Nile hopes to impress.Yesterday’s biggest news is of course our 2-0 win at Crystal Palace, which puts us in second place, behind ‘Boro on goal difference. Hughton, reflecting on the game, said:
“It was very pleasing to get the three points, and especially the clean sheet, away from home.
“We said to the players before the game that we expected a tough match, and that’s what we got.
“But to get a goal after just two minutes was a dream start – it gave the players and the fans a massive lift.
“It was then a very good time to get the second goal and again, like Kevin’s, it was a very good finish.
“We had to defend a little bit more after the break but I felt were always in control.
“I thought the effort and desire was tremendous.
“We’re going very well at the moment but we have to keep that going because all of the hard work is in front of us – but it’s been a great start.” (more…)
One of these will own the club.There are rumours that Newcastle United will make an announcement about the sale of the club on Monday, although I can’t find a direct quote from anyone at the club about this announcement. Other rumours suggest it may be late next week before we find out anything.
Sky Sports claims that talks are continuing with Barry Moat and two other consortia, as does The Guardian, and both claim some sort of announcement is set for Monday.
The Telegraph claims that negotiations between Moat and Ashley are at an advanced stage and some sort of deal could be closed next week. They also mention that Barclays would like to see a reduction in the £40m loan the club uses to operate before they’ll stamp their authority on any deal for Barry Moat. (more…)
Bid too good to be true?You couldn’t make it up could you? Well actually, you probably could judging by the recent Mahjoob and Parkinsons pranks and judging by the tosh written in the media. So which prospective buyers are legitimate and which ones are realistically anywhere near to buying our football club?
Latest to take a bow in the spotlight of the media are Fanbase 410, headed up by ex-Tottenham, Chelsea, Rangers and England man Graham Roberts. Following speculation in the press, Sky Sports are reporting that the outcome of today’s meeting which involved Roberts, the front man for the consortium, and other 410 members as well as club directors and “prominent members” of the NUSC was encouraging. Presumably they didn’t get laughed out of the meeting room because frankly even the most optimistic Mag is sceptical at both the concept and timing of this bid.
However, before we look into the whys and wherefores of the situation this is what Roberts had to say –
“It was a positive meeting. Now we will sit down with the supporters. They want to run their own football club, and why not?
“I just work for the company that is putting this together. Newcastle supporters will pick their own president and the manager.
“It’s the same at Barcelona and Real Madrid. You never know, they could end up buying £60 million or £70 million players. It works for Barcelona, why not Newcastle United?”(more…)
Not leaving, says HughtonThe takeover farce is, as usual, suffering from conflicting press opinions.
First we hear from newspapers like The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Journal that Ashley arrived at the training ground in his gunship to join Llambias and Moat in takeover talks. Then The Chronicle comes along and says Ashley isn’t there for takeover talks at all but is merely dealing with some ‘routine paperwork’. The Chronicle’s ‘United source’ said:
“It is nothing to get excited about, it was a routine visit, Mike was here to sign some paperwork relating to Damien Duff’s transfer and the launch of the third kit.
“It is not the first time he has been at the training ground recently, and it won’t be the last.”
And Chris Hughton said of the visit:
“He came in, wished everyone the best for the Sheffield Wednesday game, and just wanted to tell people he wouldn’t be at the match.”
So make of that what you will. I am however going to speculate. I think the reports about the takeover being sorted out by the end of this week are probably true. I would imagine that Ashley, if he stays, or any new owner would want at least a week to deal on the transfer market and I think if Ashley feels the bids are going nowhere by the end of this week he’ll pull the plug on the sale. So I’m thinking we’ll hear one way or the other by Monday at the latest. (more…)
Moat still in the runningVarious media outlets are reporting that the takeover saga at Newcastle United is rapidly approaching its conclusion.
The Telegraph’s ‘source close to the board’ said:
“There are three parties now interested in buying the club from Mike Ashley of which Barry Moat is one and one thing in common for all of them is that the asking price is £100 million all ways round.
“Moat can now be considered as the outsider of three but if the business is not concluded by Friday then there is a problem and there is a good chance the club will be taken off the market.”
So from that report it seems that Moat’s chances aren’t too good. (more…)
