Richard Masters breaks silence on takeover after Newcastle United launch fresh legal case against the Premier League

Toon owner Mike Ashley is pushing ahead with both an arbitration case and a Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) as he battles for the Amanda Staveley-brokered deal to be approved.

The timescales over the CAT case, presented to Ashley and the club by Newcastle Consortium Supporters Limited, are expected to become clearer in the next week or so.

Ashley has employed a different legal team to fight the CAT case, headed up by anti-competition specialist Danny Jowell QC, of Brick Court Chambers.

PCP Partners, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the Reuben brother agreed to purchase the club, 15 months ago, but failed to get past the owners’ and directors’ test.

The Gazette understands PIF, along with the other two consortium parties, remain at the table and simply await a green light to complete the financial formalities of the £305million+ deal.

Masters, the Premier League’s chief executive, refused to provide any details on the ongoing takeover – and appeared to take a sly dig at the Magpies after Steve Bruce’s side mathematically secured top-flight safety.

When asked to give his reaction to United staying up and if they were any updates on the proposed takeover, Masters told Sky Sports: "They're in the Premier League and they'll be pleased about that but there's nothing I can say about the takeover or any talks."

When approached by the Gazette last week, the Premier League issued a ‘no comment’ response.

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