The bid is still on the table for Newcastle - Amanda Staveley

The bid is still on the table for Newcastle...

That's what Amanda Staveley, who's trying to wrestle the club from Mike Ashley's grip, has told The Times newspaper this morning.

Staveley is adamant she still wants to buy Newcastle despite the apparent collapse of her bid to do so.

United remain up for sale after owner Mike Ashley called a halt to negotiations which had been ongoing with Staveley's PCP Capital Partners since November.

On Tuesday, sources close to him dismissed them as a complete waste of time''.

It's understood there had been no contact between the two parties since before Christmas, and that the sportswear magnate had lost patience with both the public nature of the pursuit and a lack of tangible progress.

But speaking to the Times, Staveley insisted she remained a genuine bidder.

"I'm very much still interested interested in buying Newcastle. And our bid remains on the table,'' she told the newspaper.

"This is an investment, but it has to be a long-term investment. Newcastle would be run as a business, but we want it to be a successful, thriving business that is an absolutely integral part of the city."

She also added that manager Rafael Benitez was fundamental to her bid, adding: "Rafa is doing an incredible job. We want Rafa to be part of this project.''

Newcastle remains on the market and an offer to accept payment in instalments over a fixed period is also still available.

However, Ashley has let it be known that he will only consider potential buyers who are serious in intent and who can prove it by demonstrating that the finance is in place to do a deal.

He is also determined that any negotiations will be conducted in private, as was the case when he launched his #134.4million takeover back in 2007.

PCP were one of several parties to sign non-disclosure agreements with the club after it was put up for sale in October last year, and some are understood to be monitoring the current situation, although none are anywhere near as advanced in their interest as Staveley's group.

The Sports Direct tycoon had hoped to secure a sale by Christmas, giving a new owner time to make a mark in the January transfer window, but having failed to do so, now faces the task of funding a limited recruitment drive

It's led to supporter campaign group AshleyOut releasing this statement:

AshleyOut has this evening read with astonishment an exclusive interview with Amanda Staveley by respected journalist George Caulkin in The Times.

Ms Staveley has stated on the record that three bids have been made for Newcastle United Football Club in various payment structures (as suggested by Mike Ashley).

This directly contradicts a Mike Ashley approved statement released by his preferred media vessel, Sky Sports News.

This is the third time Mike Ashley has tried to sell the club. This time we know that a credible buyer has tabled a number of bids via Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and ex Newcastle United Chairman Chris Mort - the man that worked for Ashley on his purchase of the club.

In October 2017 Mike Ashley stated:

“To give the club the best possible opportunity of securing the positioning and investment necessary to take it to the next level at what is an important time in its history, its present ownership has determined that it is in the best interests of Newcastle United and its fans for the club to be put up for sale,” the statement read.

“To give an incoming owner the maximum possible flexibility to make meaningful investment in the club, including in its playing squad, the sale process will give interested parties the opportunity of deferring substantial payments.”

Mike Ashley is a proven liar.

“The club admitted to the tribunal that it repeatedly and intentionally misled the press, public and the fans of Newcastle United.”

Mike Ashley's legacy of Newcastle United is of constant lies, false dawns and failure and now it is time for him to negotiate seriously with Ms Staveley (or other serious interested parties if they exist) to allow a worthy custodian to to take over Newcastle United to begin to rebuild itself as the football club we love and know it can become.

AshleyOut group will consider its position in light of these latest developments. We are fully behind Rafa Benitez and the team and hope for an excellent result at Manchester City on Saturday.

WE DON'T DEMAND A TEAM THAT WINS. WE DEMAND A CLUB THAT TRIES