Mike Ashley is yet to reopen talks with Amanda Staveley over a possible takeover bid for Newcastle United, despite the businesswoman admitting she was still interested in the club, according to the Chronicle.
Speaking to The National in Dubai recently, Staveley suggested that she was still keen United despite a failed attempt to reach a deal for the Magpies in 2017 – a wrangle that led to Ashley calling her and her consortium ‘time wasters’.
The financier has seemingly moved on from the remark, but it is understood that talks are still yet to resume over any potential offer.
OPINION
This probably isn’t too surprising for Newcastle fans to hear – it probably would have been more of a shock if talks had been reopened – but that still doesn’t mean that it isn’t disappointing. As the old adage goes, it’s the hope that kills you, and knowing that Staveley is still interested in the club might just act as a tormentor for the disgruntled Geordie fan base, knowing that there is somebody who could viably take their beloved club off of Ashley’s hands. That isn’t going to happen anytime soon, however, while the sportswear magnate continues to demand an excessive price for his asset. Ultimately, the issue is that until Newcastle becomes financially unviable, there is no reason for Ashley to sell up, and because of that he can continue to command a fee that most buyers will simply baulk at. It’s a catch 22 for Newcastle fans, who will know that in many ways the only way that the valuation will drop significantly is with relegation. Would they take a relegation to get rid of Ashley? It would be a massive, massive gamble to say yes.
