Billionaire rubbishes links to Newcastle

SOCCER PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS:ONE OF the South African businessmen linked with a takeover of Newcastle has labelled suggestions he is interested in the club as "fake".

Billionaire Johann Rupert, the man behind Swiss-owned luxury goods company Richemont, has rubbished reports he has eyes on succeeding Mike Ashley as owner at St James' Park.

Fellow South African Jonathan Cleland claims to have already spoken to former manager Kevin Keegan about a return to the club if a consortium he is heading is successful.

However, Rupert has denied he is one of the men involved in the bid. "I have never met Mr Cleland, never spoken to him on the phone and my secretary does not have a record of him calling," he said.

"I haven't spoken to any of the other parties either. I don't know Mr Cleland, I have a preference for cricket and rugby. I don't know anything about football and I'm not a football man."

Rupert added on Radio 5 Live: "I think it is a bit naughty. They use your name, you deny it - it is a total joke. If you Google me you find out I was supposed to be involved in Blackburn, which is untrue, and I'm now linked to Newcastle. I feel sorry for the fans because of the things that are going on there. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole thing was a fake."

The members of Cleland's consortium remain anonymous, although a series of South African businessmen linked with Newcastle have denied any interest.

Brian Joffe, founder of investment holding firm Bidvest, yesterday joined Rupert in dismissing the rumours. And Vivian Imerman, a former owner of Del Monte who has since bought into Scottish Whisky producer Whyte and Mackay, issued a statement after earlier denials went unheeded.

A spokesman said: "Vivian Imerman can reconfirm that he has no involvement whatsoever with any proposed purchase of Newcastle United nor any other football club. Neither Vivian Imerman nor Vasari, the investment company Vivian heads, has any interest in investing in football clubs."

Cleland is confident he can persuade Keegan to return as Newcastle manager if his consortium is successful in buying the club. The 46-year-old Scotland-based tycoon yesterday confirmed he held talks with Keegan in Manchester on Monday evening, and was hugely impressed with him.

Cleland revealed he is "80 per cent confident" of being able to push through a deal, but admitted he is not yet in a position to make any promises. He told the city's evening newspaper, the Evening Chronicle: "My meeting with Kevin went very well. I am hugely impressed with him and I got the sense there was good chemistry between us and there is a strong mutual interest in working together.

"He is our preferred option, but we cannot make any concrete decisions on the managerial position until negotiations on our planned takeover are further advanced. I think he understands and supports our concept of developing the club organically."

Cleland's public statement confirms speculation over the last week or so that Keegan could make a sensational return to St James' Park following his resignation last month.

However, there is still a long way to go until the South African consortium - or indeed any other potential buyer - can appoint a manager.

Cleland and his partners claim to have lodged a bid for the club with investment bankers Seymour Pierce, who have been appointed by owner Mike Ashley to sell it.

They and other interested parties have been asked to sign a confidentiality clause, although it is understood their offer is in the region of €385 million.

The South Africans and a Nigerian consortium have emerged as the front-runners, in public at least, over the last week or so, and Cleland is hopeful of making a breakthrough.

Interim manager Joe Kinnear hit the headlines yesterday after rounding on his critics. Kinnear was appointed by Ashley last Friday week until the end of October, by which time the billionaire hopes the sale will have gone through.