NUFC reporter reveals what 'club sources' are now saying as takeover talk takes turn for the worse
Despite claims earlier today that Peter Kenyon had agreed a £300m takeover deal 'in principle, the Chronicle's Lee Ryder is now reporting that club sources have denied these claims - with Mike Ashley still waiting to receive a satisfactory 'overall bid'.
Just when we thought there was progress on the takeover front, this comes up - with it raising far more questions than answers.
This really does make me question everything Ashley was saying last Monday. How can he say a takeover be 'more progressed than it's ever been' if no acceptable bid has arrived as of yet?
Here's a snippet from Ryder's piece for the Chronicle today.
'Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is still waiting for a satisfactory overall bid to come in from any of the interested parties keen on a new year club takeover.
'United staff woke up to headlines that a 'deal in principle' had been agreed with Peter Kenyon's consortium, however, the claim has been played down by club sources.
'Kenyon's consortium know that £300million is the price and are currently still accessing the club accounts to scour the club's accounts.
'Kenyon's group are working with Rockefeller Capital Management who have been appointed to drum up interest from investors who want to be part of the consortium.
'The US-based company, however, aren't one of the backers in Kenyon's consortium and will be paid a facility fee for their work setting up links with potential investors.
This, if true, is disconcerting news for all Newcastle fans. Like the failed attempt to sell last year, this takeover saga is now effectively being played out in the public eye, with a series of claims and counter claims. Sky and several outlets reported early last week that Kenyon AND several other parties had made acceptable offers. It felt like he was going to take his pick, yet now we hear that no one has made an acceptable bid as of yet?
There are now even doubts over whether Rockefeller Capital are backing Kenyon or just advising / supporting him. If this is true, it is hard to see Kenyon being able to prove funds by the end of the year, let alone complete a full takeover of the club. As always, we live in hope rather than expectation under Ashley and with each passing day, this deal seems to be losing momentum - a pattern all NUFC fans have seen before.
