Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce has voiced his concerns about the silence from the Premier League regarding the club’s ongoing and long-winded takeover.
A deal was agreed back in April for the Magpies to change hands from retail tycoon Mike Ashley to the Saudi-based Public Investment Fund (PIF) for £300m.
Delays came about after the World Trade Organisation (WTO) opened an investigation regarding their involvement in pirate television, where it was concluded that they were not responsible but could have done more to prevent the illegal activity from taking place in their kingdom.
Since then, Premier League chief Richard Masters refused to comment on the situation as the fans continue to be kept in the dark.
Speaking after the loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup on Sunday, Bruce was not impressed with league officials and believed that they must be more open with the fans.
Will you still support NUFC if the takeover falls through?
Absolutely!
No, I'll be done!
“For everybody, we need a bit of clarity,” he said.
“If I’m led to believe it’s the Premier League that is holding these negotiations, then they have got to come and make a decision sooner or later because it’s not healthy for anybody.”
Bruce is spot on here. The silence from Masters and his team has been deafening, as it was expected that some form of statement would have been released on the back of the WTO’s report. It wasn’t.
This is now becoming an increasingly impossible situation for the supporters who have every right to illustrate their impatience.
They want to see the back of Ashley more than anything. Even if the move is subject to more checks and further deals, at least tell them, Masters. It is the very least that they deserve.