Qatari investors size up Newcastle United takeover deal as Mike Ashley ponders mega sale
Major investors in Qatar are looking to expand their global football network and are considering a buy-out of Newcastle United’s controversial owner Mike Ashley.
Just a week after the Qatar Foundation clinched a £125million sponsorship deal with Barcelona, a group of gold chip companies from the oil rich nation are looking to invest in a Premier League club.
Sportsmail understands that Newcastle United, who appointed Alan Pardew on a five-and-a-half year deal last week, are currently top of the investors’ list.
Although sportswear magnate Ashley officially took the club off the market two years ago, the Buckinghamshire-based businessman who has invested almost £300m in the club, would be willing to sell to a bidder prepared to pay at least £200m.
Stung by criticism after they were awarded the 2022 World Cup Finals by FIFA, despite worldwide concerns about summer temperatures during the finals and the country’s human rights record, Qatar’s ruling family and its business community has been seeking to sell itself as credible and straight.
Their strategy so far has been to provide charitable investment like the deal with Barcelona which will provide the Catalan giants with £25m over six years,
The Qatar Foundation is a government-backed non-profit organisation which is mainly concerned with providing education projects across the Middle East. It is chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, the wife of the Emir, who was central to the country’s World Cup bid.
Major companies throughout Qatar which carry the country’s name are effectively owned by the ruling Al Thani family and, with money no object following their successful capture of the World Cup Finals in 12 years, following Abu Dhabi to the Premier League makes sense.
Ashley came close to selling Newcastle just before relegation two years but pulled out of the deal with local businessman Barry Moat.
Since taking over the club three years ago he has poured in more than £250m of his own money to invest in transfer, re-pay debts and loans and working capital. The accounts are expected to show another £30m-plus loss following relegation to the Championship.
Despite forking out millions in his own money, his reign has been dogged with controversy and he sparked fresh outrage last week when he sacked Chris Hughton and appointed former West Ham and Charlton boss Alan Pardew.
The new manager has already said he is willing to keep to the new club policy of investing in youth, rather than offer over-the-top contracts to the likes of Fabricio Coloccini and Joey Barton.
The length of Pardew’s contract did raise eyebrows but Ashley and his managing director Derek Llambias are looking to show some stability after Pardew became their fifth manager, which would be welcomed by supporters and potential investors.
Meanwhile, Sunderland striker Darren Bent, who was made Charlton captain by Pardew, has welcomed his former boss’s move to the North East and said he will continue Hughton’s good work at St James’s Park.
Pardew, who has been knocked back by Leicester in his attempt to add coach Chris Powell to his backroom staff, was appointed Charlton boss four years ago this Christmas but was unable to stop their fall from the top flight.
The pair were reunited at the North East football writers’ dinner on Sunday where Bent picked up his player of the year award and he says his old boss’s enthusiasm is still burning brightly.
Bent said: 'Charlton were struggling at the time - we’d won something like one game out of 10 in all competitions - but he came in and was absolutely brilliant. He settled all the players down and got us playing as a team again. Results picked up straight away.
'His man-management was superb. He made me captain, so I’ve got a lot to be grateful to him for, but it’s not just that. He was top-drawer. He got us relaxed, got us playing football. He told us to try and forget what was going on around the club and just concentrate on what we did best. I’m sure he’ll be doing the same at Newcastle.
'He’s a great fit for the Newcastle job. He won’t be scared of it - a lot of people would be - but he’s got the character and personality and to do really well in the North East.
'It’s a great part of the world - coming to Sunderland has been brilliant for me and I’ve loved every minute of it - and the people aren’t just passionate about their football, they’re also welcoming.
'He’s still full of the same passion and ideas. It says a lot about him that only a couple of days after taking the job, he was out and about in the region, mixing with fans and journalists, at an awards dinner. He’s not here for a holiday, he’s here to do a good job and make a difference.'
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Major investors in Qatar are looking to expand their global football network and are considering a buy-out of Newcastle United’s controversial owner Mike Ashley.
Just a week after the Qatar Foundation clinched a £125million sponsorship deal with Barcelona, a group of gold chip companies from the oil rich nation are looking to invest in a Premier League club.
Sportsmail understands that Newcastle United, who appointed Alan Pardew on a five-and-a-half year deal last week, are currently top of the investors’ list.
Although sportswear magnate Ashley officially took the club off the market two years ago, the Buckinghamshire-based businessman who has invested almost £300m in the club, would be willing to sell to a bidder prepared to pay at least £200m.
Stung by criticism after they were awarded the 2022 World Cup Finals by FIFA, despite worldwide concerns about summer temperatures during the finals and the country’s human rights record, Qatar’s ruling family and its business community has been seeking to sell itself as credible and straight.
Their strategy so far has been to provide charitable investment like the deal with Barcelona which will provide the Catalan giants with £25m over six years,
The Qatar Foundation is a government-backed non-profit organisation which is mainly concerned with providing education projects across the Middle East. It is chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, the wife of the Emir, who was central to the country’s World Cup bid.
Major companies throughout Qatar which carry the country’s name are effectively owned by the ruling Al Thani family and, with money no object following their successful capture of the World Cup Finals in 12 years, following Abu Dhabi to the Premier League makes sense.
Ashley came close to selling Newcastle just before relegation two years but pulled out of the deal with local businessman Barry Moat.
Since taking over the club three years ago he has poured in more than £250m of his own money to invest in transfer, re-pay debts and loans and working capital. The accounts are expected to show another £30m-plus loss following relegation to the Championship.
Despite forking out millions in his own money, his reign has been dogged with controversy and he sparked fresh outrage last week when he sacked Chris Hughton and appointed former West Ham and Charlton boss Alan Pardew.
The new manager has already said he is willing to keep to the new club policy of investing in youth, rather than offer over-the-top contracts to the likes of Fabricio Coloccini and Joey Barton.
The length of Pardew’s contract did raise eyebrows but Ashley and his managing director Derek Llambias are looking to show some stability after Pardew became their fifth manager, which would be welcomed by supporters and potential investors.
Meanwhile, Sunderland striker Darren Bent, who was made Charlton captain by Pardew, has welcomed his former boss’s move to the North East and said he will continue Hughton’s good work at St James’s Park.
Pardew, who has been knocked back by Leicester in his attempt to add coach Chris Powell to his backroom staff, was appointed Charlton boss four years ago this Christmas but was unable to stop their fall from the top flight.
The pair were reunited at the North East football writers’ dinner on Sunday where Bent picked up his player of the year award and he says his old boss’s enthusiasm is still burning brightly.
Bent said: 'Charlton were struggling at the time - we’d won something like one game out of 10 in all competitions - but he came in and was absolutely brilliant. He settled all the players down and got us playing as a team again. Results picked up straight away.
'His man-management was superb. He made me captain, so I’ve got a lot to be grateful to him for, but it’s not just that. He was top-drawer. He got us relaxed, got us playing football. He told us to try and forget what was going on around the club and just concentrate on what we did best. I’m sure he’ll be doing the same at Newcastle.
'He’s a great fit for the Newcastle job. He won’t be scared of it - a lot of people would be - but he’s got the character and personality and to do really well in the North East.
'It’s a great part of the world - coming to Sunderland has been brilliant for me and I’ve loved every minute of it - and the people aren’t just passionate about their football, they’re also welcoming.
'He’s still full of the same passion and ideas. It says a lot about him that only a couple of days after taking the job, he was out and about in the region, mixing with fans and journalists, at an awards dinner. He’s not here for a holiday, he’s here to do a good job and make a difference.'
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
