Mark Douglas has claimed that the Orlegi Group are in no position to broker a takeover of Newcastle United in the near future.
The Chronicle journalist revealed that the chances of a takeover being completed in the near future are very low, and that should one happen, it would blindside the majority of people in the North East.
Douglas shared on a Q&A on the Chronicle website [20/11 14:58 pm] that despite being thrust back into the fray, the Orlegi Group won’t be completing a takeover any time soon.
“Near future? I think pretty low,” he wrote.
“The Orlegi consortium strangely thrust back into the fray by David Ornstein at the Athletic, aren’t in a position to broker anything soon.”
It is suggested that Mike Ashley is not being an easy man to negotiate with and that it would take a huge commitment from any consortium to take the club out of his hands.
OPINION
It would be total sarcasm to suggest that it was a surprise that Ashley is proving difficult to work with in the North East. We have seen it time and time again where the controversial owner has put his own needs before those of the club, and that has seriously affected everyone involved at St James’ Park. Given that Douglas suggests that Peter Kenyon has made no apparent progress and that the Orlegi group aren’t in a position to broker a move, Newcastle fans may have to deal with Ashley until at least the end of this Premier League season. The fact that people could be blindsided by a takeover could prove that Ashley could eventually decide that he has had enough, and given how disliked he is at St James’ Park, that possibility is certainly there. Either way, the general consensus stays the same, the fans want Ashley gone, but they will have to wait until someone meets his ever-changing demands.