Today’s back pages: Mike Ashley cashes out of Newcastle as Saudis close in on £300m deal
A round-up of the sport headlines from UK newspapers on 15 April
Saudis to buy Magpies
One story dominates the back pages and that is the news that Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is close to selling the club for £300m to Amanda Staveley, a financier fronting a bid which involves Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and the Reuben Brothers.
“Ashley cashes out” is the headline on the Daily Express, while the Daily Star’s “Flog on the Tyne” is almost identical to the Daily Mirror’s “Flog of the Tyne”.
Describing Ashley’s 13-year spell as owner of the Magpies as “controversial”, the Mirror weighs up what the takeover will mean for long-suffering Newcastle supporters.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“Is this the start of a journey to turn Newcastle United into contenders again or the triggering of an even more controversial chapter in the Tyneside club’s history?” declares the paper.
“Newcastle United no longer a vehicle to promote Sports Direct. But instead used as a trophy purchase to ‘sportswash’ one of the most evil regimes in the world - hiding behind the more acceptable face of consortium head Amanda Staveley.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Deferral decision
The Daily Telegraph and The Sun are two papers reporting that the English Football League (EFL) and Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) have advised that clubs defer up to 25% of players’ wages in April in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The proposal is applicable to Leagues One and Two, with Championship clubs expected to make their own decisions.
With no football likely before June, the lower leagues of English football face a period of severe financial turbulence, and in a joint statement they said the advice amounted to a “recommendation and not a directive as there are clubs who have stated no requirement to take immediate action at this time”.
Pogba’s war of words with Souness
“Sou are you?” is the headline in the Daily Express as the paper reports on the bizarre feud that has erupted between Paul Pogba and Graeme Souness.
Fiery former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder Souness has never been a fan of French playmaker Pogba, labelling him “selfish”.
TV pundit Souness renewed his criticism in a recent newspaper interview, saying: “Pogba has absolutely everything to be a top player - great athleticism, super technique - but his attitude to the game is the polar opposite of mine.”
As The Guardian reports, Pogba’s response was a withering putdown when he told the Man Utd Podcast: “I didn’t even know who he was, really… I’m not someone who watches a lot of [punditry]. I watch a lot of football but I don’t stay after the game to listen to what they say about why they did this, or why they did that. I like to focus on football.”
The barb clearly rankled with Souness, who in conversation with Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports’s The Football Show, said: “You know the oldest saying in football comes to mind: Put your medals on the table. I’ve got a big table.”
True, Souness did win five English First Division titles with Liverpool, and three European Cups gongs, but Pogba - still only 27 - has four Serie A winners’ medals plus the little matter of a Fifa World Cup winner’s bauble.
Today’s sport headlines
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City’s financial charges: what next for the Premier League champions?
feature The club is alleged to have breached financial rules around 100 times over a nine-year period
By Mike Starling Published