Mike Ashley statement - A sign Mauriss isn't serious & Saudis still our only hope?
Through a statement issued by Lee Charnley it appears that Mike Ashley is still pushing for a Saudi takeover as he’s still "100% committed" to the deal. To the deal that is and not the club!
It’s also been reported that Ashley feels this is his only opportunity to sell the club quickly, although that's based on media suggestions, not what we can take from the actual club statement released on his behalf.
Either way, all of the above and the nature of this carefully worded statements suggests to me there’s no other reliable bidder waiting in the wings - despite talk of Henry Mauriss being ready to step in before Thursday's crippling news arrived.
A reminder of NUFC's statement on Friday:
“We acknowledge yesterday’s statement. Never say never, but to be clear Mike Ashley is 100% committed to this deal (sale).
"However our current focus must now be on supporting Steve Bruce in the transfer market and on the preparations for the new season."
Several journalists and pundits have quite strongly advised that there are other bidders in the offering. Well, I’m not so sure that this points towards Henry Mauriss, if he even exists, being one of those. Let’s be honest, even if he were then it seems as if he would be an extremely poor second choice.
The appeal of the Saudi’s whatever the why’s and wherefores they looked as if they were going to invest in the area as well as banish Ashley.
That we want Ashley out probably means we’d take anyone in his place. That’s sort of true but no other concrete bidder seems to be on the table right now and in any case, they are never going to be able to match the sort of investment and goodwill of the Saudi’s, Staveley and The Reubens.
One thing is for sure and probably a sad fact. If the takeover had gone through then the papers and media would be full of who was going to be the manager, who we were going to sign and how the Club was going to progress.
The alternative seems to be more of the same and countless more articles, words and opinions which will only further drive the dagger deeper in to the faithful hearts of us long-suffering NUFC fans.
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