Les Ferdinand issues verdict on prospective Newcastle takeover, comments on Mike Ashley

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Newcastle United legend Les Ferdinand has delivered his verdict on Mike Ashley’s tenure as Magpies owner and on the prospect of new ownership, in conversation with BBC Sport.

The Magpies are in the final stages of a takeover bid, with the club now very close to being bought off Ashley, as reported by talkSPORT on Wednesday.

PCP Capital Partners, headed by Amanda Staveley, have brokered the £300million deal which is being backed by the Saudi Arabian royal family’s Public Investment Fund.

Ashley and PCP have entered into a binding agreement, with terms agreed last week and a deposit paid, and documentation has been sent to the Premier League.

Newcastle’s prospective new owners are expected to have major ambitions upon arriving at St. James’ Park and Ferdinand hopes that everybody can benefit from the takeover deal once it’s completed.

“Mike went in and put a load of money into the club but it wasn’t a match made in heaven,” Ferdinand told Dan Walker of Football Focus, as quoted by Chronicle Live. “There’s been disgruntlement from day one since he got there.

“If this comes to a conclusion and there is a takeover it will be in the best interests of everybody. Mike will get what he wants for the club and hopefully the investors will get what they want and come into the club.

“Hopefully, they can turn them round to title contenders rather than be one of the teams struggling near the bottom of the table.”

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Ashley’s tenure at Newcastle hasn’t been particularly popular amongst most Magpies fans, to put it mildly, and following plenty of mediocre seasons and false dawns regarding takeover, it looks as though there will finally be a change of ownership.

The Saudi group is reported to have assets of more than $320billion, so there is certainly plenty to get excited about.