Ashley's 'Hitmen' Will Run The Show On Geordieland

Last updated : 05 July 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

Ashley closes in on his £134.4million takeover at St James' Park, once again keeping away from the media spotlight. Which is music to Newcastle fans having endured Freddy Shepherd's "cloth cap and whippet" antics of recent years.

The sportswear tycoon is expected to de-list the club from the Stock Exchange later this month and snap up the remaining shares to assume complete control.

Chris Mort (deputy chairman): "He doesn't want to be the larger-than-life character sitting in the front row of the directors' box.

"In an ideal world, he would probably sit with the fans in a black and white shirt, if he could get away with it.

"I am not sure he will, but he would rather take a back-seat role.

"He is very excited, very excited at how the club might go forward.

"The Halls and the Shepherd family are massive supporters of the club and they would have been very uncomfortable selling to someone they thought might not take the club forward.

"There was a sense that Mike is someone who might take the club forward.

"We will do what we can to take Newcastle United as high as we can.

"It is a club that's got huge potential and we are going to do what we can to develop that potential.

"There is a massive passion with the fans which frankly, is one of the reasons we are here.

"If the supporters are so passionate and so behind the club, that makes it a fabulous club to get involved with.

"We need to look at the existing debt position, which is too high, and we will address that.

"Mike is very comfortable in extending brands internationally and we will do what we can with Newcastle too."