Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley says that "dark forces" in football are preventing the club from being a "power house".
The Magpies are awaiting the outcome of an arbitration battle with the Premier League but the picture on the takeover front is now clearer after the HMRC ended their investigation at the club over tax treatment of agents and players.
Indeed, deals like Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba had been investigated during an episode in which managing director Lee Charnley was held in custody after a raid at his home.
A club statement read: "HMRC has today given formal confirmation that it is discontinuing the 4 year long criminal investigation into the tax treatment of agents/players payments involving Newcastle United Football Club."
But the most intriguing development is Ashley's statement itself.
With Ashley desperate to sell the club to Middle East consortium, it read: "After four years of the club being subjected to this investigation, I am pleased that the criminal investigation has now been discontinued .
"It is now time for the dark forces that are preventing this football club from becoming the power house that the fans deserve, to step aside.”
