'Better the devil you know' - Newcastle fans react to reported Chinese takeover interest

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Published on:

12 Jun 2017, 1:42 pm

By Danny Wright

Newcastle could be bracing themselves for a change of ownership in the near future - and supporters on Twitter have surprisingly urged Mike Ashley not to sell.

Sky Sports News reported on Monday that a Chinese consortium "are interested in buying" the newly promoted Premier League club on their official Twitter account.

BREAKING: Sky sources report that a Chinese consortium are interested in buying Newcastle. #SSNHQ
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 12, 2017

Sky Sports also reported on their live transfer blog on Monday [18:05] that "a number of international parties" are also competing to buy the club off Ashley.

The current Newcastle owner has been very controversial in his ten years in control of the club.

He has overseen two relegations from the Premier League and has been consistently criticised for not offering his managers enough financial backing.

However this summer has seen Ashley promise Rafa Benitez full financial flexibility as the Toon prepare for life back in the big time after winning the Championship title this season, with some supporters thinking that he may have turned a new leaf.

The majority of fans are sceptical though, and think that in some cases it could be a case of "better the devil you know".

Here is a selection of their tweets:

would rather stick with ashley, unless they are ready to invest billions into the club to bring world class players in #nufc which i doubt
— Andy Stott (@Moleps1892) June 12, 2017

#NUFC needs new start post-Ashley, but takeover a bit like Brexit. Better off seeing the deal before you dive in like lemmings off a cliff
— Jamie Smith (@Mr_Dolf) June 12, 2017

If Ashley sells up, then the land behind the gallowgate must be part of the deal imo. #nufc
— Kev Hall (@DeKuip02) June 12, 2017

Would rather keep Ashley than end up with someone like this...#NUFC #Villa https://t.co/5CerNamQSR
— Richard Aitken (@richardinthebay) June 12, 2017

Better the devil you know Ashley ??? #nufc
— Dave Grant (@DaveGrant05) June 12, 2017

Ashley, 52, has been at the Newcastle helm since 2007 after he bought out Sir John Hall and Freddy Shepherd's stakes in the club.

Since 2014, the Buckinghamshire-born businessman also acquired a stake in Scottish Premiership side Rangers.

In other Newcastle news, Aleksandar Mitrovic has suggested why he struggles to score for the Magpies.

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