A Government minister who was engaged by the Newcastle United takeover consortium to work with the Premier League has spoken about a meeting with a high-profile minister in Saudi Arabia.
Lord Gerry Grimstone met Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swah last week as part of efforts by the country to strengthen links to Saudi Arabia.
Lord Grimstone told Sky News that he wanted Newcastle "at the top of the Premier League" but insisted the Public Investment Fund-backed takeover was not on the agenda at the meeting.
It is the first time Lord Grimstone has been pressed on the takeover since the Chronicle revealed in the summer he was involved in "shuttle diplomacy" for the takeover group.
Amanda Staveley and Jamie Reuben are understood to be well-connected with the Government and in the summer strong efforts were made to wield political pressure on the Premier League and relevant groups to complete the deal.
A letter-writing campaign to MPs helped put pressure on the Premier League to comment on the deal, while work was carried out behind-the-scenes in the corridors of power.
Lord Grimstone was appearing to talk about a trade deal with India and Sky News said people in Newcastle were "very excited" about the meeting.
Asked what the significance of it was Lord Grimstone told Sky: "It's not something that came up on my trip.
"That's very much a commercial matter between the two parties and I'd like to see Newcastle at the top of the Premier League but it's a commercial matter rather than a ministerial matter."
