Mike Ashley could remain the owner of Newcastle United until the New Year, according to the Chronicle.
The regional newspaper claimed on their website that if the proposed takeover by the Bin Zayed Group isn’t imminent then Ashley will push on to appoint a younger coach on a long-term deal after Rafael Benitez was dismissed on Monday.
The Chronicle report that any long-term deal offered would suggest that Ashley will keep ownership of the Magpies until January at the earliest.
Reports suggested that the Newcastle owner will look to seek clarity with Sheikh Khaled on his ongoing talks to take over the club.
The Bin Zayed Group have not yet begun the Owners and Directors test, with pre-season set to begin on July 4th.
OPINION
This would be the worst case scenario for everyone involved at Newcastle. Mike Ashley has been involved in his fair share of controversy during his time at the club, and surely even he is ready to pack his bags and leave with a proposed £350million on the table. Benitez became the first casualty this season, losing his job after not being able to agree to terms, and the longer this spectacle goes on, the worse it could get. One positive of this is that with Ashley at the helm, a new manager could be appointed sooner rather than later, with the owner looking keen to bring in a younger candidate who can work within his budget. That is easier said than done though, and any word must be taken with a pinch of salt, with Newcastle not exactly being the biggest of spenders during Ashley’s reign in the North East. The news everyone will be hoping for is that of his departure, with new owners in place in time to spend some money on the squad before the new season begins.
