Premier League - Several Newcastle bids lodged

Eurosport - Tue, 09 Jun 15:09:00 2009

Mike Ashley is refusing to get involved in a bidding war as his quest to sell Newcastle gathers pace.

FOOTBALL Newcastle United Mike ashley - 0

The Magpies owner, having confirmed his asking price for the club is £100 million, is unwilling to become involved in an auction. But his desire to sell is such that the first party to put the money on the table will be handed the reins to end a disastrous stay of a little more than two years at St James' Park.

It is understood there have been four or five serious enquiries since Ashley's intention to sell emerged last weekend. Sources close to the Singapore-based strategic global investment company the Profitable Group, who were linked with a move for Newcastle in September last year, today confirmed their interest in the club.

The group, whose Strategic Sports Investment wing is behind Liverpool's trip to South East Asia this summer, have former Reds and England midfielder Steve McMahon as their group commercial director, and would install Alan Shearer as manager.

Shearer would be given significant, if not outlandish, transfer funds with which to rebuild his squad for life in the Championship.

There has been no official confirmation from the Profitable Group, although potential buyers will be required to sign non-disclosure agreements before they are provided with financial details.

But, although they are the first to emerge from the pack, there is interest elsewhere and, with Ashley looking for a swift resolution to an issue that has become increasingly problematic, individual competitors may have to formally declare their interest soon if they are to strike the decisive blow.

The Profitable Group, founded in 2004 and with offices in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Toronto, Jakarta, Bangkok and Manila, cite their core values as "responsibility, accountability, credibility and excellence", all attributes that have been in short supply within the walls of St James' in recent times.

Shearer returned from a short break in Portugal on Monday still waiting to hear if he would be appointed manager after holding discussions with both Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias since the end of a traumatic Barclays Premier League season.

However, PA Sport understands the current regime, despite an increasingly furious clamour from the club's fans, are unlikely to make an appointment, with several of the interested parties having indicated they would want to make that decision themselves.

PA Sport

Comment 52 - 71 of 71

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  1. Along side Profitable group, Malaysian billionaire­ T.Ananda krishnan is one of the prospective buyer of­ New Castle United. In his statement he said he is keen­ to invest in the club transfer to ensure that New­ Castle is promoted for premier league next season. This­ is interesting news. This guy is as crazy as the­ Chelsea's owner, Roman Abrhamovic.

    From Ikhwan, on Sat 4 Jul 8:39PM

  2. Recycled old guff!!!!
    Shame on you Yahoo/Eurosports!

    From cameron w, on Sat 4 Jul 6:09PM

  3. THIS ARTICLE IS ANCIENT. CAN'T YOU GET SOMETHING­ FRESH ON YOU USELESS *&%$@#$£

    From SHAUN, on Sat 4 Jul 4:57PM

  4. I support Newcastle and i live in kent! My dads side of­ the family are al geordies and my dad lived there til­ he was 10, does that make me southerb scum?

    From ToonToon, on Fri 12 Jun 9:33AM

  5. sr.melvin - enjoy your laugh, you're beyond a joke­ - are you really Mike Ashley in disguise?

    From safcalsftm, on Thu 11 Jun 6:06PM

  6. safcalsftm
    no, no, no - i was there that day and the­ guys carrying the banner were NOT representative of the­ rest of us!
    They acted indepentently, have you never­ heard the saying 'tarred with the same brush'!­ You seem like an intelligent sort to me, you know the­ media drill.

    From cameron w, on Wed 10 Jun 11:24AM

  7. thank you, that's yet another ID i shall watch out­ for and make sure i do not respond to - building up­ quite a collection now; how sad, using multiple­ ID's . . .what a tragically empty life one must­ lead.

    From cameron w, on Wed 10 Jun 11:10AM

  8. heyup melvin,63
    something got under your skin,thought­ we were talking football,i guess you have run out of­ dialogue just like your club,empty.!!!!

