Amanda Staveley hits back at Mike Ashley and insists she is not a time-waster and still wants to buy Newcastle
Ashley walked away from a deal this week with a source describing negotiations as “frustrating and a complete waste of time"
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AMANDA STAVELEY has hit back at Newcastle owner Mike Ashley – insisting she is not a time-waster and still wants to buy the club.
Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners firm bid £250million for the Toon in November, well below Ashley’s £350m asking price.
And Ashley this week walked away from takeover talks with her, with a source describing negotiations as “frustrating and a complete waste of time.”
But speaking publicly for the first time, exclusively to The Times, Staveley, 44, said: “I’m very much still interested in buying Newcastle – and our bid remains on the table.”
Staveley described the accusations from Ashley that she is not a serious bidder and is just a publicity seeker as “hurtful and absurd”.
And she says she would have invested £200m into Newcastle on new players and updating the club’s training ground.
In an interview with The Times, Staveley insisted: “This is an investment, but it has to be a long-term investment.
“Newcastle would be run as a business, but we want it to be a successful, thriving business that is an absolutely integral part of the city.”
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Staveley’s bid also included a stipulation that current boss Rafa Benitez remained in charge at St James’ Park.
She added: “Rafa is doing an incredible job. We want Rafa to be part of this project.”
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Ashley is yet to respond but Staveley’s comments are unlikely to convince him to do business with her after all - especially as her bid is still only £250m.
The Sports Direct tycoon, though, is still keen to sell the club and is confident he will receive other offers nearer his valuation.