Newcastle United Stuck in Takeover Gloom

Newcastle United are on the edge of the precipice, the club will either fly and soar onto a brighter future or crash and burn.

The wall of noise regarding the potential takeover of Newcastle United is deafening. There are so many rumours circulating, becoming increasingly overwhelming for supporters. Unsurprisingly, there has been no communication from the club to ease the fear of their loyal supporters.

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Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez's contract expires at the end of the month. The club have failed to agree terms with the Spaniard. This is quite frankly appalling. Benitez is not asking for the world, his demands are more than reasonable. The former Liverpool manager sees the potential of Newcastle United, and given the right tools, he wants to be able to fulfill that potential.

This summer is a pivotal moment in Newcastle's recent history. Should the club rid themselves of Mike Ashley, a man who has damaged the club for over a decade, a brighter future certainly looms. However, it is up to Ashley himself as to whether he wants to sell the club. Many would ask why the Sports Direct tycoon would even consider selling the club as Newcastle United is Ashley's cash cow.

We are coming towards the end of June, while other clubs are building their squads for next season, Newcastle are twiddling their thumbs. The club could start pre-season without a manager, their player of the season, and no new additions to an already thread bare squad. There is no plan in place should Benitez leave the club. That in itself shows how inept the current regime are.

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Throughout the latest Newcastle United soap opera, the fans are once again caught in the middle. The fans are the ones that suffer every single time, yet they continue to follow Newcastle United up and down the country.

Over a decade of neglect under Ashley's watch, sucking the life and soul out of each and every supporter that goes through the St. James' Park turnstiles each week. It is a wonder how Ashley could be seen as a "Fit and Proper" owner.

The theory that Ashley is using takeover speculation to run Benitez's contract down seems to be the most obvious. It is well known that Ashley hates spending a penny on the club. It is clear he would get enjoyment out of stringing a potential buyer along only to pull the plug at the last minute. Ashley gets a kick out of manipulating people, a sadistic enjoyment from making Newcastle supporters suffer.

Unfortunately, the waiting game is still ongoing, the tumbleweed will continue to blow around St. James' Park and the uncertainty will continue to grow. Mike Ashley's Newcastle United.