NCSL write to Boris Johnson over stalled Newcastle United takeover – and wants answers or they'll take the fight to Downing St

NCSL have today posed 10 questions to the PM to answer in relation to the Premier League’s non-decision on the proposed £300million takeover of Newcastle United by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben Brothers.

And should they not get answers by midnight on January 13 - or a meeting to discuss their concerns - the group have declared they will march on Downing Street, COVID-safe of course and when legally allowed to do so, with the full support of buyer and seller.

The group claim they are tired of generic responses from MPs, questioned by fans on the process, and do not think the idea of a government and fan-led review with the Football Supporters’ Association will bring fair and balanced change, nor do they think pushing takeover issues to the Independent Football Ombudsman will provide the answers needed.

As a result, they sent off a letter and email to the PM direct, asking for his intervention in the matter (read the letter in full here).

They propose four options: questions answered in full; a Zoom meeting or COVID-safe one in person; a meeting between the PM and the four QCs working on the deal at present – Robert O’Donoghue, Daniel Jowell, Shaheed Fatima and Nick De Marco; or if no response, a COVID-safe march once safe to do so.

Regarding the letter, an NCSL statement reads: “NCSL would like to thank messrs Masters and Hoffman for their well-planned but ill-timed Christmas present at 17.45 pm on 23/12/20 (read the Premier League’s legal letter to NCSL here). It is clear you are becoming experts in delays and derailment.

"The city of Newcastle and the enormous fan base around the world have simply had enough of your procrastination. Thank you for stirring up the people who want to see a potential investment of £1 billion+ made in the North East with the uplift in jobs and opportunities we are sure this will create.

"Through a challenging pandemic and post-Brexit world this is vitally important to our city.

"We will do everything within our power to stop your games and to respect a deal that some of your so called ‘big six’ wanted for themselves. We look forward to a great 2021 on Tyneside. Keith Patterson & Gordon Stein, Newcastle Supporters Consortium Limited.”

A flavour of some of NCSL’s questions for Boris Johnson

- What are you going to do to stop the EPL from trying to embarrass a major ally’s royal family and allow a separate trading company in their country to make a potential 10-figure investment into a post-Brexit UK City and its infrastructure?

- Please can you explain the level of urgency and resource you are now going to apply (with timeframes) to convince the people of the North East of England that you are going to expedite this investment in a transparent process to secure this deal?

- As PM are you going to let this drag on for another nine months or are you going to set up a public review of this matter and allow full consideration of PIF’s legal teams?

- This potential investment involves jobs, business opportunities, an uplift in social activity & welfare in a post-Covid and post-Brexit period, and this has now run longer than any other ODT exercise. Can you confirm that this is now a clear matter of public interest?

- Would you like to receive more evidence or be party to a discussion in relation to this ODT assessment, carried out in public?

- If this deal collapses how do you propose to make up this loss in investment and job creation in the North East region of England?

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