Football News, Transfer Rumours, Transfer Window updates - Championship

Trio involved in Newcastle takeover bids?

nospam@example.com (Sharpy) — Wed, 1 Jul 2009 18:24:00 +0100

Current Toon owner Mike Ashley wants a quick sale of the club and brokers Seymour Pierce, led by Keith Harris, are in discussions with upto 5 group.

We understand that 3 of the groups could be led by:

SIR TOM HUNTER
A Scottish billionaire who has previously attempted to takeover Glasgow Rangers in the past. Hunter previously owned sportswear firm Sports Division, which was sold to JJB Sports, in which Ashley owns shares.

In 2006 Hunter admitted that he

"had a look at Rangers' in terms of possible investment but was 'not prepared to put money in and wave goodbye to it".

With the possibility of buying Newcastle at a knock-down price, Hunter could see the possibility of taking the club back to the Premier League, which could double or even treble the value of the club.

FREDDIE FLETCHER
The controversial former Chief Executive at St James Park, who joined the club from Glasgow Rangers in 1991 and stayed with the club until 2000. He was at the centre of the ‘Save Our Seats’ campaign in 1998, in which the club informed 4,000 season ticket holding fans that their seat prices would be increased to corporate rates, with the option of paying it or being moved to seats in the proposed expanded sections.

Fletcher was the man who brought Kevin Keegan to the club in 1992 and last year Fletcher backed the potentially managerial partnership of Kevin Keegan and Alan Shearer:

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put Newcastle where it should be, at the top of the tree,"
"For their own, and the sake of this great club, I say: Don’t blow it!"
"The ideal scenario would then be for Kevin to move into an executive capacity as director of football,"
"In the short term this would achieve much needed stability, but the long-term potential is limitless."

FREDDY SHEPHERD
The former chairman who has this week been linked with a £60m offer for the club. Shepherd would not be able to finance the club and his own and would need financial backers if he was to buy back a stake in the club.

As with Fletcher, Shepherd in an unpopular figure with the fans on a number of issues including:

- Sacking Sir Bobby Robson after only 4 games of the season.
- Being blamed for running the club into massive debt
- The 1998 ‘News of the World Exposé’
- The managerial appointments of Sam Allardyce, Graeme Souness and Glenn Roeder

With an expected announcement on new owners to be made as early as next week, Newcastle players joined pre-season training today under orders from temporary boss Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood who has re-joined the club on a week-to-week basis until new owners take charge.

Newcastle Takeover to be completed in the next 10 days

nospam@example.com (Sharpy) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:59:06 +0100

We understand that Newcastle United will be under new ownership, as soon as next week.

Two interested parties have entered into due diligence and one party is eager to complete the deal as soon as possible.

The identities of the parties are not yet known, however we believe that a consortium, headed by former St James Park chairman, Freddy Shepherd is one of the interested parties.

Current owner Mike Ashley placed a £100m price tag on the club 10 days ago.

Shearer faces delay over Newcastle job, Curbs on standby

nospam@example.com (Sharpy) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:06:00 +0100

Newcastle United favorite Alan Shearer will not be offered the St James Park manager’s job until a new buyer is found for the club.

Current owner Ashley will not appoint Shearer after the pair disagreed on issues to take the club forward during a series of meetings following the clubs relegation.

If a new buyer is not found in the next month, then we understand that former Charlton Athletic and West Ham manager Alan Curbishley is on standby to take the hot seat, on a temporary basis.

Meanwhile, The Singapore-based Profitable Group has confirmed its interest in buying United.

The company released a statement on its official website stating that they have made contact with investment bankers Seymour Pierce.

The statement read: "A preliminary discussion with representatives appointed to handle the sale of the club has been held. There will be no further comment at the present time."

Ashley set's £100m Newcastle asking price

nospam@example.com (Sharpy) — Mon, 8 Jun 2009 12:09:23 +0100

NUFC Official Statement

The Board of Newcastle United can today confirm that the Club is for sale at the price of £100m.

Interested parties should contact Newcastle United at admin@nufc.co.uk (or Keith Harris at Seymour Pierce) for further details.

The Club will not be making any further comment at the present time.

QPR set to announce new manager

nospam@example.com (Sharpy) — Tue, 2 Jun 2009 20:38:12 +0100

Queens Park Rangers are set to announce Jim Magilton as their new manager in the next 24 hours.

QPR trio of billionaire owners Flavio Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal have gone through 4 managers in John Gregory, Luigi De Canio, Iain Dowie and most recently Paulo Sousa, aswell as 3 caretaker managers, in under 2 years following the August 2007 takeover.

Magilton will not be a popular choice with Rangers fans after failing to guide Ipswich into the Championship play-offs this season, which saw him sacked as The Tractor Boys boss by new chairman Marcus Evans, who has since appointed Roy Keane, who won both his games in charge since taking over at Portman Road.

Roy Keane for management return at Ipswich

nospam@example.com (Sharpy) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:14:55 +0100

We understand that former Sunderland manager Roy Keane is set to be apppointed the new manager of Ipswich Town tomorrow, following the sacking of Jim Magilton earlier today.

The former Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, Glasgow Celtic and Republic of Ireland international midfielder has been out of the game since departing the Stadium of Light on the 4th December last year.

Keane was in charge for Sunderland's promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship in the 2006/2007 season where he lifted the team from bottom of the league, to the Championship title.

The following season saw Keane led the Makems to Premier League safety, finishing in 15th place.

We believe Keane will sign a 3 year deal at Portman Road.

QPR to name Zidane as new boss

nospam@example.com (Sharpy) — Sun, 4 May 2008 09:46:23 +0100

Sunday newspapers report that former World Player of the year Zinedine Zidane will be named as the new manager of QPR before their final game of the season, at home to West Brom today, kick off at 14:00

The former Real Madrid and Juventus star is said to be favored by Flavio Briatore, alongside co-owners Lakshmi Mittal and Bernie Ecclestone to be the man to attract the quality of player sufficient enough to propel Rangers to the Premier League.

Briatore recently struck a deal with Real Madrid to create a link-up between the two clubs, which would see a number of Madrid's youngsters spend time on loan at Loftus Road.

Zidane is well connected at the Bernabeu, following he world record £46m move in 2001.

Club captain Gareth Ainsworth caused rumour to spread by commenting on the clubs official website.

"Sunday promises to be a day every QPR fan, old and young, remembers for the rest of their lives"