Newcastle United bidders hit by new blow after fresh takeover claims

Bellagraph Nova Group (BNG) claimed in August that it was in “advanced” negotiations over a bid for the club. However, the proposed takeover, quickly ran into controversy.

Now Terence Loh has quit the group amid a police investigation into Novena Global Healthcare, a company linked to the Singaporean but not part of BNG. Loh has denied any wrongdoing.

Evangeline Shen – who co-founded BNG with Loh and his cousin Nelson – last week spoke about the group’s interest in Newcastle.

"Bidding for Newcastle is part of our strategy, because it's a well-known football club, but still has room to improve, and we believe that improvement is good for the club as well as for our brand,” Shen told the BBC. "We started real planning for the club such as whom to hire as trainer and whom to sign for players.”

Meanwhile, Ashley last month instructed two leading QCs to represent the club in its dispute with the Premier League, which did not approve a proposed Saudi Arabia-backed takeover in the summer.

Blackstone Chambers issued a statement which revealed that they would be acting for the club and Ashley.

The statement read: “Shaheed Fatima QC and Nick De Marco QC are acting for Newcastle United FC and Mike Ashley (instructed by Dentons) in a dispute with the Premier League about its rejection of a takeover bid made by PCP Capital Partners, the Reuben Brothers and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia based on its Owners and Directors test.”

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Hi, our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club every single day, home and away, 365 days a year.

This depth of NUFC coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at the Shields Gazette, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package.

You'll find all the details at shieldsgazette.com/subscriptions/sports.

Your support is much appreciated.

Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor