The Newcastle United Supporters' Trust (NUST) have shared a letter written to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters outlining why the Magpies' takeover should have been approved.
PCP Capital Partners, the Reuben brothers and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund announced on Thursday that the consortium would be withdrawing their bid after a four-month saga.
Frustrations with the Premier League's indecision over their owners and directors test and the ongoing economic uncertainty in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic were both cited as reasons behind the announcement.
The decision has led to dismay on Tyneside, with an NUST poll confirming 96.7% of members were in favour of the takeover.
However, concerns over Saudi Arabia's human rights record and accused links to piracy were cited by individuals and groups opposing the sale of the Magpies.
The NUST have demanded answers in the immediate aftermath of the announcement, arguing supporters had been treated as the "least important people in a decision which affects us the most".
The fans' organisation wrote to Masters to outline why the Premier League should support the PIF's involvement in a takeover bid.
The letter - dated June 23 - claims:
- The "degree of separation" between the PIF and the Saudi government is sufficient to "avoid disqualification" under the owners and directors test.
- In the recent World Trade Organisation (WTO) report, there was "no finding or identification" that the Saudi government or any individual was "responsible"
- It is "impossible to make an assessment" on whether the Saudi government would become a "shadow director" of United.
- The fear above was based upon the allegation that the Saudi government was supporting beoutQ, "a finding that was not made" in the WTO report.
- While acknowledging the "abhorrent" allegations of human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia, the NUST again cited the "degree of separation" between the PIF and the Saudi government. The fans' body also highlight that the owners and directors test "does not provide for any ethical, character or moral test".
The NUST's email update to members reads: "For supporters to be kept deliberately uninformed in a process that affects us more than any other is a scandal and things must change.
"To be clear there would be no proposed takeover without you, the supporters. There would be no Premier League and no football clubs without you, the supporters.
"We need answers and as a board, the Trust is committed to trying to get answers."
