Financial sports journalist Nick Harris has cast doubt over the credentials of prospective Newcastle United owner Sheikh Khaled.
The Dubai-based figure is understood to be keen on taking the Magpies off Mike Ashley’s hands, but as yet has not reached a concrete agreement, as reported in the Telegraph.
And Harris, who writes for Sporting Intelligence, said via his personal Twitter account on Tuesday evening: “Speaking today to folk in Abu Dhabi who follow this, it’s possible Sheikh Khaled isn’t ‘royal family’ at all; that he’s not a billionaire and couldn’t do NUFC deal alone; he didn’t get a PhD in War Studies from King’s College, London, as reports suggest.”
FWIW, speaking today to folk in Abu Dhabi who follow this, it's possible Sheikh Khaled isn't 'royal family' at all; that he's not a billionaire & couldn't do NUFC deal alone; he didn't get a PhD in War Studies from King's College, London, as reports suggest.
— Nick Harris (@sportingintel) May 28, 2019
OPINION
The plot thickens. This is really just about the last thing that Newcastle United fans will have wanted to hear about the man who is reportedly looking to buy them out. Complications in such a massive deal are to be expected, but for his credentials to be called into question in such a big way will no doubt have fans worried. It is not unheard of for bluffers to try and come in and take over a club, and the main concern will be that this whole thing has been an elaborate charade. The other thing to consider is that even if a deal can be concluded and Mike Ashley can be given the money to leave Tyneside, do you really want an owner coming in who isn’t who he says he is? Of course, there is still a chance that Sheikh Khaled is the genuine article, but at the moment, things appear to be getting a little bit murky, and the last thing Newcastle need right now is another owner of questionable repute.
