amusing how no matter what people do to try and raise the profile or protest there's always those who rubbish the ideas but offer nothing realistic that the average fan can do as an alternative. Anything is better than sitting on your hands and just moaning about it surely?!

How many do they need for it to be brought up parliament?

Media making our fans dance to their tune That IS true, though to be honest it's probably the lesser of two evils for anyone wanting to make some sort of stand (however large or small) against the league. At least it keeps it in the news and as such, entices people to make some noise I guess.

I don't believe Mauriss to be worth more than Ashley, in fact I believe him to be worth considerably less. No point in bothering with a takeover if the funds available to improve the club aren't increased significantly from what they are currently, all that would happen is we would continue to 'exist' just to make up the numbers of the league, if we're lucky. We certainly wouldn't be any better off in the chance of winning anything.