Former referee Mark Clattenburg has his 'fingers crossed' that Newcastle United 'get a new owner soon' who tries to 'fulfil the potential that the fans crave'.
The Consett native, who was the man in the middle for the 2016 Champions League final and the Euro 2016 final, served as head of refereeing at the Saudi Arabia Football Federation for 18 months.
Clattenburg is a lifelong Newcastle fan so was unable to officiate any of the Magpies' games during his time as a Premier League referee.
The 45-year-old previously admitted that one of the perks of his new life in the Kingdom was that 'at least I can watch Newcastle with a little bit of enjoyment instead of watching the referee'.
Clattenburg, like all Newcastle fans, will be monitoring takeover developments closely. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) are backing Amanda Staveley's bid to buy the club alongside the Reuben Brothers.
The Premier League have been conducting their owners' and directors' test on whether to give the green light to the bid, which would see the PIF acquire an 80% stake in the Magpies.
Clattenburg was asked about this prospect by Newcastle fan Davey G on Twitter after the former referee admitted he was missing the 'drama of the Premier League' during the lockdown.
'Fingers crossed Newcastle get a new owner soon and try and fulfil the potential that the fans crave for,' Clattenburg responded.
