Football finance expert Kieran Maguire says that there is a 'huge case' for Newcastle United's prospective owners selling shares to the club's Supporters Trust.

The proposed £300m takeover by the Saudi Arabia-led consortium collapsed last summer (via the Guardian), but there is still hope that it can be revived.

What's happening with Newcastle's takeover now?

According to The Telegraph, the offer will be resubmitted if Newcastle are successful in their arbitration case against the Premier League. A panel will adjudicate on the reasons behind the failure of the takeover.

If they were to complete the deal at long last, they would be presented with a dilemma. The Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) has asked for donations from fans as it looks to secure a 1% stake in the football club.

'You've been through a challenging decade under Mike Ashley'

Maguire told Football Insider: "I think there is a huge case for the new owners saying: 'You've been through a challenging decade under Mike Ashley, we're completely open and transparent and we would like you to come on board'."

However, he went on to explain that there would be a way to limit fan involvement, saying: "If the new owners want to invest heavily, one way to do that is to issue loads more shares. Then all of a sudden, that one percent could become half a percent."

Transfer Tavern verdict

As Maguire noted, it would be an excellent PR move if the new owners were seen to embrace the 1892 Pledge, an action which would surely start off the new era on the right foot.

This all remains hypothetical for now, of course. According to The Athletic, the crucial arbitration process still hasn't begun in earnest and is moving along at a 'painfully slow' pace. Also, Maguire noted that the incumbent Mike Ashley 'hates' the NUST idea and wouldn't countenance it.

It seems a commendable idea on theory, but the practicalities of pulling it off could be difficult.

In other news, Newcastle could lose this player in the summer.