Newcastle United Fan View: Takeover collapse is a nightmare for the Magpies

Last night, news broke that Mike Ashley had ended discussions over the club sale with Amanda Staveley and PCP Partners; the only group thought to be interested in buying the club. Reports came out through Sky Sports and were then confirmed by the local media, seemingly bringing an end to the takeover that all Newcastle United fans had their hopes pinned on.

If the reports are true, it truly is a disaster for the club who will remain under Mike Ashley’s ownership with no signs of investment. Surely another relegation beckons or is this simply gamesmanship by Mike Ashley?

Since the club was put up for sale, reports on the takeover have been sketchy at best. What we do know is PCP Partners, a group led by Amanda Staveley were interested in buying the club and did make an offer to Mike Ashley. This offer was leaked to the press, something Ashley was extremely annoyed about and the offer was thought to be in the region of £250m with clauses relating to how successful, or more so, how unsuccessful they are this season should the club be relegated. This offer was apparently rejected as too low and due to the clauses.

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Since then, things have been quiet, there was a meeting over a curry between Ashley and Staveley but the line put out by the press was that discussions were on-going and no new offer had been made.

A report then came out a few days ago in the Express stating a new offer of around £300m was imminent – closer to Ashley’s alleged £350m asking price but sources close to Newcastle United and Ashley denied a new offer had been made.

Then last night, a few days after Ashley had returned from his extended break in the US, news was broken by Sky Sports that he had ended any potential deal. If this is indeed the case it is the worst case scenario for everyone connected with the club. However, there is another take on this and one I am hoping (perhaps blindly) to be true.

Part of the Sky Sports report stated the following:

“It is only right to let the fans know that there is no deal on the table or even under discussion with Amanda Staveley and PCP.”

Sources close to PCP have since responded to the article to say an offer is on the table and this is thought to be the original £250m offer that was made a few weeks ago. It has been reported that Ashley had rejected this offer; therefor explaining the no offer is on the table quote. Ashley is thought to be annoyed that the original offer was made public and then again more rumours leaked to the Express over the weekend. We all know Ashley has “close links” to certain people at Sky Sports and a lot of the talk on Twitter last night – even from some very well respected journalists – are thinking this is gamesmanship by Ashley, fighting fire with fire if you like. Who knows though? I certainly don’t and if you only read the reports in the local press then the deal seems completely dead with no hope of it progressing now.

However, PCP have not officially come out to say they are no longer in the running, although this may start to surface over the next couple of days. This could be Ashley playing games – and we all know he loves doing this. It could be his way of forcing Staveley and PCP in to making a new, larger offer or it could simply be Ashley’s way of avoiding having to spend any of his money this January transfer window – I certainly wouldn’t put it past him. I can see the reports now once the transfer window has shut; locked in negotiations, thought sale was going through which is why no money was spent, takeover collapses, too late to sign players. This is Ashley all over.

As fans though, we are powerless – we all wanted the takeover to happen – but we will keep supporting the club and hope for better times. Under Ashley that won’t happen, under new ownership, who knows?