You can only imagine how frustrated the Newcastle United fans are.

It's been more than three months since the prospect of a £300million deal to purchase the club was officially revealed.

Since then, supporters have been waiting with bated breath.

Amanda Staveley is the main figure in the Saudi-backed consortium who are hoping to purchase the club, but the acquisition has proved to be anything other than straight forward.

The Premier League are currently running the rule of the investors to see that they match the requirements of a club owner in the Premier League, but issues such as piracy and human rights violations are only the start of the uncertainty over their credibility.

Meanwhile supporters continue to be at the end of their tether with current owner Mike Ashley, and will do just about anything to get rid of the Sports Direct mogul.

But with a decision yet to be made from the Premier League it means that many around the club are speculating over what's going on.

Chronicle Live's Mark Douglas has been discussing the reasons for the delay, with the topic of piracy proving to be a stumbling block.

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Asked why a decision hasn't been approved yet, Douglas wrote: "The question on everyone's lips - even those trying to buy it and Mike Ashley.

"At various stages during this process, the buying consortium have felt a decision is close - and it is tipping in their favour. Most recently after the Saudi government announced a crackdown on piracy there was a belief the decision was just days away - a feeling shared by some of those who have made representations to block the deal.

"But once again, no official decision was arrived at by the Premier League, with Richard Masters later telling a Select Committee that it remained an "incredibly complex" call but that he hoped a call could be made "shortly".

"The suggestion is that the Premier League are still fixed on the piracy issue and, given the entire league's business model is centred around the huge TV rights deals that they have negotiated, they are rigorously examining both Saudi commitments to end illegal piracy of top events and the implications of the decisions they make next."

GIVEMESPORT'S Phil Spencer says...

While patience is obviously key during such uncertain times, you can hardly blame the Newcastle United fans for growing restless.

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For many, a potential announcement of a full takeover is exactly what they’ve been wishing for several years while enduring a turbulent reign under Mike Ashley.

The Sports Direct owner has been a hugely unpopular figure on Tyneside, and that’s why talk of interest from the Saudi-based consortium is such a hot topic of conversation.

But Newcastle fans must still be cautious.

If anyone knows what it’s like to see their club owned by an unpopular figure, it’s Newcastle United fans.

That’s why they must remain patient – after all, the last thing they want is to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire.