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Amanda Staveley tells Simon Jordan ‘The Saudis’ are still here and ready to buy Newcastle United

3 years ago
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Friday morning has seen Amanda Staveley and Simon Jordan having a lively debate about the Newcastle United takeover.

Speaking on Talksport, the pair argued a lot about transparency…even though to those listening it was transparent that they were both on the same side where this was concerned.

Both Amanda Staveley and Simon Jordan believing that the Premier League arbitration process with Newcastle United should be made public and transparent.

Simon Jordan though making the point, that at any time it only needs 14 Premier League clubs to have a vote at any time, which would then make all future arbitration processes the Premier League is involved in, public and transparent.

Simon Jordan though accusing Amanda Staveley of ‘rabble rousing and getting a gullible fanbase to believe’ that the Government are the ones who can play a leading role in making this arbitration process public and transparent, when it is purely down to the Premier League.

Amanda Staveley then defending the ‘gullible’ fanbase…’Saying that the fanbase is gullible, is ridiculous. We are looking forward to welcoming you [Newcastle fans] into St James Park and we are looking forward to try and get this transaction over the wall…and it will do.’

Maybe the most interesting part of the whole debate / argument (read below) was when a clearly sceptical Simon Jordan asked: ‘Are the Saudis still there by the way Amanda because they walked away?’

After all, if the Saudis aren’t still there to fund the takeover…everything else is a little pointless.

Amanda Staveley replying: ‘We have made our position clear. We are all there Mr Jordan. We are all passionate about Newcastle, all the consortium members are. I’ve made that clear in my last two interviews…’

Amanda Staveley appearing on Talksport with Simon Jordan and Jim White – Friday 16 July 2021:

Simon Jordan:

“Amanda, the arbitration process, I think you are absolutely right to drive it into the public domain, but you know it has nothing to do with the Government, they made their position clear. It is to do with the Premier League and the 20 clubs, of which Newcastle are one of, to change the rules [and make arbitration action transparent].

“The 20 Premier League clubs can change that rule, bring arbitration into the public domain, make transparency as a matter of course. Newcastle United have had 28 years to vote around transparency of arbitration.

“So my point is, you are barking at the moon.”

Amanda Staveley:

“Simon, I actually think you are wrong.

“Football has changed dramatically in the last two years because of covid.

“I know you are not in favour of our deal but I am not going to get in a spat over that on Talksport.

“You’ve never met me, you don’t know me, you’ve never looked at our business plan and you’re not aware of the facts…”

Simon Jordan:

“Amanda, Amanda, you’ve just said you don’t want to have a battle, so lets not get into that…”

Amanda Staveley:

“Give me a chance to answer your question.

“You’re right, the Premier League have the right to vote this [make the arbitration proceedings public / transparent], that’s what we might do, ask to do. But the Premier League is run by a board and they are allowed to make decisions on how these processes are run.

“Now arbitration was a particular point on a particular point of law.

“It is not something that you can say is typical of the process that has been going on to do with sports arbitration over the last year.

“The Government has said this process should be transparent, they are supportive of it, why don’t you think Simon it should be?”

Simon Jordan:

“No, I do. You haven’t listened, Amanda, you haven’t listened. I absolutely agree with you that the process should be transparent.

“We are in a different world now and the idea that this type of thing should be held behind closed doors is a very dated concept, but it is the gift of the 20 clubs in the Premier League, of which 14 can make a quorum, to say to the Premier League board, who work for the 20 clubs, we want to have a vote, we want to change the rules to make transparency part of the modern day reporting process.

“So we are in the same space Amanda but we are doing it from a different perspective.

“What you are doing is rabble rousing and getting a gullible fanbase to believe that the dynamics of what you are trying to achieve is going to give an outcome. When truly the Government have been very clear, back to the Premier League, you go and resolve this.”

Amanda Staveley:

“We’ve asked the Premier League to resolve it and they can have a vote on this, they can have a vote on promoting transparency…

“Saying that the fanbase is gullible, is ridiculous.

“We are looking forward to welcoming you [Newcastle fans] into St James Park and we are looking forward to try and get this transaction over the wall…and it will do.”

Simon Jordan:

“Are the Saudis still there by the way Amanda because they walked away?”

Amanda Staveley:

“We have made our position clear.

“We are all there Mr Jordan.

“We are all passionate about Newcastle, all the consortium members are.

“I’ve made that clear in my last two interviews, I’ve made it clear to Sky and to Tyne Tees.”

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