Newcastle United are a club 'in limbo' as takeover talk 'sabotages' real progress – Liam Kennedy

In our weekend Q&A with our Newcastle United writer the issues of the stalled Saudi takeover, its impact on things at ground level at Newcastle United and what the future holds are tackled.

Is the Newcastle United takeover at a standstill?

A lot of fans will be starting to get the feeling they had back in June last year. The silence from all parties, and lack of tangible update, does induce similar thoughts – fears of the impending doom, etc. But it’s not the same.

Where last year there was no real route to a decision, with the top flight board unable, or willing, to make a definitive call, now, with arbitration on the horizon, all routes point towards progress, for positive or negative.

The arbitration, if it falls in United’s favour, will likely see a reapplication of the owners’ and directors’ test on the deal, which remains very much on Mike Ashley’s table.

When that arbitration starts – the actual hearing that is – is pure speculation and rumour. Chances are this will all be done behind-closed-doors and we may well only get an idea of the outcome when all is said and done. That is IF it gets done at all, with talks outside that very likely.

Where has this off-field talk left United?

In limbo. This was a season, like any other, that could have represented real progress – instead it has stood for regression. As a club United are worse off and as a team, not as good as last year, or the one before that.

While this deal represents a potential new dawn on Tyneside, a chance for proper progression beyond the turgid, rinse and repeat relegation fears, it has also had a debilitating impact on things on the ground.

Transfer decisions have been taken with the potential change of ownership as a constant undercurrent, so too calls on the future of the manager, appointment of coaches and a whole lot more.

Frankly, everyone needs a decision, whether it is a pass or a fail. Because Newcastle, as dysfunctional as it is, needs to start acting like a proper Premier League club again, as close to one as is humanly possible under Ashley.

Do you have confidence this deal will go through?

Confidence is a dangerous word. Hopeful is the best way of putting it. Timeframes and deadlines have come and gone with no progress, some of which have been in the last few weeks – and yet, we wait. Some say the next few weeks will be crucial – and they might be, if things develop in the Middle East. But can we really timescale that? These things move quick or very, very slow. Newcastle and the consortium need quick. Although, they do have their legal avenues to explore, too.

What does the future hold if it doesn’t?

A sale. Just not to the consortium, if their deal fails. Ashley wants out. And I think if someone offers an up front deal, without installments, at a lower price than PCP, I think he’d sell. All that, though, is hypothetical at the moment. He wants this deal and no other.

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