Newcastle United’s takeover talks feel like they have been going on forever.
But all that is left is for an announcement to be made, which could happen this week, according to reports.
Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners have already paid a £17m non-refundable deposit to retail tycoon Mike Ashley as they currently go through the Premier League’s rigorous ‘owners’ and directors’ test‘.
The Daily Mail revealed that fresh questions are being asked to the Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund (PIF) about their human rights record and their connections to pirate television in the region.
But according to The Shields Gazette, the sale of the club could be confirmed this week with the football currently suspended and that there could be a formal announcement as early Thursday.
Will PIF takeover the club?
Yes
No
The report added that despite opposition from Amnesty International and beIN Sports, the deal should go ahead and bring Ashley’s 13-year ownership of Newcastle to the end.
The Sports Direct owners’ time in charge on Tyneside has been nothing more than a disaster after overseeing us get relegated twice and making a series of decisions that seriously upset the St James’ Park faithful.
This includes his relationship with former manager Kevin Keegan, who ended up resigning and heavily criticising him after his departure. He also made the bizarre decision to rename our stadium to the Sports Direct Arena in 2011.
It seems almost too good to be true for all of us. We never would have thought that Ashley would be leaving the club after previously saying he wouldn’t sell the club unless we won something or qualified for the Champions League.
Let’s hope the deal moves through sooner rather than later and then we can start moving forward as a football club.