It was a year ago this week, sitting in Mike Ashley’s office, that he gave his view on how business is conducted at the highest end.
‘The reality with these deals is that once it gets out, if it’s not done, it’s probably not going to get done,’ he said. ‘The day someone buys Newcastle, it will happen like Manchester City. By the time the media find out, it’s already complete.’
January. That was the first time we heard about the Saudi Arabian takeover of Newcastle. On Sunday, it will be August. Ashley is not everyone’s cup of tea, but let’s not pretend he doesn’t know business.