Newcastle supporters launch fund to buy stake in club if owner Mike Ashley sells
ByReuters
Published 08/04/2021 at 14:49 GMT
The Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) is asking fans to donate what they can to the fund, so that there is a pot of money ready if the Sports Direct businessman decides to sell. Last year, a takeover from a Saudi Arabian-backed consortium collapsed after the group declined independent arbitration. Should the fund not be used, it will be donated to local charities.
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce at St James' Park, when fans were permitted to attend
Image credit: Getty Images
The Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) has launched a fundraiser, asking fans to donate money so that it can buy a stake in the club if Mike Ashley decides on another attempt to sell the Premier League side.
Newcastle's proposed £300m takeover by a Saudi Arabian-backed consortium collapsed last year after the group declined independent arbitration.
Newcastle are 17th in the English top flight with 29 points, three points above the relegation zone with eight games left.
The NUST's fund, called "The 1892 Pledge", urges fans to make donations of anything over 1 pound.
"The Trust is raising money so that if Newcastle United is relegated under Mike Ashley (again) and fails to win promotion back to the Premier League (or worse suffers another relegation) ... we are ready to save the club if it needs saving," read the NUST statement.
The fund has four trustees including former Newcastle and England defender Warren Barton and member of parliament Ian Mearns.
"It is the supporters that make Newcastle United valuable. It is me and you. We are the asset that the owner of the club seeks to make millions in profit from," the statement added.
"The 1892 Pledge Scheme seeks to allow us to represent ourselves when the club is sold. We are Newcastle United. This club is our club."
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