It remains to be seen whether the Prince Investment Fund ever get the opportunity to buy a stake in Newcastle.The bid has been made and Mike Ashley has agreed to it, but for various reasons, PIF have so far failed to pass the owners' and directors' test.When and if they do remains to be seen, but if you believe the Premier League chief Richard Masters, a resolution is close.Piracy and Saudi Arabia's human rights record has got in the way of a straightforward exit for Ashley who rather remarkably, is still the owner of Newcastle United.The Magpies are stuck in a bit of a rut at the moment, losing two games on the bounce.The fact the takeover is still delayed, therefore, is unlikely to improve the feeling in the north-east.There are so many uncertainties surrounding Newcastle at the moment and for the good of the club and every single party involved, it just needs to be passed so people can crack on with their lives.
Most of the doubt has been cast because of beIN Sports. The broadcasting company were showing Premier League matches illegally and as a result, the top-flight have wanted a TV deal wrapped up.However, when all is said and done, Professor Simon Chadwick reckons that PIF will finally buy into Newcastle.Talking on Twitter, the business and politics expert said he'd been trying to work out for months why they wanted to invest in the Magpies. He was also speaking about leaks from the Independent surrounding phone calls from the British government to Saudi. He claimed it was because the Saudi state owns that particular newspaper.In a concluding tweet from someone thought of as a leading commentator in contemporary sports issues, Chadwick made an exciting claim.
GIVEMESPORT'S Matt Dawson says...
For someone with knowledge of business, politics and sport to suggest that the takeover will go through is extremely encouraging.
A whole host of people and so-called experts have chimed in on the likelihood of Saudi Arabia gaining influence over Newcastle but it really does feel like we're in the final stages now.
Saudi Arabia passed new measures to protect IP which demonstrated that they do mean business in the fight against piracy.
They are laws that the Premier League need to stand up and take notice of if PIF are to ever pass the test the top-flight have set out.
However, another agreement between the British and Saudi governments to sell arms to the Middle-East was struck in the last seven days too.