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Mike Ashley (former owner)


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I would love nothing better for him to go bust and his shitty stores to close. Does anyone one know for comparison how his ‘rival’s reacted to this and what they’ve been doing to help?

Considering his only rival consists of JD, they shut shop when told (think it might have been beforehand), and never complained about doing so.
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Guest Howaythetoon

I would love nothing better for him to go bust and his shitty stores to close. Does anyone one know for comparison how his ‘rival’s reacted to this and what they’ve been doing to help?

Considering his only rival consists of JD, they shit shop when told (think it might have been beforehand), and never complained about doing so.

 

And he then tries and takes advantage of a global disaster/crisis. Utter cunt. Most Businesses have been sensible, even helpful and caring. Not Mike though.

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A proposed £340 million takeover of Newcastle United appears to have moved a step closer, with the Premier League having been informed of a bid led by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.

 

The organisation is understood to have been formally made aware of the attempt to buy out Mike Ashley, with PIF, the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world, taking an 80 per cent stake if the deal goes through. Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital is expected to acquire 10 per cent of the club, with the remaining 10 per cent taken by Reuben Brothers, the investment body of one of Britain’s wealthiest families, who own Newcastle racecourse and have a large portfolio of properties and assets worth more than £18 billion.

 

The Telegraph understands that the prospective new owners have been in contact with the Premier League to register their intention to buy the club. Staveley, Jamie Reuben, son of David Reuben and the driving force behind his family’s involvement in the deal, and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of PIF, are believed to have been named among prospective directors. Al-Rumayyan is expected be chairman of Newcastle if the deal is completed. Under League rules Jamie Reuben would have to resign as a director of Queens Park Rangers so that he could also join the board.

 

It is understood that contact was made several days ago and it may take up to a month for the Premier League, which is under huge pressure because of the coronavirus crisis, to conduct checks to ensure the funding is in place and the principals pass the owners and directors test. However, even if the deal is signed no announcement is expected before then.

 

The move towards concluding a deal is a surprise, not least because of the uncertainty created by the effects of the pandemic, with all football suspended. The financial implications are significant, although Newcastle fans will be hugely relieved if the takeover is agreed and Ashley’s ownership finally ends. It will be one of the biggest takeovers in British football.

 

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Talks had intensified since the start of this year with the hope that Ashley could finally be persuaded to sell Newcastle, though negotiations have been problematic.

 

Businesswoman Amanda Staveley in the stands during the Premier League match at St James' Par

An earlier bid led by Amanda Staveley failed in 2018 CREDIT: Owen Humphreys/PA

The consortium, which code-named its plans “Project Zebra” because of Newcastle’s black-and-white stripes, has high hopes of creating a sporting project around the club, with investment in the academy and training ground as well as first-team squad, and in regenerating the area.

 

Staveley, the financier brokering the deal, has been trying to buy Newcastle since October 2017 and had a series of bids rejected by Ashley but it appears that the game-changer is the involvement of PIF, which is chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the vast backing that could bring.

 

The Saudis have been considering how best to make a move into football for some time and have looked at other clubs, but regard Newcastle as one with huge potential. Questions have been asked as to why, with their wealth, the Saudis want to bring in minority partners but it is not unusual for them to structure deals in this way.

 

The PIF fund is central to Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030”, a plan spearheaded by Prince Mohammed to diversify the economy away from oil and is also the driving force behind the country’s ambitions to develop new tourist and entertainment industries.

 

David Reuben established Reuben Brothers with his brother Simon. Their fortune was founded on aluminium and mining in Russia and Afghanistan but they have diversified by investing in UK property, including Millbank Tower in central London.

 

Jamie Reuben, 33, who is a friend of QPR chairman Amit Bhatia, is a keen sports fan and joined the Championship club’s board two years ago. He has become the public face of the business which is already also developing a six-acre city centre site in Newcastle. The Reubens wealth easily eclipses that of Roman Abramovich although they, and PCP, will be minority partners if the deal is agreed. Ashley bought Newcastle for £134.4million in 2007 and the Sports Direct owner has proved an unpopular owner at St James’ Park. Newcastle are 13th in the Premier League under Steve Bruce but have been relegated twice from the top-flight during Ashley’s reign with the businessman accused of failing to invest by supporters.

 

Staveley’s ability to buy Newcastle has been questioned despite an apparent series of proposed bids.

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I mean it’s almost certainly bollocks but if the deal was as far along as alleged earlier in the year Ashley would be stupid not to sell at the agreed price. It would be worth far less if the negotiations started today and with £340m in his pocket he will be hoovering up companies that struggle over the coming months

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