Alan Shearer has claimed that the proposed takeover of Newcastle United is ‘doubtful now’ when talking on the BBC’s Match of the Day (via NUFC 360) for the last games of the 2019/20 season in the Premier League.
The Tyneside club lost their last match 3-1 at St. James’ Park to the top flight champions Liverpool having surprisingly taken the lead in the opening 30 seconds through Dwight Gayle, only to be pegged back by goals from Virgil Van Dijk, Divock Origi and Sadio Mane.
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Speaking to host Gary Lineker and fellow pundit Ian Wright, Shearer claimed that it is not fair on Steve Bruce, the club themselves or the fans for the whole saga to have dragged on for this long, and added that a final decision from England’s highest division needs to be made.
However, the Magpies legend admitted that he is now doubting as to whether the £300 million deal between Mike Ashley and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabian (KSA) group will be approved by the league because of just how long it has taken so far.
Alan Shearer: “It’s not fair on Steve Bruce, it's not fair on the club, not fair on the fans. He doesn’t know whether he's going to be shopping in Lidl or Harrods next season.
"So a decision needs to be made. But it has to be doubtful now because it’s taking this long.” #nufc
— NUFC360 (@NUFC360) July 26, 2020
Indeed, it has been months since news broke out of the Owners’ and Directors’ Test (ODT) set out by the Premier League to find out as to whether the KSA crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), his country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the businesswoman and head of PCP Capital Partners Amanda Staveley and the billionaire Reuben brothers were both fit and proper people to be taking over the Toon, but results of these checks have not yet been disclosed.
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As Shearer suggests, more clarity will surely be needed sooner rather than later so that NUFC can plan for the next term.
Geordies, do you agree with Shearer? Comment below!
