WarrenBartonCentrePartin Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Newcastle United sceptical that bid from Sheikh Khaled will lead to sale By Luke Edwards 27 MAY 2019 • 10:36PM Newcastle United remain privately sceptical that an offer from Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan will lead to the sale of the club as Mike Ashley looks to bring an end to his 12-year reign at St James’ Park. Although there was an initial wave of excitement on Tyneside after the Bin Zyayed Group released a statement confirming they had “agreed terms” the optimism was gradually replaced with familiar misgivings. This will be the fifth time in 11 years that Newcastle have supposedly been on the verge of being sold by Ashley, but on each occasion the talks have collapsed and there are growing fears this will follow suit. Telegraph Sport understands that although a price has been agreed with the Al Nehayan, the United Arab Emirates based businessman is yet to provide proof of funds with sources indicating there is a long way to go before a deal is concluded. Manager Rafa Benítez has also been told it is business as usual as no takeover is imminent. Other interested parties are also adamant claims Newcastle are on the verge being sold to Al Nehayan are completely false. It is also understood that a report stating that papers have been submitted to the Premier League to ratify the takeover are also inaccurate. The statement said: “We can confirm the representatives of his Highness Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nahyan are in discussions with Mike Ashley and his team about the proposed acquisition of Newcastle United Football Club. “We view it as an honour to have the opportunity to build on the strong support, history and tradition of the club. “We have agreed terms and are working hard to complete the transaction at the earliest opportunity. “Best Regards, Midhat Kidwai, Group Managing Director, Bin Zayed Group." According to reports in the Middle East, Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan who is a distant relative of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour has also promised to keep manager Rafa Benítez and provide money to improve the squad in this summer’s transfer window. However, sources closer to St James’ Park insist nothing has been finalised and privately, senior figures, including managing director Lee Charnley and manager Benítez, were as surprised as anyone to learn the club was on the verge of being sold on Sunday night and have been trying to seek clarification from Ashley before they make any official comment. That will inevitably raise fears that this is just another false dawn, with all the claims and counter claims reminiscent of so many previous unsuccessful takeover attempts at St James’ Park. Ashley has tried and failed to sell Newcastle several times since he bought it for around £140m from former owners Sir John Hall and Freddie Shepherd in 2007. Some have even questioned whether he has ever been serious about selling given his inability to find a buyer. “The first aborted attempt came in 2008, shortly after Kevin Keegan had resigned as manager in protest at boardroom interference in recruitment. Ashley also put the club on the market for just £100m in the summer of 2009, following relegation to the Championship. On both occasions, there were strong reports a sale was close to being agreed, only for the talks to collapse and Ashley to remain at the helm. The club was put up for sale again two years ago and once more deals were supposedly in place for him to sell. Financer Amanda Staveley claimed she was close to completing a takeover in December 2017 only for Ashley to dismiss her attempt as a “complete waste of time” a few weeks later. More recently, former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon announced he was trying to buy the club, but although he was given access to the date room for due diligence before Christmas, a bid never materialised. Al Nehayan has previously failed in a bid to buy Liverpool, with the Merseyside club pulling out of talks in August last year when he was unable to provide proof of funds or pay a £25m deposit. Crucially, this time, the Sheikh is not the only interested party who has been locked in negotiations with Ashley, which increases the chances of a successful takeover taking place. Telegraph Sport has been aware of talks taking place under strict rules of secrecy for some time. Interestingly, Ashley insisted he would walk away from any deal if details were leaked before an agreement was in place, as he was tired of people using the club to boost their profile. Indeed, sources close to those talks have reacted with scepticism to claims Al Nehayan has beat them to it, with two well-placed figures dismissing claims Ashley has sold the club as “bullshit” and “complete bollocks.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/05/27/newcastle-united-sceptical-bid-fromsheikh-khaled-will-lead-sale/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nufcjb Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 I give up with these local journos. They haven't got a clue. They can fuck off with their sources who are shit too without a sniff of what is going on. Just try to get the clicks and sell their stories all because this has come out of the blue and they weren't the ones breaking it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prophet Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 He's done well to pad out so much fluff into multiple paragraphs. He knows about aa much as we do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xLiaaamx Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 He posted the second half of that shite before the Sheikh's statement. In fact, the whole article is from before it other than that, because the club confirmed his statement. He's a shite journo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Crooks Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Lee Charnley not knowing anything isn’t particularly evidential of anything: if sold he’s losing his job. Probs the last