Possibly. Or, and I know our fans wouldn't want to accept it, perhaps there is some ambiguity in terms of the ownership of the club should it go through? I'm not sure that anyone will make public what those misgivings are, so as fans or those taking an interest, we can only speculate. That in turn leads to accusations about the cartel and unfairness etc. All in all there has to be a more unique and transparent way to complete these tests etc. The secrecy that surrounds them is not helping anyone and gives rise to them being up to dodgy stuff. I can't see why the details of a test can't be made public after the event. I'm sure we will get people quoting right to privacy or confidentiality etc, but that is something they'll have to sign up to if they want to buy a club. Of course this wouldn't happen and this will all die down and they can go back to their normal practices about who is allowed in their private club.
Most reliable reports suggest that PIF, run by Al Rumayyan, were majority stakeholder. They assured the PL that MBS would not be involved in the decision making. PL chose to not believe the evidence they provided. They have pulled the "reasonable doubt" card, which is governed by themselves. So Hoffman says "hmm, not sure" is enough for them to fail it. The over-riding issue with this is - how the **** is Sheikh Mansour allowed to own, run and pump unlawful amounts of money into Man City, when he's the State of UAE? How can it make any difference if MBS or KSA is influencing or not? Ashley could take this even higher and cite the likes of PSG, seek assurances from the FA, UEFA, FIFA, UKGov, etc. To be absolutely clear, the PL is just a team of marketing & admin staff who work on behalf of the PL. As has been documented, that effectively means the big 6 - Daniel Levy has repeatedly been quoted saying things like "we only want we're entitled to" when referencing bigger clubs getting more of the TV money. Masters himself was approved by Liverpoool & Man U - doubt Charnley had much of a say! As a result, they had a call to make on the PL and the votes of the 6 count for more than anyone else. There's the underlying threat of yet another breakaway - something FIFA is pushing for at a Global level - and so I think the PL weighed up the options and decided taking on Ashley was the lesser threat. The problem with this recourse is that Ashley et al haven't done anything wrong, whereas the other side of the coin is filled with corruption and unfairness. So whilst Ashley is the lesser threat in immediate terms, the existential threat from being 'found out' is infinitely bigger. All this the week after they lost £170m and cancelled a £568m contract with China. People should never assume that just because people are in heightened positions or are wealthy that they're competent. The likes of Masters and Hoffman believe they're awesome, of course, but the truth is they're just people making stupid mistakes in the name of selfishness and greed. I genuinely think, in Mike Ashley, they have picked the wrong guy to mess with.
Well Luke Edwards the guy who admits he winds up nufc fans and the guy than kept banging on about Henry Mauriss is claiming the takeovers officially and permanently off. He's saying last night's statement was meant to draw a line under the entire thing, but has done the opposite. Sorry, but I think he's talking ****e.
This has all worked out very well for our owner in that respect. He's gonna have an army of NUFC fans now on his side saying "Go on son....****ing stick it up em!" If the PL have not believed the evidence that they were presented with by PIF then that explains why all attempts at arbitration were either ignored/refused. Arbitration to me is a step in the process AFTER rejection. PIF, Ashley, Staveley and JR have handed the PL a nice length of rope with a little noose on the end of it. The PL have literally just put said length of rope around their neck....stupid ****s. Go on Ashley son....****ING STICK IT UP EM !!
Regardless of the takeover I like the idea we will find out if we indeed have been victims of corruption. I hate the idea of them getting away with something so sinister. This isn't just another failed takeover this is a city being denied 100s of millions at desperate time. I think some people think another one's coming along... Nowhere close to this is ever coming along..
You've also got Staveley, taking ****ing Barclays to court. You'd really like to think the people in charge at the Premier League aren't so pig-ignorant as to want to take on her and Mike "**** MP's I do what I want" Ashley.
