Simon Jordan makes ‘wrong’ claim about Newcastle United takeover

Simon Jordan has made an admission over his past Newcastle United comments.
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Simon Jordan has responded to the banner aimed at him at St James’ Park earlier this month. Newcastle United fans are feeling a little smug at the moment, with their side sitting in the top four just over a year or so on from being stuck in the misery of their Mike Ashley tenure.

The time when the PIF fund’s takeover collapsed seems a long time ago for the Magpies, who have taken strides forward since the takeover was eventually completed. Initially, the Premier League rejected the takeover attempt, but PIF were eventually given the authorisation they needed from the league. Since then, Newcastle have spent around £200million, and with the help of Eddie Howe and those new players, they look like a force.

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Fans have long memories, though, and one fan held up a banner at St James’ Park on the one-year anniversary of the takeover earlier this month. The banner read ‘Deader than a dead thing from dead land’, referencing talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan’s comments on the proposed takeover.

Jordan has now responded to the banner, telling talkSPORT: “There’s lots of things I got wrong. I got it wrong that the ownership would take over. I got it wrong about the fact I didn’t think Eddie Howe could build a side that could defend. I got it wrong that Eddie Howe wouldn’t be the ultimate outcome.

“I still challenge whether Eddie Howe will take them to the promised land, but right now, where they are, you have to give a tremendous amount of appreciation to it. Most of the things they’ve done, from the people they’ve put in the dugout, to the players that they’ve recruited, to the backroom staff that they’ve brought in has been right.

“This is a swallow, not a summer, we will see. 38 games in, and we’re sat here and they finish fourth or fifth in the league, it’ll be an outstanding achievement. They’re doing well, and I’m pleased for those Newcastle fans that have balanced perspective that they are.”

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Speaking about Newcastle’s fine form after their win over Tottenham over the weekend, Jordan added: “Well we’re 12 games, 11 games into a season, I think we’ve got to put it into context. It’s a strange season in some ways because I don’t think anyone would’ve expected Liverpool to start the season in the way that they’ve done.

“So with all things being factored in, you have to admire what Newcastle have done. This time last year they’d not won any games nine games in and all kinds of trouble was brewing. You’ve had a change of ownership, a change of manager, a change of spending culture, spending £200million on players, you’ve had a new sporting director brought in.

“All that being said, the outcomes and the achievement that they’re putting on the pitch is well worth commending. We’ve got this bet between ourselves (Jim White and Jordan) about whether Newcastle will finish in the top six.

“I still think there’s many twists and turns with 26 games to go, and a very unique perspective in that you’ve got a World Cup campaign coming in the middle of it which could be disruptive for Newcastle if they continue this vein of form. Going into a break won’t be helpful. But they’ve got this momentum behind them.”