Mike Ashley has told potential buyer Henry Mauriss to make his move to buy Newcastle United with the club now ‘up for grabs’, according to Lee Ryder of The Chronicle. Ashley has no intention of keeping the club for longer than he has to and with a number of parties reevaluating their stance after the collapse of PIF’s potential buyout.
Mike Ashley Urges Henry Mauriss to Make His Move
American Businessman Lined up to Buy Newcastle United
Henry Mauriss emerged as a potential buyer while PIF still had exclusivity after signing a non-disclosure agreement. However, that expired in June, so Ashley is welcoming bids from other parties or consortiums.
Ashley held talks earlier this year with Mauriss as the two are living in America with the former being there since the turn of the year. He gave Ashley a verbal agreement that he would pay £350 million for the club, something Amanda Staveley highly doubts as she tries to revive her second failed attempt at buying Newcastle.
Ashley Now a Willing Seller
Ashley has been desperate to sell the club for 12 months now and was shocked when he was informed of Amanda Staveley’s consortium removing their bid to purchase the club after the Premier League left everyone in the dark for four months.
Many are rubbishing Mauriss as a potential buyer with a severe lack of information available on the American so questions on where the money would come from are rife. Accompanied by Ashley’ brief and peculiar statement via Lee Charnley saying he was still committed to selling club Stavelely’s consortium.
In the past, Ashley has been described as an arrogant and awkward person to deal with. Constantly changing demands after agreements were made and not being reasonable or sensible. However, this time around Staveley, who has a reported bad relationship with the Sports Direct Tycoon claimed they had a good working relationship.
The Club is up For Grabs
However, with the deal looking increasingly unlikely now between Ashley and Staveley’s consortium he has said the club is now up for sale to any other parties and is willing to listen to all offers.
Despite having a verbal agreement with Mauriss, Ashley has told the American he will not receive any special treatment until a deposit is made, just like the £17 million one was made by Staveley and the rest of the consortium.
Newcastle fans want Ashley out, Ashey himself wants out so it is just a waiting game as it has been for the Geordies since January and the reported interest from PIF.
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