Source: Daily_Mail
Newcastle sale boost: Moat closes in on £100m deal for Championship club
Stars and stripes: Newcastle have made a promising start to the season despite boardroom troubles[LNB]Newcastle will make an announcement on Monday as talks continue with local businessman Barry Moat over a proposed £100m takeover the club.[LNB]Owner Mike Ashley was expected to make a decision by the end of this week over whether or not to accept one of the bids currently on the table, or to continue running the Magpies himself for another season.[LNB]Ashley is in discussions with Moat, as well as two other consortia, as the retail entrepreneur looks to strike a deal for the club he bought for £134.4million two years ago.[LNB]However Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias says Moat, has been in the directors' boxfor the last two home matches, is in pole position to buy the club.[LNB]Llambias said he is tied by confidentiality clauses, but he is confident a sale could be completed before the end of the month.[LNB]He said: 'We are in negotiations with Barry. I am not going to talkabout individuals but I am hopeful. Like everything you have to getmoney in the bank and banks and money are very tight at the moment.[LNB]`We are still working very closely with people and we need closureas soon as possible. We do have to be quiet with what we are doing soplease be patient.'[LNB]Llambias revealed other parties are also involved in negotiations,but he has virtually written off the chances of a consortium led byformer Tottenham defender Graham Roberts, who met the club's board onThursday.[LNB]Roberts's group, which also includes former Liverpool striker DavidSpeedie, wants to hand control of the club to fans, if they aresuccessful. But Llambias has dismissed their claims.[LNB]Llambias added: 'They are well-intentioned but they have to haveproof of funds before we continue and it is a very tall order andunrealistic in three weeks. It is a dream and a very difficult thing,football is tough and very fickle.[LNB] In talks: Barry Moat (right) could buy Newcastle off Mike Ashley by September[LNB]'They are way behind. We have parties that we are more or less atthe signing stage so it is all about getting money into the bank.'[LNB]But Roberts remains confident. He said: 'We had a fantastic meeting,we know where we stand, we know where they stand and we have asked tolook at the accounts. They will be with our accountant in the next fewdays and we will take the next step from there.[LNB]'We were up front and part of our deal is we want to get the fansinvolved and be like Barcelona so they can run the club pick thechairman and the manager and they have a chance to really run the club.They said go away, have a look at what you have to look at and comeback.[LNB]'We don't want to run the club. The company that I am working withwill set it up but the supporters will run the club. This is a chancefor fans to show they could run the club better.'[LNB] Fabricio Coloccini's huge Newcastle pay deal could scupper Espanyol getawayNewcastle 1 Sheff Wed 0: Hot shot Ameobi fires Toon up the table [LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People:Graham Roberts, Mike Ashley, Derek LlambiasPlaces:Newcastle, Barcelona, Liverpool
