The identity of the Nigerian consortium interested in taking over crisis-torn Newcastle United Football Club may be unveiled on Saturday.
A frontman for the group, Mr. Chris Nathaniel, said on Wednesday that talks had reached an advanced stage in the quest to buy the club.
“It’s a serious offer, they’re very serious business people and passionate football fans. We’re still at the early stages, but hopefully in the next 48 hours we‘ll be in a position to make a statement and take the situation further,” Nathaniel told the British Broadcasting Corporation in an interview.
BBC reports that Newcastle has appointed investment bank, Seymour Pierce, to handle the sale.
Newcastle owner, Mike Ashley, who has pumped £250m into the club, wants to sell the club after fan protests against him following the exit of Kevin Keegan as manager earlier this month.
Since Keegan left the club over a dispute regarding control of player transfers, Newcastle has lost its last three league games and on Wednesday crashed out of the Carling Cup after a home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur in front of a less than half full St James’ Park.
“Newcastle should be achieving more than they are. There is long-term potential at the club, there is a lot wrong at the club at the moment but they are determined to put that right by getting the right people in and using the right structure,” added Nathaniel of NVA management.
But Nathaniel remained tight-lipped over suggestions that the Nigerian consortium would try to tempt Keegan to return to the club..
“Kevin is a hero on Tyneside, he’d be a great choice but I can’t say too much,” said Nathaniel.
Meanwhile, former England manager, Terry Venables, on Thursday rejected an offer to step into the hot manager’s seat at Newcastle.
Venables, who has been without a job since he was booted out with Steve MClaren over the failure of England to qualify for Euro 2008, was reported to have been offered the chance to come in as a caretaker manager.
Venables confirmed to The Sun newspaper, where he writes a column, that he had been in talks with the St James’ hierarchy and said he would make a decision on Thursday about whether to get involved.
“I can confirm I met Newcastle representatives. Those talks will continue in the morning when, hopefully, I can give them a final decision,” Venables said.