    From pianomusiclive, on Wed 10 Jun 10:44AM

  9. humbleman6930. NEWCASTLE IS THE PLACE THAT MOST PEOPLE­ NEED TO TRAVEL THROUGH IF THEY WANT TO GET TO­ sunderland. ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE TRAVELLING BY AIR OR­ RAIL. BUSES GO DIRECTLY TO SUNDERLAND ( FROM LONDON­ ETC ), BUT THEY ARE NORMALLY USED BY THE LESS AFFLUENT.­ FOOTBALLERS VISITING SUNDERLAND TEND TO TRAVEL THROUGH­ DURHAM / TEES VALLEY. safc OFFICIALS DON'T LIKE­ POTENTIAL SIGNINGS TO BE DAZZLED BY THE BRIGHT LIGHTS­ OF NEWCASTLE. just having a laugh!

    From SHAUN, on Wed 10 Jun 8:36AM

  10. FOR SALE:

    RENT BOY. CONTACT impactclean.

    MANY MORE TO­ BE FOUND OUTSIDE OF THE ORIGINALLY NAMED STADIUM OF­ LIGHT. USUALLY ON SATURDAY AFTERNOONS. AUTUMN, WINTER­ AND SPRING.

    FOR MORE UNUSUAL STUFF. CONTACT mambles.­ WORD OF CAUTION. THESE PEOPLE HAVE HYGIENE ISSUES

    From SHAUN, on Wed 10 Jun 8:28AM

  11. Just placed Newcastle in my GPRS and the reply came­ back NEWCASTLE IS THE END OF THE ROAD.

    From , on Wed 10 Jun 6:23AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Don't know why this article is being shown in the­ Premier League section of Yahoo Sport.
    It should be­ shown in the Championship @#$%il they are relegated to­ League 1).

    From mambles, on Wed 10 Jun 5:53AM

  13. For Sale: NUFC
    Small local football club recently­ relegated and will probably be relegated­ again.
    Currently has no manager; last one didn't­ have any coaching qualifications.
    Usually has more­ managers each season than wins!
    Some good players,­ others don't try or even care and one is a jailbird­ scumbag scouser.
    Fans still think it is a big­ club.
    Have won nothing for donkey's years!
    Any­ serious offer considered (must be more than one­ curly-wurly).

    From mambles, on Wed 10 Jun 5:50AM

  14. seventh heaven 56 cameron in disguise.
    you really are a­ nerd,cameron.
    granny.

    From impactclean, on Wed 10 Jun 5:31AM

  15. for sale
    premiership club
    mid table
    quality players­
    immense history
    sell out gates
    massive­ airport
    £100m
    WEST HAM UNITED.
    SOLD.

    From impactclean, on Wed 10 Jun 5:24AM

  16. 156 ha ha ha ha enjoy the next decade crying coke

    From davefbolburn, on Wed 10 Jun 2:51AM

  17. It looks as though the sale of NUFC will go through in­ the next few weeks and we will have MAJOR backing to­ get us back up to the premier league. It's an­ exciting time once again and the imminent appointment­ of big Al only adds to the spice. You can mock us all­ you like for what was a terrible season this year, but,­ you all know deep down that we will have the last laugh­ when we return, stronger than ever before !!
    We are the­ biggest and best club in the North East and always will­ be and that is a fact. Sunderland will once again­ struggle in the premier league as they are one of the­ minnows. So buckle up all you Toon fans, get behind the­ team and let's get ready for the rollercoaster ride­ back to the top where we belong !!!!!

    From 7th Heaven !!, on Tue 9 Jun 11:42PM

  18. Haway Cameron (comment 54), you can do better than that­ - in his former life we questioned the girth, family­ heritage and parentage of "the big plank". ­ Of course that is all history now, he's an honorary­ Mackem now.
    Re your comment 53, I must be going senile­ but I'm sure I can recall seeing banners denouncing­ the "Cockney Skum" and demanding­ "Cockney Mafia Out". Perhaps I just imagined­ it?
    P.S. I was tempted to make an e-mail bid yesterday­ but then thought to myself "no, you queued for­ that Oasis ticket, you don't want to miss the­ gig" (can't wait).

    From safcalsftm, on Tue 9 Jun 11:12PM

  19. Hutch, I self-respect myself at least once a day.

    From PATRICK, on Tue 9 Jun 10:55PM

  20. how much is the big plank making from sunderland; a­ right old whack i bet.

    From cameron w, on Tue 9 Jun 10:45PM
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