Premier League - South Africans eye Newcastle

Eurosport - Sun, 28 Sep 10:51:00 2008

A South African consortium has expressed an interest in taking over from Mike Ashley at Newcastle.

FOOTBALL St James' Park Newcastle United - 0

The reaction to Kevin Keegan's departure from St James' Park has convinced Ashley to sell the club and he hopes to find a buyer within the next few weeks.

Newcastle have already been in contact with a group of Nigerian businessmen but a rival consortium has now emerged.

Reports suggest the British-based tycoons have put together a £350million deal, although they have yet to hold formal talks.

"We are serious about Newcastle, we believe they are an iconic institution who deserve to be run professionally," a spokesman for the South Africans said in the News of the World.

The spokesman added that Keegan was the key to the group taking control, with Alan Shearer also in their thoughts.

He said: "Kevin is integral to our plans. We want Kevin to be fully committed to the team and we hope to find a role for Alan Shearer.

"We are not personalities. We like to be in the background, we need to be in the background.

The South African consortium, who plan to keep their identities secret until they have met with Keegan and Shearer, have made their money from rescuing and rejuvenating household brands around the world.

They are confident of reviving Newcastle's fortunes, with the spokesman saying: "The existing management structure has not worked so we'll pay Mike Ashley what it takes to get rid of him.

"The level of expertise we have is in discovering the real problem preventing success. We want to find the root problem and turn the club around.

"We will give the Newcastle fans what they want."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. OII COKER968 RE YOU A SCUM MAN UNITED FAN BY ANY CHANCE DUE TO THAT COMMENT ON NEWCASTLE.

    From Steven, on Mon 29 Sep 9:22AM

  2. MSG TO IAN M : spurs to lose today ... spurs rock bottom ... hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

    From melon, on Sun 28 Sep 5:55PM

  3. all us goerdies just want a bit of stability i know you get the few helmets that think were gonna win the champions league just cos we came 2nd 12 bloody years ago !! me for one respects joe kinnear cos no one else would take it on so he scores points in my book !! and of course i realise that things effect the players but come on is £100000 a week not a canny pick me up ??

    From melon, on Sun 28 Sep 5:45PM

  4. im a real newcastl fan, even if they get relagated i will continue to support the team, they have more history than most uk teams, what can i say, i only hope ashley sells but i hope the skum bag dont get what he wants,

    From Leyton D, on Sun 28 Sep 5:19PM

  5. I'm a Saffie. If this really happens, I might change my allegiance (and I will never walk alone)
    South African footy is in such poopoo I would LOVE to see some local input in the Premier League. Half of us watch only that anyway.. "dream, dream, zzzz..."

    From Liverpool FC Rules, on Sun 28 Sep 3:52PM

  6. Bananaman: Shearer isn't coming to the Toon, as well you know. He's too chicken, because he knows that local hero or not, when the club gets into trouble, the Sid James' Park unfaithful will turn on him lioke a pack pof dogs. And as for Keegan, can't you get it into your heads that he's a LOSER? After over 270 games, with still nothing to show for it, the facts speak for themselves!

    From Paperboy, on Sun 28 Sep 3:41PM

  7. Good luck to the Toon. Decent hardworking guys. So UNLIKE Chelski. They will bottle it as always. How is their cry - baby captain, Terry? Wasn't even man enough to pay tribute to Sir Alex and his champion team. What a disgrace to English football he is.

    From Jon, on Sun 28 Sep 3:33PM

  8. SHEARER!!!!!!!!!

    From ferret, on Sun 28 Sep 2:33PM

  9. consortium,consortium,consortium!!!!!! please will someone rescue the toons as fast as possible,they are sinking.

    From franklin b concience, on Sun 28 Sep 1:42PM

  10. spurs to win today ...skunks to go bottom ..ha ha ha ha

    From ian m, on Sun 28 Sep 1:22PM

  11. Tuska,I guess you u dont watch football,who is on the top today?tottenham?arsenal?fulham ?Its only chelsea mate,who is unbeaten in 85 game st sta. bridge?whohas gone 26 games without a defeat?who is unbeaten in 24 away games?Its only one team ,called chelsea,they are not among big 4,they are the big daddy of all

    From , on Sun 28 Sep 1:19PM

  12. dvdleet: Invalid messages are not banned but technically not allowed. Nothing to do with the content. Avoid using quotation and alike and you should be sweat..

    From Half A Brain, on Sun 28 Sep 11:41AM

  13. BELNEDDER. what do you mean "BIG ONES" Like Chelsea HAHAHAHA They were and still are the 4th team in London. History makes a "BIG ONE" Chealsea has none just a "BIG CASH POT" IN THE 8O'S AND EARLY 90'S YOU WERE LUCKY TO GET 15,000 a home game.

    From TUSKA 08 FTM, on Sun 28 Sep 11:39AM

  14. I began to read this article with interest . . . . right up to the point it revealed its source - the News of the World!!
    Need i say more?

    From cameron w, on Sun 28 Sep 11:09AM

  15. Have they tried taking it to a car bootie ?

    From seapost23@..., on Sun 28 Sep 10:57AM

  16. Though I'm A chelsea fan, it's really a pity to see a club such as Newcastle struggling . It deserves more than that. The last three years have been terrible. The club has all the assests to be among the big ones... in terms of results. A fantastic stadium, very good players, and faithful fans. It's a shame for those who are in charge of the club. Something must be done to save this prestigious club.

    Chelsea till I die.

    From Bel, on Sat 27 Sep 4:00PM

  17. Why is it I try to post a message , and I get a message saying "Invalid Comment"?
    I'm not using bad language.
    Is it cause I'm a Geordie?
    What I was trying to say was I'm listening to Newcastle v Blackburn radio commentary and it's like listening to paint dry.
    As in Blackburn 2 Newcastle Zilch.

    From dvdleet, on Sat 27 Sep 3:56PM

  18. Once again I ask myself: Why do I love this team?
    The senior players weren't asked? Maybe if the senior players had some chemistry or direction!
    Hopefully the Toon will pull it together and not get relegated!

    From Crashy, on Sat 27 Sep 3:44PM

  19. Mr Given & his team mates should be very grateful that ANYONE would take the job. Perhaps getting all the players knuckling down, so Newcastle becomes the sort of team that can attract a good permanent manager, would have been a better idea than whining about the guy who has accepted this poisoned chalice.

    From Allison, on Sat 27 Sep 3:07PM

  20. "" Aw Go On Then , I`ll Take the job...... But I ain`t doin it for Nowt ""

    "" How soon dae ye want me tae turn it around ??""

    From dabigfella, on Sat 27 Sep 2:59PM
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