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Lee Ryder

The Newcastle United takeover is off: Read full statement from would-be buyers

Newcastle United's future is back up in the air after the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the Reuben brothers withdrew their bid to buy the Magpies from Mike Ashley.

It remains to be seen whether Amanda Staveley, the Ripon financier spearheading the group, also comments on the situation.

With the owners and directors test taking four months to process, fans had grown concerned about the length of time the takeover process was taking.

But a statement read today: "With a deep appreciation for the Newcastle community and the significance of its football club, we have come to the decision to withdraw our interest in acquiring Newcastle United Football Club.

"We do so with regret, as we were excited and fully committed to invest in the great city of Newcastle and believe we could have returned the club to the position of its history, tradition and fans' merit.

"Ultimately, during the unforeseeably prolonged process, the commercial agreement between the Investment Group and the club's owners expired and our investment thesis could not be sustained, particularly with no clarity as to the circumstances under which the next season will start and the new norms that will arise for matches, training and other activities."

Newcastle and the Premier League are yet to comment but Amanda Staveley has here.

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