British financier Amanda Staveley was in attendance at Newcastle’s St. James Park on Sunday, fuelling speculation that the Middle East investment group she represents have set their sights on the purchase of Newcastle United FC.
In September 2008, Staveley, who runs the $37 billion private equity fund PCP Capital Partners, played a crucial role in Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs, during his high-profile purchase of Manchester City from Thaksin Shinawatra.
A year previously, she was also involved in an attempt by Dubai investors to purchase Liverpool FC, before it was sold to Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillet.
In June, Staveley, told Arab News that she considered English football to be an “attractive investment”, even though she declined to say which, if any, clubs her clients were considering investing in.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has recently expressed a willingness to sell the club and officials have reportedly held discussions with investors from several countries, although the club has declined to offer any details. Any potential buyer, however, would reportedly have to pay at least £300m ($400m) to persuade Ashley to sell.
“If somebody would like come along and take this seat and fund Newcastle with a nought on the end with their wealth more than me, I will not stand in Newcastle United’s way,” Ashley told Sky Sports in August. “I don’t think you’ll find there’s many people out there who will actually stand up and do it.”
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