MP Tracey Crouch has told Amanda Staveley that a 'lack of transparency in decision making' has become a 'recurring theme' in football governance but the chair of a fan-led review into the game has ultimately informed the would-be owner of Newcastle United she will need to 'redirect' her request.
Staveley wrote an open letter to the former Sports Minister on Sunday, accusing the Premier League of a 'closely guarded lack of transparency' ahead of Newcastle's arbitration dispute with the top-flight getting under way this month.
The financier pleaded with Ms Crouch for 'intervention immediately to force the issue out into the open' and warned there is 'real urgency given the NUFC arbitration hearing is due to take place this month'.
READ MORE: Amanda Staveley's Newcastle takeover letter in full
A takeover had never been closer in the Ashley era than it was last summer - the Newcastle owner had agreed to sell the club to a consortium made up of Staveley, the Reuben Brothers and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) - but the buyers ultimately encountered complications with the Premier League's owners' and directors' test when it came to who was going to the club's ultimate beneficial owner.
The Premier League believed that Saudi Arabia, the state, would have needed to become a director of the club but Newcastle have disputed this - hence why this dispute has gone to arbitration.
Newcastle issued an explosive statement on Thursday where the club stressed if the Premier League 'has acted lawfully and properly, it should have no reason to be afraid' of holding the hearing out in the open.
Staveley followed this up with her own letter to Ms Crouch at the weekend and ChronicleLive has now seen the Chatham and Aylesford MP's response, which is as follows:
"Dear Amanda
"Thank you for your email letter regarding the takeover of Newcastle United FC.
"As part of the fan-led Review into football governance I, along with the panel, have heard 100 hours of oral submission from fan groups and others and certainly from fan representatives the lack of transparency in decision making has been a recurring theme. Newcastle United Supporters Trust gave an excellent account on behalf of fans at the club and its content has been noted and will now be considered as I begin to formulate my recommendations.
"However, the Review, and my chairmanship of it, is separate to Government and my involvement in issues that are occurring now is, I am afraid, beyond my jurisdiction. The Review will set out a future path for football building on both the success and failings of current structures. I must therefore counsel that if you require intervention in the proposed takeover of Newcastle United you must redirect your request to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden and/or the Minister of Sport Nigel Huddleston.
"I have been contacted on email and social media but hundreds of Newcastle fans. Sadly, I am unable to reply to them all but would like to thank them for getting in touch. If you are successful in your bid, you will gain an impressive, passionate fan base who care deeply about their Club. It is the nation’s football fan base that stretches from non-league to Premier League that makes English Football the best in the world and why we on the panel are determined to make recommendations that protect it for the long-term future.
"With best wishes
"Tracey Crouch MP."
