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ICFDS Founder linked with Newcastle role |
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Thursday, 02 October 2008 |
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Source: Daily Mail
By Chris Wheeler
The South African consortium bidding to take control of Newcastle United believe they are emerging as the likely successors to Mike Ashley.
Seven groups are in the running to buy out the Sports Direct billionaire, but the 'Bok Consortium' are confident they have the clout and the plan to head off rival interest from Nigeria, China and America.
Sportsmail can reveal the group are headed by Jonathan Cleland - a South African-raised Scot whose career has been based around developing major brands - with the backing of billionaires Johan Rupert, Brian Gilbertson, Vivian Imerman and Brian Joffe.
Cleland said: 'Now is the time to reveal who we are out of respect for the supporters. The people of Newcastle deserve better. We are not in any way criticising Mike Ashley's running of Newcastle United.
'However, quite simply we have in our consortium the world class skills and talents to achieve the footballing and commercial success required and deserved.'
Each member of the consortium has a history of reviving troubled businesses. Rupert is the man behind Swiss-owned luxury goods company Richemont, and Imerman transformed Whyte and Mackay.
Any bid for control is not expected to reach its conclusion until the end of the month. Key to Cleland's vision of transforming the club will be the appointment at youth level of Simon Clifford, whose Brazilian Soccer Schools have more than two million members.
'We will invest in youth to build a club,' said Cleland. 'Simon Clifford is an integral part of our consortium. Players like Micah Richards have come through his system.'
Ashley is expected to seek around £300million after paying £133m to buy the club last summer and spending about £100m clearing unforeseen debts. |
