Former Newcastle United midfielder Rob Lee has told any potential new owners at Newcastle United that the club needs a 'huge overhaul'.
PCP Capital Partners' bid for the club reached the Premier League's owners' and directors' test stage earlier this year before, the deal, spearheaded by the financier Amanda Staveley and also involving the Reuben brothers, Simon and David, and the mega-rich Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, fell through.
Nonetheless, the group remain interested in buying the Magpies and there is optimism among the buying side, as well as the selling side, that a deal can still be reached.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has released several statements confirming his "commitment" to the £300million deal that was agreed in April and has launched legal action against the Premier League over the terms of its owners and directors test.
The Newcastle owner is understood to be keen to proceed with the Newcastle deal in part because he sees potential future business opportunities in working with the Saudi PIF.
Meanwhile, the Newcastle United Supporters' Consortium Ltd are continuing with their own efforts to put pressure on the Premier League by lobbying fans and MPs.
And Lee, who remains a legend at Newcastle after his 10-year stay at the club between 1992 and 2002, has outlined the three things any new ownership group should look to change as a matter of priority.
“The club needs a huge overhaul, not just from the playing side of things, which obviously needs a lot of money spent on it," Lee told the Transfer Tavern.
“Chelsea just spent £200million and we spent £35million on two players or two free transfers, is that enough to push you forward? No.
“It’s probably enough to keep us staying where we are and not get dragged into a relegation fight.
“But it’s also that the youth set-up, the training ground is nowhere near what the new training grounds are now. Liverpool just moved into a fantastic training ground, that’s the way they’re going, and Newcastle is way out again, it’s way off it. The club, from top to bottom, needs a complete overhaul.”
