Former Newcastle United captain Mick Martin says the club are crying out for a new direction after a summer of frustration caused by the collapse of the Middle East takeover.
Hopes were high back in April that Amanda Staveley, the Reuben brothers and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund could take United on to the next level.
However, a stand-off between the Premier League and the consortium resulted in the group withdrawing from the top-flight's owners and directors test - leaving the club firmly in Mike Ashley's hands.
Martin told the Chronicle: "I just felt that the longer the investigation went on, the less chance it had of being completed, not just the Middle East group, but a variety of others that have been mooted recently.
"The Premier League would have approved it straight away if they were happy.
"They obviously came up with things they weren't happy with which obviously caused the delay and then eventual collapse.
"It was disappointing for all of us in the North-East.
"We're all looking for somebody fresh to come in with new ideas.
"Mike Ashley has had enough of it.
"I'm sure if somebody came in with even £320million now he'd take it.
"There have been other groups looking in the background, and we've heard reports about Alan Shearer being involved but nothing has come off."
Like the vast majority of Toon fans, Martin would love to see the deal resurrected at some stage and feels the ideal owners could already be out there.
Martin added: "The Reubens are still in the background and are very wealthy people.
"They could do this on their own.
"If they were I'd be delighted."
