The news on the street is that the Belgravia Group are planning to step up their Newcastle United takeover.
According to The Chronicle: "The secretive investment group remain tight-lipped about the progress of their talks but, although Shepherd is reluctant to sell his 29% stake, the group have confirmed they will continue to discuss a takeover with all shareholders - not just Shepherd - and are confident a compromise can be reached. It is thought that the key to their plan are the shares owned by Sir John Hall and his family, which total 40.8%.
"The Halls are rumoured to be keen to cash in on their stake and have, since 1998, already sold 21.35% of their shares for a total of £20.35m. Shepherd, who does not want to sell, has, in contrast, been gradually building up his own stake in the club from 7% to 29% through his company Shepherd Offshore since the club first floated on the stock market in 1997".
However, ccording to the Sunday Sun, chairman Freddy Shepherd WOULD consider selling his shares in the club, but only to a North East-based consortium.
The Belgravia Group have been linked with a proposed £100m bid. However, a "source close to the club" has dismissed suggestions that Shepherd would sell.
The source said: "Freddy Shepherd and the Newcastle United Plc board are not in talks with Belgravia. Neither has anyone made an offer for the Shepherd shares.
"If a bid had been submitted, it would have to be declared to the Stock Exchange. And Shepherd has heard nothing since Belgravia's interest in Sir John Hall's shares was made public.
"Shepherd accepts that every club has its price and, as a Plc, if an offer did come in it must be put to the shareholders. He does not want to sell, but if he ever had to, he would want to make sure that it was the right people coming in and that they understood the business.
"The chairman lives in Newcastle and knows what the football club means to the community on Tyneside. Ideally, he would like the ownership of the club to remain in the North East with people who understand the region."