Club Takeover Talk (Again)
By Tyne-Talk
February 18 2008
Whenever the going gets tough on Tyneside, the media respond with talk of a takeover, and link several big stories to consortiums and former players. This weekend was the turn of Alan Shearer who has allegedly been approached by a group of Geordie businessmen with £250M to splash on the club, in a bid to boot out Mike Ashley and gain control.
The News Of The World reported yesterday the link with Alan Shearer, supported by an interview from an unknown source, something Shearer appears to have little knowledge about:
"Alan has been contacted by a group who want to try and buy Newcastle. They're from the North-East and he knows some of the people who are involved.
He certainly knows they are capable of raising the cash to put a very good offer to Mike Ashley.
What they want from Alan is not his money but his support, his blessing. The man is a living legend on Tyneside so to have him on board, even just as a figurehead for the bid, would be a massive boost. It would also be welcomed by the fans who'd love to see Alan in some role at the club.
It is certainly a fascinating proposition for him but he is refusing to rush any decision.
He wants to have a good think about it before giving any answer."
Former Newcastle manager, Sam Allardyce, fuelled speculation of a potential sale with his comments this weekend, after appearing to attack his former employers, his third attack on the club in a number of weeks. He stated however that the comments were made in general and not directed soley at Mike Ashley and Chris Mort.
He said:
"Huge businessmen, multi-millionaires in their own right, very clever men, but never been shouted at.
They can't stand the pressure, their knees buckle, they don't stand strong and they use the easy option to take the pressure off themselves.
They have to be the strongest ones and often they're the weakest ones.
They might like the limelight when the success comes but they certainly can't put up with the other side of it, which is really quite volatile now."
The Sun, The News Of The World's sister paper, increased speculation this morning with a vague back page report suggesting that Dubai Investment Capital (DIC), the consortium repeatedly linked with taking control of Liverpool, had REJECTED an offer by Ashley in a bid to sell the club on.
The paper claims that DIC were offered the club in exchange for £300M, an offer they appear to have turned down.
If Mike Ashley is intent on a quick sale then he may struggle as his rejected £300M offer is £50M short of the offer allegedly put on the table by the Tyneside consortium. Either way he isnt going to be making much on the £130M he paid for the club once the £100M debts he cleared are taken into consideration.
This specualtion has been on and off since day one. Ever since Ashley took over Newcastle United, there have been rumours of a quick sale being imminent. So far none of these rumours have been founded, yet they regularly make the headlines.
Perhaps the FA Cup weekend left the journalists with very little to write about.
Well they say you are what ya eat.... Better call me 'mother' then rude boy..!