The proposed takeover of Newcastle United by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has Manchester City supporters considering their allegiances once again, it has emerged.
As a £300m takeover of the North East club nears completion, talk of potential signings and managerial appointments has gathered momentum in recent days. The speculation is causing much jealousy among rival supporters, particularly those from the blue-half of Manchester.
Former Chelsea-diehard and current Man City fanatic, Dave Suggs-Gallagher, admits he’s pondering a move to the Toon Army. Suggs-Gallagher made the switch from Chelsea to the Etihad following the purchase of Manchester City by current Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour in 2008.
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But the 37-year-old believes the time is right for a new challenge after 12 trophy-laden seasons as a City supporter.
‘I’ll always look back on my time as a City fan fondly’, admits an emotional Suggs-Gallagher. ‘I’m not one of those plastics who jumped on the bandwagon when Pep took charge. No, I even remember the dark days when we spent £25m on Joleon Lescott’.
‘But at 37, I feel the time is right for a new challenge’, he added, while holding aloft a replica Newcastle shirt with Neymar No:10 printed on the back.
In related news, a statement released on Newcastle United’s official website confirmed the club is carrying out some essential maintenance on its old bandwagon. The Geordie outfit placed their bandwagon in storage at the end of the disappointing 1997-98 season when it was replaced by a 2-passenger hatchback city car.
But as talk of a proposed takeover gathers pace, the club has decided it’s time to bring back its bandwagon which was first introduced in 1995.
‘We are delighted to announce the club’s bandwagon is undergoing some essential maintenance ahead of the Saudi takeover’, confirmed a spokesperson. ‘Work is being carried out on the suspension and tyres due to the anticipated influx of former Blackburn, Leeds, Chelsea, City and Leicester supporters to the Toon Army’.
Meanwhile, Suggs-Gallagher is immersing himself in North Eastern culture ahead of his switch to the Toon. ‘I’m on Season Three of Byker Grove and I’ve just ordered Jimmy Nail’s Crocodile Shoes’, he said in a slight Geordie twang.
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