Former Manchester City chief Garry Cook ‘behind Newcastle United takeover group’

Former Manchester City chief Garry Cook ‘behind Newcastle United takeover group’
Former Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook is reportedly fronting one of the groups looking to take over Newcastle United.Cook, an ex-Nike executive and the CEO of City from 2008 to 2011, is claimed to have put together a consortium aiming to buy out Mike Ashley.2

Garry Cook could be set for a return to football

According to The Sun, the group’s funding is coming from the United States, where Cook has strong business links.Peter Kenyon has also been fronting a consortium but it is understood he is more than 100million short of Ashleys asking price.The former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive has managed to raise 200m but Ashley wants more than 300m to sell the club. Speaking earlier this month, the Newcastle owner said he was hopeful of sellingthe club before the January transfer window opens.He revealed talks with an interested party were at a more progressed stage than they have ever been.The Sports Direct tycoon said: I am hopeful for the Newcastle fans, for the club, for everybody, that I will be able to step aside and we will be able to get an owner in that will please everybody.Id like it to be before the January transfer window.2

Mike Ashley has listed Newcastle United for sale

Ashley took control at St James Park in 2007, but has endured a turbulent 11-and-a-half years at the helm.Fans have been in open revolt for much of his time on Tyneside with the billionaire having insisted he cannot afford to take the club to the next level.That has left manager Rafael Benitezs future in doubt with the 58-year-old Spaniard, who is out of contract at the end of this season, having been disappointed with the clubs transfer dealings for much of his reign to date.Benitez guided the Magpies to a 10th place finish in the Premier League last season 12 months after dragging them back out of the Sky Bet Championship at the first attempt despite having to work to a tight budget.

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I have to wonder how Barcelona would afford Griezmann, and how Atletico would afford Lacazette. Assuming a move for Griezmann did materialise, Atletico are still spectacularly in debt, and one would assume that at least some of the (admittedly massive) Griezmann money would go towards servicing it, not to mention lowering the wage bill.

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To concede a match before the kick-off by fielding an artificially weak team is in contravention of Rule 10E in the FA handbook, which says that every club must field its strongest available team in all matches in all senior competitions. The concept that every team goes out to do their best in every match is what keeps the game honest.
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Real Madrid are reportedly eager to sign former Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas in the summer. According toDiario Gol(via theExpress'Jack Otway), Los Blancos managerZinedine Zidane is keen "to sign a playmaker with Barcelona DNA," and he sees Chelsea's Fabregas as an ideal target. The report added that Chelsea are ready to sell Fabregas
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AFC Wimbledon's FA Cup hero Scott Wagstaff will make sure his team-mates dye their hair if they manage another shock win this weekend. Wagstaff scored twice as the Dons beat West Ham 4-2 in the fourth-round last month - and the midfielder stayed true to his pre-match promise and dyed his beard blue and yellow on Thursday.
Scott Wagstaff dyes beard blue and yellow after AFC Wimbledon

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Attacked Liverpool fan `now eating independently and trying to sing´ 'I'm gonna f***** kill you, you ginger c***!': John Arne Riise lifts the lid on extraordinary golf club bust-up with team
The Sydney Morning Herald Blogs: Sport
blogs.smh.com.au/sport/archives/2007/02/grand_final_weekend_hangover.html
The stories coming out of the tabloids suggest that Craig Bellamy attacked John Arne Riise with a golf club, after Riise refused to get up and sing karaoke. Barça played on Sunday, whereas Liverpool will have had ten days to prepare come game day, so the teams have had different preparations in that respect.

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Tottenham vs Crystal Palace live stream, what TV channel

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