Ant and Dec 'leaked WhatsApp messages' show role in Newcastle's Saudi takeover

Newcastle United fans Ant and Dec's were asked to be involved in the Saudi takeover of the club, according to leaked messages.

who negotiated the purchase of the club, told then owner and his associates that she would enlist the help of the Geordie duo.

Within minutes of her saying she would get them involved, their official social media account tweeted a link to a newspaper story Ms Staveley felt would help her cause. The claims date back to October 2020 and the proposed takeover of United.

Talks had stalled over concerns about Saudi-led takeover. Most of the money for the deal was being put up by their Investment Fund (PIF) a sovereign wealth fund that claimed to be autonomous of the Saudi state.

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There were problems as the Saudis had been accused of pirating Premier League match coverage from a Qatari-based rights holder.

On Oct 27, 2020 the Ashley camp WhatsApped Ms Staveley to ask her to promote a news report from the Shields Gazette newspaper about the Premier League being served a legal letter demanding anti-competition disclosure.

The newspaper’s website reported that a fans’ group, the United Supporters’ Trust, had written to the Premier League claiming that its decision to block the takeover was against UK anti-competition law.

At 11:11am that day messages seen by the Telegraph, suggest Ms Staveley sent a reply to Mr Ashley’s team saying: “Will do. Ant and Dec will push it too,” according to messages leaked to Four minutes later, at 11.15am, the official (now X) account of the duo Tweeted a link to the story with a “flushed face” emoji.

Two days later the account posted a link to another Gazette story, commenting: “Interesting Q&A on the legal developments at #nufc.”

It took almost another year for the takeover to happen, after the Premier League dropped its objections following reassurances that PIF was separate from the Saudi government.

The Premier League declined to comment. Ant and Dec were approached for a comment.

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