Whitley mag

Nice little dig by Staveley’s fella, really hope this lot can get it done. Mehrdad Ghodoussi @ghodoussi · 3m Glad to see the ‘big six’ rejecting their own plan – obviously well thought out #20clubs #premierleague

Do these EFL chairman really believe the PL won’t just do a u turn at some point, what’s to stop the big 6 just deciding they no longer want to fund the EFL after a couple of years. At this point it would be great if the govt or somebody bailed out the EFL, then this smokescreen of the big 6 caring about their welfare could be dispelled instantly.

How predictable that he would voice support for a proposal seeking changes to the parachute payments structure, after Boro have used them all up All these small time clubs who know they’ll never challenge the top 6 just see the extra income. Unfortunately even though we’ve been s*** for years, deep down we know with right backing we can challenge some day. This proposal removes any dreams for fans of Leeds, Villa, Everton, Wolves and ourselves of ever challenging. The sheer arrogance that these Yanks and Levy believe they have the right to decide who should own other clubs is beyond belief. It goes against competition rules in this country and is something even the government would have to look at intervening in.

Another way to look at it is its a signal that they aren't willing to keep talking for months with no resolution. If they believe the PL are just trying to waste time again then serious legal proceedings will start. At that point the PL lose ultimate control over the timescale and also risk financial loss and also loss of face if some of the s**** they've been pulling is exposed in court. Also I think Ashlety is exactly the kind of person who would take this as far as he can even without the current buyers. He's offended easily and holds grudges, I'm sure he's never been told he cant sell something he owns before and he's f***ing furious about it. Yep as above. Lawyers don't just get told "wait a bit". They're getting paid a lot of money to get this sorted and they will know exactly what they're doing. Personally I think this is all on the lawyers of the PL. If they say we can give them a realistic fight in court and have a good enough chance of winning, the PL will happily take that route. However if the lawyers advise the PL to look at out of court settlement then they're basically saying you're f***ed. I don't think the PL lawyers would be happily sitting around doing nothing. The legal team of the buyers clearly see a strong case if the info is true and that means the PL need to get the ball rolling as if they don't it will be a very costly mistake. I do agree the PL lawyers are key to this and De Marco’s record with out of court settlements is apparently high, I believe Mark Douglas quoted something like 90%. The hope has got to be that by January some tangible progress has been made, even if it is a formal rejection. Then at least the consortium can see a route to appeal. Ultimately aswell it all comes back to the fact why haven’t they rejected it, if they were that confident of their decision it would have been rejected on insufficient information supplied.

If the talk of a timescale for completion is true, I now worry about this deal. To let the PL have wind that there’s any kind of timescale would seem self defeatist, and once again play into their hands. The PL must be convinced this is heading to the law courts, otherwise I don’t see them changing tact. They’ll be doing everything they can behind the scenes to ensure the PL is kept together, and unfortunately upsetting some of the big 6 by granting our takeover won’t be high on their agenda. Would the PL be convinced Ashley would continue with legal action if the consortium walk away, I’m certainly not convinced Ashley would take this all the way to high court and the costs associated with that if PIF have walked away. Still hopeful but far from convinced this gets done.

If I hang on to what positivity I have left, I'd say that they must know what they are doing but on the face of it, it does feel like that would offer the PL the perfect opportunity to let this finally fizzle out. I would guess that everybody is hoping this it’s thrashed out, however if did go to court I would imagine we could be talking anything up to 2 years for it to be heard. At that point I think the Saudis would have moved on, so either it’s about compensation at that point, or it then doesn’t go to court. I agree though would seem a poor threat if PL know your not going to follow through with legal action.

Liam Kennedy has been replying to a few people tonight on twitter. Can’t be arsed to copy them but basically ties in with what Mimms said earlier in week. Sounds like the consortium, maybe Saudis have put a timescale on this to be sorted.

Yeah Dolan and Ashley would be a good contest for the biggest cunt.

This plan will clearly have the support of EFL clubs with no ambition. In effect it secures their future income, as long as the top 6 don’t decide to change the rules at a later date that is.

Takeover update from Liam Kennedy, Ashley’s legal team are positive. He’s also squeezed another 10% out of consortium on top of 300 million price. https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/newcastle-united-takeover-timescales-alter-legal-challenge-continues-2999390

This article gives a bit of history into Liverpool and Man U’s involvement in getting Masters the job. I posted a similar article from the new statesman at the height of the takeover, basically Man U and Liverpool were allowed to interview Don Howe’s son on the sly, and stopped him getting the job. As Tron correctly states a few of us were accused of being paranoid at the time, and making NUFC fans look stupid with the paranoia line. That’s by the wayside now though, and we’ve all been wrong during this process. However, I am confused at PL’s statement and can’t work out whether Masters and co are in on this, or the yanks are now so arrogant that they don’t even believe they need to consult the inept b******s. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-7988919/Premier-League-rivals-furious-Liverpool-Man-United-allowed-vet-league-CEO-candidates.html

Most definitely, but it's 'consecutive' years that gets you influence now. Same reason why Villa isn't a special status shareholder under these rules. At least they've made it obvious they care about the top clubs only! They’ve made it obvious why takeover wasn’t approved, it’s all becoming very clear now. This proposal has apparently been a working document since 2017, they had every reason to keep kicking takeover down the road.

Nope Everton, Southampton and West Ham would make up 9.

They’ll have 9 clubs voting for it, who’s to say a couple of yo-yo clubs don’t also vote for it. Then it’s getting dangerously close.

A blatant attempt at a power grab by the top 6 on the back of Covid. It would be the end of a competitive league forever, no surprise this is being instigated by American controlled clubs. A move motivated by self interest and nothing else, dressed up as saving football league clubs.

I thought you were going to stand ?

Who would this £15 per game go to, is it the home club or a central PL pot ? If it’s a central pot what happens to the money, does it just get distributed evenly across all 20 clubs ? As per the fans are being expected to cough up, very dangerous times for the PL seems massively misjudged. On the plus side it couldn’t happen at a better time under Hoffman’s and Master’s watch.

Doesn’t sound encouraging when taken alongside your previous update, which indicated legals expect it to be next year ?

Soft cunts those Peruvians, if it was Uruguay there’s no way he would have been able to continue.

This ties in with a twitter account under the name Ryan E Maine today, who has also said similar. His profile is city of London, he has tweeted about takeover before but nothing else previously regarding us. Was loathe to post it but very interesting.

Sure To be fair he was spot on with Ashley’s statement was he not ?

Was Keegan’s decision by all accounts, Cole and Lee Clark actually went on a scouting trip with KK and Terry Mac to Anfield to watch Ferdinand play for QPR. The idea was to pair Cole and Ferdinand but obviously Keegan changed his mind. If I remember rightly he said the deal would never have happened if Gillespie hadn’t been included. Cole had hit his first dodgy patch for us and had been suffering with shin splints badly. It didn’t work out to bad with Ferdinand, but got to say that first season back up Beardsley and Cole were exciting and unstoppable at times.

Interesting article from Mark Douglas re transfer window that never was, key para at bottom of article though manoeuvring continues. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/months-work-commitments-made-newcastle-19055846

Another take on the Guinness where is it brewed ? Yes even more ingenious it seems St James gate. What a bloke this De Marco is certainly earning his crust already.

According to Mark Douglas tonight 90% of what baker boy does is behind closed doors. We can’t discount that he’s managed to mediate and find a solution. There again he might just be lying on the sofa covered in crumbs right now after necking a cocktail of Newcy Broon, Guinness and cheap Champagne.