Whitley mag

Aye, they’ll probably get Man U and Liverpool to interview the applicants aswell.

They will if disclosure proves cartel behaviour. Consequences of breach Infringements of Chapter I or Article 101 can have serious consequences for a business: firms engaged in activities can face fines of up to 10% of group global turnover; anti-competitive restrictions in agreements may be automatically void and unenforceable, and may lead to the entire agreement being unenforceable; firms also leave themselves exposed to actions for damages from consumers, customers and competitors – including mass actions – who can show they have been harmed by the anti-competitive behaviour; and individuals in the UK can face being disqualified from acting as company directors as well as risk prosecution under the criminal cartel offence.

Very much so, if the CAT case is given the go ahead it’s not going to look to good for them heading into a govt review.

Masters, Hoffman and 6 clubs desperately trying to head off independent regulator. I’m very sure they’ll be anything but independent.

I certainly did just like you called Keith one.

What’s with all the talk of a ban have I missed something ?

The fact they offered him an extension and he’s chosen to join us, got to question the lads sanity. https://theathletic.com/news/liverpool-transfers-newcastle-remi-savage/1SagVogDxoMS

If the govt as we suspect strongly want this investment, what better opportunity to use the tv deal as leverage.

I’m not 100% on Martinez but really like what I’ve seen of Jones so far. As they’ve worked together before it could be an option worth exploring for new owners. I think Martinez could certainly get us towards top 8, then after that it may take someone else to make the next jump. Even under the Saudi’s I think it’ll be progress in stages. Mancini is a great shout though, he’s got an average Italian team playing relentless quick football. He’s also got PL experience, certainly ticks all the boxes would be well happy with that.

Jones looks a top drawer coach and it’s clear our up turn coincided with his arrival. I was reading this article on Gerrards assistant at Rangers recently, very interesting and shows how important Jones has probably been to us. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56298826

As much as Rafa would have been great, with Saudi money bank rolling us I really couldn’t care less. Yeah Rafa had the personal touch and seemed to get the club and area, however with money I’m not sure he actually would be the best fit. With bigger signings comes increased expectations. His best spell in the transfer market appears to be his time at Napoli. However, Rafa has an obsession with collecting average full backs and whilst his opinion of Joelinton was clearly spot on, let’s not forget he wanted Jorgensen for 20 million plus. He got rid of Toney, Armstrong and I was less than impressed with his handling of Merino in the run in. Rafa’s a tactical genius compared to the rest under Ashley, but with new ownership he’s not the be all and end all. Yeah Rafa would have grand ideas for the training ground and academy. But under Staveley they we’re looking at top European directors of football. These things will be developed regardless of Rafa being here or not. He was great whilst he was here, let’s remember him fondly, but hopefully we have a new exciting era coming our way soon.

Common sense abounds from Keith tonight. In Martinez and Jones we trust.

Times like this call for a calming, reassuring voice. I couldn’t think of anybody better to calm the natives and refocus us all.

Chelsea all over again for Rafa. He’ll be great, but fans will never accept him.

Credit where it’s due, they’ve listened to the members and raised the takeover. I did fear they would just concentrate on their pledge scheme.

‘Used to annoy us otherwise by standing and watching the entire midfield get overrun without tracking back or getting stuck in in any way, though’. We already have a midfielder who carries out this role we don’t need another one.

Not sure there is a date set in stone. Someone mentioned on Wraiths podcast about a date on the CAT site as early July(might have been 5th can’t remember) but it wasn’t confirmed what that date related to.

When Man City we’re under investigation for FFP and we’re subsequently cleared, Fenway we’re up in arms saying it threatened their whole financial model. I agree don’t think City would have objected overly, as Abhu Dhabi have close links with Saudi Arabia. I’m inclined to think at the moment this CAT case is the key to unlocking all this. If the PL are already trying to get the case heard privately, I think that tells us everything. If their challenge fails I have a feeling they fold due to potential risks of losing case. I also think these Clubs and Bein will have been naive / arrogant enough to not even consider anti competition. As long as this case doesn’t get thrown out on some technicality, I’m convinced it gets us our takeover. This case is unprecedented, I think realisation will quickly set in at the PL of the enormity of the consequences if it gets green light from judge.

Mike Ashley will argue that the Premier League's dithering during last summer's takeover process was on purpose - and that Richard Masters and top-flight officials knew it would hinder the sale. The Premier League tried to prevent Ashley's anti-competition claim from going through and feel that there is a jurisdiction issue on the matter with the case very similar to the arbitration battle that goes ahead next month. Ashley wanted to sell the club for around £340million last year to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Amanda Staveley and the Reuben brothers. But a 17-week wait left the bidders frustrated and they eventually walked away from the deal as the Premier League failed to approve or reject the takeover. The Competition Appeal Tribunal's summary of claim reads: "The Claimant (Ashley) alleges that the Defendant prevented, or hindered, the Proposed Takeover and knew that its actions would prevent and/or delay the Proposed Takeover. "The prevention and/or delay of the Proposed Takeover was liable to and did distort and/or restrict competition between PL clubs" Premier League officials stated to the bidders that they were concerned over who would be running the club and feared it would be State-led. It's also why Ashley is eager for the CAT claim to proceed so that there is a greater possibility of transparency compared to a closed shop situation in arbitration where the public may not get to see anything other than the final result. Ashley does not only believe the dithering was done to kowtow with the Prem's big six but also feels Masters and co's conduct helped time waste during the process, which ultimately resulted in his buyers walking away. Privately, Ashley has told those close to the takeover deal he remains furious that the sale was blocked and that his endgame is to get the takeover pushed through. Ashley is attempting to gain damage costs from the Premier League after the £340million deal collapsed last year. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-takeover-mike-ashley-20795783

Superb just mentioned this on Wraiths podcast aswell.

Ryder’s up early today. ‘In the build-up to the anti-competition claim, the Ashley camp have briefed with confidence that they will get the result fans are hoping for and that the Premier League were wrong not to approve the sale that would have ended the Toon tycoon's tenure in charge. It is believed that the Premier League will try to make an application today that the CAT claim should not go ahead’.

Ziegler is a long time friend of Qatar and was anti takeover from the outset. Funnily enough he was very happy to turn a blind eye to Qatar’s human rights issues when they we’re after his beloved Leeds ‘The biggest sleeping giant in English football’. Compare the below article with his views on our takeover, and you’ll find another journalist with an anti Saudi agenda. There’s agendas everywhere when it comes to this takeover and Middle East / PL politics. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/andrea-radrizzani-new-qatar-investor-can-get-leeds-up-to-level-of-man-city-bfd0gcqlf