Nufc For Sale? Newcastle United chairman Freddie Shepherd was remaining tight-lipped yesterday after reports the club was facing two takeover bids. There were claims yesterday that a British businessman is planning to use money from the sale of his company to launch a bid for the St James's Park club. And there have also been rumours that a group of entrepreneurs from Malaysia are looking at taking a controlling interest in the club to make it the centrepiece of a leisure and gambling complex. Mr Shepherd has recently increased his stake in Newcastle's plc, with the Shepherd Offshore company he runs with brother Bruce buying 150,000 shares in the club for £71,625. But yesterday he said that he could not comment on any takeover rumour because of rules concerning the governance of publicly listed companies. Mr Shepherd said: "Even if I had heard anything, I couldn't comment. It's a public company and we're bound by certain rules. The only thing I can say is that I've got absolutely no comment to make." Mr Shepherd's latest investment in the club brings Shepherd Offshore's holding to 26.7% of the total shares in Newcastle United. A takeover bid would have to be launched if a single shareholder reaches a 30% stake but it is thought unlikely that Mr Shepherd wants to take the club back into private hands. Sir John Hall and his family remain effectively the club's biggest shareholder, owning 28.5% via a trust and 12.6% through vice-chairman Douglas Hall's Cameron Hall company. After a disappointing last season, many Newcastle fans have hoped for the same sort of investment that transformed Chelsea into title winners. But there are few people in the world that can match Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's massive wealth. Supporters would also fear a takeover similar to the Malcolm Glazier deal for Manchester United, which has brought warnings of higher ticket prices and tight controls on spending on players.
hahahaha its some Malaysian gamblers I heard poor toon. ps. how funny is it that theres a TGI Fridays opened right next to ST James park and all the workers wear RED WHITE AND BLACK
