CI businessman linked with new football takeover bid

Wednesday 27 November 2019

A Channel Island-based businessman has been linked with a takeover of a championship football club, after an attempt to secure Newcastle United stalled.

Former Manchester United and Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon – who owns £4.5m mansion Oaklands in Trinity and is non-executive Chairman of Jersey sports firm Esportif – had teamed up with a US consortium that put forward a $300m package for the Magpies after it was put up for sale by owner Mike Ashley.

A glossy brochure laying out a vision of the team as “one of the leading clubs in the EPL” under new leadership was circulated to investors in June.

Then in September a company entitled ‘Newcastle Investors Ltd’ was registered with the JFSC, leading many to believe that the ‘Toon’ takeover was near completion. 

Pictured: 'Newcastle Investors Ltd' was registered with the JFSC on 23 September this year.

That bid now appears to have stalled, with Mr Ashley reportedly courting other buyers – but that doesn’t seem to have extinguished Mr Kenyon’s appetite for a football deal. 

It’s now been suggested that the mogul has his sights set on Charlton Athletic after the Sun reported this weekend that an American consortium was keen to nab the club, which is currently on the market for £60million.

Speculation intensified shortly after, when Mr Kenyon was spotted at a Charlton Athletic game.

This group were at the #cafc v Preston game, sitting in west block C. Suggestion is that the guy on the left (in black tie) is ex-Chelsea and Man Utd chief exec - and deal broker - Peter Kenyon. If so, who are four people with him? #cafc pic.twitter.com/ZXWamVwmSX

— Rick Everitt (@airmanbrown) 25 November 2019

It is unclear what such a takeover would mean for the Newcastle plans. However, Mr Ashley is reportedly continuing to plan for 2020 as if still the owner.

Mr Kenyon and Charlton Athletic are both yet to speak out on the reports.

Pictured top: Jersey resident Peter Kenyon, who is now believed to be working on a bid for Charlton Athletic. (PA)