Ashley: I want a partner at NUFC

Jul 10 2008 By Graeme Whitfield

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has laughed off a link with the family of terrorist Osama bin Laden as he looks for new investment in the club.

The billionaire, who completed a £134.4million takeover at St James’ Park a year ago, has found himself surrounded by rumours that he could be ready to sell-out.

However, amid speculation that there have been discussions between his representatives and US private equity fund InterMedia Partners, and more intriguingly, the Saudi Binladin Group, Ashley has moved to clarify the situation.

Asked about the link with the bin Laden family, he told the Evening Standard: "I think I’ll start with people from Newcastle, not in some cave in Afghanistan."

The Saudi Binladin Group is run by Osama’s half-brother Bakr bin Laden, although the family distanced themselves from the Al-Qaeda founder some years ago.

However, while insisting he has no immediate intention of seeking a buyer, Ashley admitted he would welcome new investors to St James’ Park.

He said: "I would say that I am keen to have partners in Newcastle. That’s a very expensive seat I sit in."

Managing director Derek Llambias moved swiftly earlier this week to dismiss the sell-off talk an accused rumour-mongers of attempting to destabilise the club.

The famously reticent Ashley’s comments will add weight to his words after months of speculation that he could make a quick profit on the club and get out.

He spoke out as his Sports Direct empire, which was floated in March last year, reported that profits for the year to April had halved after a drop in sales attributed in part to poor weather last summer and England’s failure to qualify for the finals of Euro 2008.

Ashley said: "I think last year, we were on the Titanic and still dancing with the band. This year will be different."

He will hope the forthcoming season on the football pitch will be equally different as he oversees manager Kevin Keegan’s summer recruitment mission.

The Magpies have so far made just one new signing, Argentina winger Jonas Guttierrez, and Keegan will certainly be looking for several more additions to a squad which has been reduced significantly in size by the departures of Stephen Carr, Peter Ramage, James Troisi, Lamine Diatta and David Rozehnal since the end of the last campaign with Emre seemingly certain to follow.

In addition, midfielder Joey Barton is expected to spend up to another month in prison after being denied early release with an electronic tag.

The 25-year-old had hoped to be allowed to join in pre-season training, but could now not be available until the final few days of preparations, meaning he is unlikely to be ready for the start of the new Barclays Premier League campaign on August 16.

Barton’s future remains in the balance after he was imprisoned for six months for assault and affray and then given a four-month suspended sentence for attacking former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo, with Newcastle confirming they would hold talks with he and agent Willie McKay on his release.

But for all there is much work to be done behind the scenes before the new campaign gets underway, there is an air of positivity around the club following the return of the bulk of the squad for pre-season training this week.

Goalkeeper Steve Harper, the last remaining player signed by Keegan during his first spell as manager, has seen the impact the 57-year-old has made already and is sure there is more to come.

Harper said: "He has made a massive impact. We couldn’t have been any lower when he came in.

"He has lit the place up. We just hope he receives the backing to bring in the players to get us into the top half of the league.

"Realistically, we are looking at the top eight, but hopefully it can be the top six.

"We finished 12th last year and we have got to get back into the top half of the table.

"But it won’t happen overnight. We have to first look to get back in the top six at some stage and then build year on year."