Mike Ashley is 100 percent committed to selling Newcastle United – but has pledged transfer window “support” to help boss Steve Bruce.
Newcastle MD Lee Charnley released the club's first statement since the takeover saga began this morning.
It said that Sports Direct tycoon Ashley is still "committed to this deal" struck with the Saudi funded consortium led by Amanda Staveley.
MirrorSport understands Ashley worked late into the night trying to rescue the takeover after the Saudi's pulled their offer yesterday afternoon and released a statement.
He is said to be “devastated” it has fallen through and reckons it's his only chance of selling the club quickly.
Charnley said: “We acknowledge yesterday’s statement. Never say never, but to be clear Mike Ashley is 100% committed to this deal (sale).
“However our current focus must now be on supporting Steve Bruce in the transfer market and on the preparations for the new season."
Amanda Staveley has hinted she is also trying to find a way for resurrecting the £305m deal, and she has blamed the Premier League for stalling, and refusing to give a timeline for approval.
Saudi sources last night hammered the Premier League saying they were “unprofessional” for such a global sports organisation, and “irrationally delayed” the takeover process.
Premier League bosses, including chief exec Richard Masters who is the target of Geordies fans anger, have yet to respond.
The league wanted the Saudi state to become a director of Newcastle. The Public Investment Fund is state-owned and chaired by ruler Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman.
But the consortium argued it was a separate entity from the Saudi state.
Staveley said: “The Premier League wanted the country, Saudi, to become a director of the football club. They were effectively saying ‘PIF wouldn’t be the ultimate beneficial owner. I want (fans) to understand the whole thing about the directorship, that it would be impossible for a state to become a director.”
Saudi-based piracy of top flight games was also a huge issue blocking the deal but Staveley has claimed: “Piracy wasn't an issue but we dealt with it anyway.”
As it stands Steve Bruce will begin pre season training in three weeks and continue to discuss transfers with Charnley.
A budget – reduced by the COVID19 crisis – of around £35m is available.