to know Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinoasprilla Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 https://twitter.com/MidhatKidwaiUAE/status/1133104850953232384?s=20 Fake? If you go on linked in there are two Midhat Kidwais in the UAE. One has one follower and the other 500+. Defo thinking someone or a group are setting up fake media accounts to mislead But that doesn't mean its not true or hope has taken over Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribesman Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Newcastle United sceptical that bid from Sheikh Khaled will lead to sale By Luke Edwards 27 MAY 2019 • 10:36PM Newcastle United remain privately sceptical that an offer from Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan will lead to the sale of the club as Mike Ashley looks to bring an end to his 12-year reign at St James’ Park. Although there was an initial wave of excitement on Tyneside after the Bin Zyayed Group released a statement confirming they had “agreed terms” the optimism was gradually replaced with familiar misgivings. This will be the fifth time in 11 years that Newcastle have supposedly been on the verge of being sold by Ashley, but on each occasion the talks have collapsed and there are growing fears this will follow suit. Telegraph Sport understands that although a price has been agreed with the Al Nehayan, the United Arab Emirates based businessman is yet to provide proof of funds with sources indicating there is a long way to go before a deal is concluded. Manager Rafa Benítez has also been told it is business as usual as no takeover is imminent. Other interested parties are also adamant claims Newcastle are on the verge being sold to Al Nehayan are completely false. It is also understood that a report stating that papers have been submitted to the Premier League to ratify the takeover are also inaccurate. The statement said: “We can confirm the representatives of his Highness Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nahyan are in discussions with Mike Ashley and his team about the proposed acquisition of Newcastle United Football Club. “We view it as an honour to have the opportunity to build on the strong support, history and tradition of the club. “We have agreed terms and are working hard to complete the transaction at the earliest opportunity. “Best Regards, Midhat Kidwai, Group Managing Director, Bin Zayed Group." According to reports in the Middle East, Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan who is a distant relative of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour has also promised to keep manager Rafa Benítez and provide money to improve the squad in this summer’s transfer window. However, sources closer to St James’ Park insist nothing has been finalised and privately, senior figures, including managing director Lee Charnley and manager Benítez, were as surprised as anyone to learn the club was on the verge of being sold on Sunday night and have been trying to seek clarification from Ashley before they make any official comment. That will inevitably raise fears that this is just another false dawn, with all the claims and counter claims reminiscent of so many previous unsuccessful takeover attempts at St James’ Park. Ashley has tried and failed to sell Newcastle several times since he bought it for around £140m from former owners Sir John Hall and Freddie Shepherd in 2007. Some have even questioned whether he has ever been serious about selling given his inability to find a buyer. “The first aborted attempt came in 2008, shortly after Kevin Keegan had resigned as manager in protest at boardroom interference in recruitment. Ashley also put the club on the market for just £100m in the summer of 2009, following relegation to the Championship. On both occasions, there were strong reports a sale was close to being agreed, only for the talks to collapse and Ashley to remain at the helm. The club was put up for sale again two years ago and once more deals were supposedly in place for him to sell. Financer Amanda Staveley claimed she was close to completing a takeover in December 2017 only for Ashley to dismiss her attempt as a “complete waste of time” a few weeks later. More recently, former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon announced he was trying to buy the club, but although he was given access to the date room for due diligence before Christmas, a bid never materialised. Al Nehayan has previously failed in a bid to buy Liverpool, with the Merseyside club pulling out of talks in August last year when he was unable to provide proof of funds or pay a £25m deposit. Crucially, this time, the Sheikh is not the only interested party who has been locked in negotiations with Ashley, which increases the chances of a successful takeover taking place. Telegraph Sport has been aware of talks taking place under strict rules of secrecy for some time. Interestingly, Ashley insisted he would walk away from any deal if details were leaked before an agreement was in place, as he was tired of people using the club to boost their profile. Indeed, sources close to those talks have reacted with scepticism to claims Al Nehayan has beat them to it, with two well-placed figures dismissing claims Ashley has sold the club as “bullshit” and “complete bollocks.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/05/27/newcastle-united-sceptical-bid-fromsheikh-khaled-will-lead-sale/ He more or less wrote the same article eariler today, but said the takeover was on the verge of being done. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
duo Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Interesting perspective here.... https://twitter.com/bigchrisholt/status/1133113789103202305 It's a very good point !! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hog Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 I'm erring on the side of caution with this one and taking it all as bollocks or yet another Ashley scam to get around transfers and Rafa. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToonArmy1892 Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Luke Edwards is embarrassing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
