trooper

The Art of Distraction. The transfer windows open, Rafas contract needs sorting. Pretend theres a buyer for the club all the time the clocks ticking down.

Charnley "Rafa if you just sign this forget about the small print Mike's got a buyer for the club hes loaded" Rafa " Ok you sure about this" Charnley "Yeah just sign it's for 10 years like you wanted" A few days later Charnley " Rafa I dont know how to tell you this the deals fell through. Rafa "But you said" Charnley "Never mind you've got your 10 year contract & btw Mike says theres no money again"

This from N.O. There's no doubt that Sheikh Khaled is part of the Emirati elite, as several people have already stated he's a distant cousin to Mansoor. You can access all the relevant press releases related to the family on their official news portal: http://wam.ae/en It's just that he's considered relatively, for lack of a better word, insignificant in terms of actual wealth and influence in the region. This is underscored by the fact that he's consigned to dogsbody roles such as the head of the 'Board of Directors of Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs', basically the kind of dead-end positions that the family would throw to a pitiful hanger-on out of benevolence. I posted yesterday to be wary, it's because the guy hasn't been very successful growing his businesses in the UAE, he owns a middling insurance firm and some property assets. However, he has a flair for publicity as evidenced by this partnership (https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/press-releases/story/GCOX_signs_MOU_with_His_Highness_Sheikh_Khaled_Bin_Zayed_Al_Nahyan_to_expand_global_celebrity_token_footprint_to_the_Middle_East-ZAWYA20180502104648/) with a celebrity Blockchain company (which counts Michael Owen among its advisors ) last year. My biggest doubt relates to him having access to sufficient funds to clinch this deal. I hope I am wrong and this goes through, as even if the guy isn't very rich, he'd definitely be more motivated and interested than Ashley to run the club properly so that it's self-sustaining.

More from that Edward's article Telegraph Sport understands that although a price has been agreed with the Al Nehayan, the United Arab Emirates based businessman is yet to provide proof of funds with sources indicating there is a long way to go before a deal is concluded. Manager Rafa Benítez has also been told it is business as usual as no takeover is imminent. Other interested parties are also adamant claims Newcastle are on the verge being sold to Al Nehayan are completely false. It is also understood that a report stating that papers have been submitted to the Premier League to ratify the takeover are also inaccurate.

Aye what's happening with Rafa ?

It's not about me though Ray mate

What I'm saying is Liverpool asked him to put down a £25million deposit & he never did

This from The Star... The £2bn bid for the Anfield outfit required outside funding of £750m, believed to be from a Chinese investor, to make up the money.

When it came down to putting down a deposit he didnt come up with the money

Just over 14 years ago when I came out of hospital (after my stroke) my son Axl who was 8 at the time said "dont worry dad I'll be able to take you to the match" bless him I wasnt well enough & he obviously couldn't have taken me. A couple of years later & Ashley bought the club I never liked the bastard & vowed not to go back to SJP while Ashley owned the club. But theres now light at the end of the tunnel Axl's now 22 & hopefully we'll get to a match very soon

My self imposed exile from SJP may be over

Imagine this place without the SD signage I cant believe we're finally going to free from that bastard.

In response to numerous reports in the world media this morning, we would like to comment as follows. “We can confirm the representatives of his Highness Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nahyan are in discussions with Mike Ashley and his team about the proposed acquisition of Newcastle United Football Club. “We view it as an honour to have the opportunity to build on the strong support, history and tradition of the club. We have agreed terms and are working hard to complete the transaction at the earliest opportunity. “Best Regards, Midhat Kidwai, Group Managing Director, Bin Zayed Group.

Talks with Rafa going into the 10th day. Also the 10th day of the transfer window being open & all of a sudden this story drops. It feels like a massive smokescreen to me. But hey what do I know ? Bugger all like everyone else. I wonder if there'll be a rush for season tickets now.

This from Caulkin at 9.59 this morning At this stage, it’s worth sprinkling a bit of salt on everything, if only because this is such a familiar path. And there is plenty of cynicism about this new report from those in & around the sale process. “It’s a word beginning with ‘b’,” one says. That word isn’t ‘brilliant’.

It'll all be much clearer in the morning.

Close to buying us ? Hmm The Sun article says contracts have been signed & submitted to the Premier League

Yeah it's to good to be true breaking story at 10.45pm on a bank holiday Sunday night it's a bit suspect

It's not true is it lads ?

Please let this be true

If this £100 million is true (I've no idea if it is) it goes against all of Ashley's constraints. Must include agents fees & the whole of the players contract wages. Never in a million years will Ashley allow that.

" There is an unwillingness to bow down to his demands" Doesnt sound like Ashley's willing to split any difference

Not sure how reliable this is but here it is... From 90Min: ‘Benitez met with the Newcastle board last week, and 90min has learned that the former Liverpool boss has informed the club he wants a guarantee of a £100m budget to take the club forward written into his deal; this excluding money raised through player sales, and not inclusive of player wages. And although the club are keen to extend Benitez’s stay, there is an unwillingness to bow to his demands, thus the delay in any confirmation. It remains to be seen whether the club will give Benitez what he wants – it remains unlikely – or whether Benitez himself will be given enough assurances to re-sign.’

Day 7 & nothing, it really should have been a formality. The longer it drags on the more I think Ashley wants rid of Rafa. It really does show what Ashley thinks of Rafa when he's left it to Charnley to sort it out.