The people linked with Newcastle United are either perpetually stupid or completely inept.

Barry Moat has finally broken his silence regarding the Newcastle United takeover and his failure to buy the club. In comments released yesterday Moat admitted that he too would consider selling the naming rights for St. James’s Park. Anything to make a few quid eh Barry?

It’s clear now that Barry Moat is more of the Mike Ashley variety and not the clever, astute businessman we all hoped he would be when he was first linked with buying the club. Let’s get one thing clear for any other businessman, tycoon or consortium interesting in buying NUFC: The name of St. James’s Park is not for sale.

Will someone show me where I can spend a few bob and invest money in the NUST? I have a better chance in the takeover of the club than Barry Moat ever had.

Both the Daily Mirror and the Times are reporting that Barry Moat has launched a formal takeover bid for Newcastle United. Moat is said to have significant financial muscle from American investors and has received guarantees from Barclays that he will be given working capital to run the club.

The offer is said to be a small amount less than the £100 million Mike Ashley is asking for Newcastle, and the Toon chairman now has to make a decision – sell up and leave, or dig his feet in until Newcastle get promoted.

We don’t have a game for another two weeks. By that time we could well be seeing Alan Shearer in the dugout and a new owner in the director’s box. Here’s hoping.

The man favoured by Keith Harris of Seymour Pierce to complete the takeover of Newcastle is said to be within days of finalising a deal. George Culkin, one of the most well respected football journalists, has reported that one of the potential obstacles to the takeover going through, the club’s ongoing saga with former boss Kevin Keegan, will no longer stand in the way of Newcastle’s future.

The saga is set to be concluded on Friday as both parties have agreed to adhere to the decision of an independent arbitration panel. With this out of the way, there appears to be little obstruction to Barry Moat’s takeover and the appointment of Alan Shearer as Newcastle United’s permanent manager.

The Daily Mail are reporting today that should Barry Moat’s bid to takeover Newcastle United be accepted, then Alan Shearer could be re-instated as the Toon’s manager “within days”. Mike Ashley, who is said to be flying back from Hawaii to discuss Moat’s bid, is due in London to meet with Keith Harris of Seymour Pierce.

If Ashley doesn’t accept this bid, then surely time has ran out on expecting new owners before the end of the transfer window. I can barely contemplate Mike Ashley staying on as owner let alone having to go through another season like the last.

The club needs a lift and wholesale changes need to be made from the boardroom to the playing staff if we’re to mount anything like a serious promotion bid.