MIKE ASHLEY is set to remain Newcastle owner next season after the Saudi takeover arbitration was delayed until 2022.
The Magpies chief hoped the hearing against the Premier League, due to start this month, would see him finally sell up this summer for £300million.
A buyout deal with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), Amanda Staveley and the Reuben brothers collapsed last July.
Arbitration was due to rule on whether the Saudi state and PIF were separate bodies.
But it is now ‘adjourned until early 2022 due to issues with disclosure of evidence’.
Neither the Premier League nor the buyers provided all relevant information for proceedings to begin.
But Staveley’s husband, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, said on Twitter: “There’s only one party playing games here.”
The Newcastle United Supporters Trust said it was ‘unacceptable’ the club had been left in a ‘state of limbo for 15 months’.
It added: “Another delay of at least six months reinforces the need for transparency across all aspects of this situation.”
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has a measly budget of around £10m and is yet to make a signing.
He would ‘love’ to bring Arsenal’s Joe Willock back to St James’ after his stunning end to last season.
As revealed by SunSport, Will Hughes from Watford and Chelsea starlet Conor Gallagher are both targets.
Bruce confirmed Andy Carroll, meanwhile, has left his boyhood club for the second time after one goal in 43 appearances since rejoining in 2019.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