huss9 Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 ashley trying to bluff the other interested parties? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinoasprilla Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 https://twitter.com/MidhatKidwaiUAE/status/1133104850953232384?s=20 Fake? If you go on linked in there are two Midhat Kidwais in the UAE. One has one follower and the other 500+. Defo thinking someone or a group are setting up fake media accounts to mislead But that doesn't mean its not true or hope has taken over https://m.facebook.com/midhat.kidwai his Facebook looks ropey too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nufcjb Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 What are the headlines in the papers tomorrow? Have The Sun git anything else to update? Seems it is all coming from there in terms of the breaking news Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 He posted the second half of that shite before the Sheikh's statement. In fact, the whole article is from before it other than that, because the club confirmed his statement. He's a shite journo. Exactly. We have an official statement from the Sheikh Zayed side, and over here we have journalists quoting unnamed sources saying something else. I just find it hard to believe someone from the royal family in Dubai would need to make up fake stories about a deal. I suppose he could be a raving lunatic and everybody over there is just too polite to say so, but then you would think it would be common knowledge by now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 thomas[/member] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest godzilla Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Staveley never came out and said they had terms agreed. Just a lot of talking how she was interested. She claimed she never got responses to her offers. The Club said this one in principle is true. Which is to me a sign something is happening. 1. Sun Newspaper comes out this morning saying it has been done, totally geting one up on everyone else. The Mail (and that knacker Craig Hope) follows this up by stating that their sources say that the deal has been concluded. By about 9 or 10 we then get the usual muppets coming out saying that the deal is far from done and that club insiders are saying there is a long way to go. 2. The potential buying group then comes out and states that the deal has been agreed. This is then confirmed again by the 'club sources' with an added no comment when more info requested. The usual suspects then change their whole story to reflect a deal has been agreed and quoting the club as being a confirmation. 3. Messer Hope then changes his whole story from this morning and states his soures are telling him it's far from done again, questioning if they have the funds and that the Sheikh is just a poorish distant relative. Messer Downie then comes out with something similar stating that the club sources are stating no proof of funds, despite funnily enough those same sources stating nothing of the sort when the statement came out five hours or so earlier. Someone said earlier that I don't know how local Journalism works. Doesn't take a rocket scientist and reading the things they report on to work out it's done purely by guesswork and feeding off twitter and social media rumour. Seems very odd that these so called club sources change from yes with no comment to we need to see the funds first. Think they would have either maintained a no comment from the start or when the statement was issued stated yes but that proof of funds is required - NOT four hours later. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 thomas[/member] statement from group involved: "we're buying it, it's done." everyone: "yaaay i'mma nut in an eclair!!" local clueless journo: "what about all this stuff that I'm throwing against the wall hoping desperately it will stick so i'll look like I knew something?" everyone: "oh wow I guess it's all over huh, well it was fun while it lasted, time for the sweet hereafter." it happen mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest godzilla Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 The one journalist who is actually worth his salt reporting on NUFC. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronky Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 All of this confirms my earlier guess. They've agreed on a price, which I think is a significant step. They now need to come up with the money. I can't see why a buyer would embarrass themselves by claiming that this has happened when it hasn't. It wouldn't exactly enhance their reputation in the business community. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergio Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Who jumped in the bath too soon? I blame them. Definitely not Super Duper Branko Strupar[/member] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odear Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 It would be hilarious if this turned out to be some Walter Mitty type. Not for us obviously but to have everyone fooled like this, even the BBC got drawn in, it’s excellent trolling. In fairness the club have said nothing. Absolutely zip. So whatever happens they’ll have kept their powder dry. The journos have made a show of themselves on this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
triggs Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Who jumped in the bath too soon? I blame them. Definitely not Super Duper Branko Strupar[/member] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marki Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 tiresome now ,best just see what unfolds,is it happening tho Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Duper Branko Strupar Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 The fuck is this sniping from the shadows? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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