Jimbo 175 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Mike Ashley, the billionaire attempting to buy Newcastle United, visited St James' Park yesterday morning to discuss his offer with the current hierarchy. Although it is understood Newcastle's chairman, Freddy Shepherd, was not present, Ashley is thought to have visited him in hospital, where he is suffering from pleurisy and is now considering his Newcastle future. Yesterday Newcastle's plc company announced to the Stock Exchange that a meeting between "the Board of Newcastle United" and Ashley had taken place, adding: "There was a useful and constructive discussion. The Board will now consider its response to the offer from St James Holdings Limited." SJHL is the company Ashley formed to buy Newcastle and which bought 41.6% of the club last week from Sir John Hall. There was a degree of turbulence within Ashley's Sports Direct business yesterday when the chairman, David Richardson, resigned, a move that stirred the City of London, but Ashley's appearance in person at St James' will be viewed as a sign of the 42 year-old billionaire's intent. Ashley is obliged to offer the same £1 per share to all other shareholders and Shepherd, who owns approximately 29% of Newcastle, must consider afresh a bid that will net him about £40m. Shepherd is known to feel betrayed by Hall's secret deal with Ashley but his anger does not mean he has room for manoeuvre. Newcastle said that they will make a further announcement in due course but if Shepherd was informed yesterday that Ashley has guarantees that would take him past the 50% mark then Newcastle know Ashley is in a powerful position. Along with Manchester City's Joey Barton, Mark Viduka is expected to soon join Newcastle. Out of contract after three seasons with Middlesbrough, the 31-year-old was close to joining Newcastle last August. His signing at St James' will be a severe disappointment to Boro's manager Gareth Southgate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 47028 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 (edited) I love that he visited him in hospital. Imagine the look on Shepherd's face. "What do YOU want? " Edited June 1, 2007 by Gemmill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7310 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 With any luck this will all be done and dusted in the next couple of days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 14021 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Im getting bored now like! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 With any luck this will all be done and dusted in the next couple of days It really does need to be one way or another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 47028 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 An announcement to the LSE on Monday would be nice. Looove Sex Entelligence! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJS 4446 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Putting nastiness aside for a moment, I think Shepherd should consider his health - a 63 year old man with Pleurisy/pneumonia should surely be looking to take it easy for a while - taking the money and "disappearing" would be a good solution all round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 An announcement to the LSE on Monday would be nice. Looove Sex Entelligence! A lass at school thought the lyrics to LSI were 'Love, Sex and Janet Jackson' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East Stander 0 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 It doesn't help the nerves when reading this morning's Express and Niall Hickman speculates that Tom Hunter may come in and make a counter bid. Seem to remember the tramps getting very twitchy and impatient at the time it took their Oirish takeover to be completed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 47028 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Who hell Tom Hunter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toonpack 10384 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Who hell Tom Hunter? Richest man in Scotland Only worth just over a billion though He does donate a lot to charidee - smashing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordieshandy 0 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Who hell Tom Hunter? Sir Tom Hunter is a Scottish billionaire, had a chain of sports shops I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22508 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 sir tom hunter wouldn't be a bad alternative tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Putting nastiness aside for a moment, I think Shepherd should consider his health - a 63 year old man with Pleurisy/pneumonia should surely be looking to take it easy for a while - taking the money and "disappearing" would be a good solution all round. I thought that's pretty much what he'd been doing for the last 10 years (besides the odd disastrous decision and somehow managing to break a rib playing golf - which I find amazing, so long as you're not playing golf with Bellamy). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 47028 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Tom Hunter's got a Sir. I want someone with a Sir! Step aside, Ashley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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