Journalist claims Staveley & Saudis have rubbished two rumours ahead of £300m takeover
The Times' Duncan Castles has made some interesting claims on the Newcastle United takeover front during latest appearance on 'The Transfer Window' podcast.
Aside from discussing the Saudi-backed consortium's big ambitions and plans to secure TV rights ahead of BeIN Sports, he's named TWO recent rumours that, to his understanding, have been rubbished by Amanda Staveley and Co behind the scenes.
The first are links to former Liverpool CEO Ian Ayre, with him claiming that the prospective buyers at NUFC have 'laughed off' claims he could land a Chief Executive role at St James' Park.
Then to the second, with him insisting that reports linking former Benfica boss Jorge Jesus with the manager's job have been 'rubbished'
See his response to both rumours below (or listen to his podcast for yourself here):
"There's been a few stories around about managerial changes and the new chief executive who will come in after Lee Charnley has held the interim role.
"There was one story that Ian Ayre, formerly CEO at Liverpool, was the leading candidate to become Newcastle new chief executive. I'm told that was caused a lot of amusement amongst PCP and others involved in the takeover, with them saying there's 'not a chance, at all' that Ian Ayre would be hired at the CEO. And actually, they haven't fixed on a name.
"They're trying to come up with good candidates they can interview and present to PIF as the right person to lead going forward.
"There's also a story today that Jorge Jesus, the Flamengo manager and former Benfica coach, was a candidate to replace Steve Bruce, but again they said 'no, absolutely not the case'.
"Steve Bruce will remain in situ at least until the end of the season. That's not a priority for them.
