Club remain in limbo as buyer search draws blank

NEWCASTLE United’s players and supporters face a period of worrying uncertainty after Mike Ashley’s initial efforts to find a quick buyer for the club appeared to hit a brick wall.

Ashley has reportedly flown to Dubai to find a taker but City sources say there is no interest from any arm of the Dubai ruling family in the club. The family’s investment body, Dubai International Capital (DIC), yesterday made it clear they are not “planning a bid for any football club”.

Ashley wants to sell his interest in Newcastle just 16 months after staging a 134.4 million takeover. But he has also indicated he wants a return on his investment – “this is not a fire sale,” he said on Sunday – so that could mean it is some time before a buyer is found and the club can return to an even keel. There are already fears that no manager will take the job left vacant by Kevin Keegan while such uncertainty exists over the future ownership.

The Magpies have only taken four points from their opening four games and could be dragged into an early relegation fight if the problems off the pitch continue to reflect the results on it – as was evident in Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Hull.

It is understood that Ashley has been trying to contact Amanda Staveley, the investment adviser who runs PCP Capital Partners and has the best financial contacts in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Hull City have confirmed that the challenge by Newcastle’s Danny Guthrie’s on Craig Fagan in Saturday’s match resulted in a broken leg for the striker. Guthrie’s shocking injury-time challenge saw him shown a straight red card and Fagan left the ground on crutches.