The man working to sell Newcastle United on behalf of Mike Ashley has revealed there is "real and decent interest" in the club from a number of parties, and he is hopeful a deal can be done by July.
Keith Harris, the chairman of investment bank Seymour Pierce, said there are "two or three" interested parties, and hinted that some of that interest comes from the United Kingdom.
"I'm confident...that there will be offers for Mike to consider in quite short order," Harris told Radio Five Live's Sportsweek.
"There is real and decent interest, this is not necessarily from far flung parts of the globe and those expressing interest when it was first marketed but this is good, gritty interest."
Despite Newcastle's relegation and the huge sums lost on his investment by Ashley, Harris said the Magpies remain an attractive proposition because of the infrastructure and potential at St James' Park.
"It is a huge club," he said. "If you think in attendance terms last year, it exceeded Liverpool, averaging 48,000 and Liverpool a little over 45,000.
"If you walk around the infrastructure, the training ground, the academy, if you're a person who is willing to take a view over the next two to three years, this is a club that belongs in the top seven."
Harris was also involved in previous efforts to sell Liverpool, and said that fans should not be too concerned by reports the club could go out of business while warning that manager Rafa Benitez could be facing a tough transfer window.
Owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett lost £42million last year, mainly through interest payments on the £350million loans taken out when they bought the club.
With a July 24 deadline looming to refinance those loans, Liverpool's accountants this week warned there is "significant doubt" about the parent company's ability to remain as a going concern.
"That is statement is one that is issued as a warning to the shareholders, and I would have thought in this case that the two shareholders are perfectly well aware of the situation at the club," Harris said.
"It's serious but it's a warning to the shareholders."
Rather than go out of business, Harris said Hicks and Gillett are realistically facing three owners: to sell up; find additional funds by selling other assets; or sell players to make up the shortfall.
Harris admitted the last would be "the most dire" as far as fans are concerned, and added: "I think that whatever happens, Rafa Benitez's manoeuvres in the transfer market will be restricted."
"I'm confident...that there will be offers for Mike to consider in quite short order," Harris told Radio Five Live's Sportsweek.
"There is real and decent interest, this is not necessarily from far flung parts of the globe and those expressing interest when it was first marketed but this is good, gritty interest."
Despite Newcastle's relegation and the huge sums lost on his investment by Ashley, Harris said the Magpies remain an attractive proposition because of the infrastructure and potential at St James' Park.
"It is a huge club," he said. "If you think in attendance terms last year, it exceeded Liverpool, averaging 48,000 and Liverpool a little over 45,000.
"If you walk around the infrastructure, the training ground, the academy, if you're a person who is willing to take a view over the next two to three years, this is a club that belongs in the top seven."
Harris was also involved in previous efforts to sell Liverpool, and said that fans should not be too concerned by reports the club could go out of business while warning that manager Rafa Benitez could be facing a tough transfer window.
Owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett lost £42million last year, mainly through interest payments on the £350million loans taken out when they bought the club.
With a July 24 deadline looming to refinance those loans, Liverpool's accountants this week warned there is "significant doubt" about the parent company's ability to remain as a going concern.
"That is statement is one that is issued as a warning to the shareholders, and I would have thought in this case that the two shareholders are perfectly well aware of the situation at the club," Harris said.
"It's serious but it's a warning to the shareholders."
Rather than go out of business, Harris said Hicks and Gillett are realistically facing three owners: to sell up; find additional funds by selling other assets; or sell players to make up the shortfall.
Harris admitted the last would be "the most dire" as far as fans are concerned, and added: "I think that whatever happens, Rafa Benitez's manoeuvres in the transfer market will be restricted."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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