General manager of football operations Lee O’Neill says there is no offer currently on the table for the Blues, despite interest from a US-backed consortium, and that owner Marcus Evans’s stance remains unchanged.

Asked about the link at a lunchtime press conference, O’Neill said: “There’s been a lot of speculation in the media. Marcus’s stance hasn’t changed. He’s not actively looking to sell the football club.

“As he’s always said and it’s been well publicised, if there was an offer on the table from anyone that was interested in taking the football club over and they were going to provide significant investment and move the club forward, then he would always look at that and look at what’s in the best interests of the football club.

“His stance hasn’t changed on that, so at the moment that’s exactly where we’re at with it.”

Questioned directly on whether an offer is currently there, he said: “I think, as I said before, at the moment, the conversations aren’t there. There isn’t an offer on the table but he will always look at an offer if it is on the table.”

Asked whether he is confident that Evans will still be in charge at the end of the season, he added: “I am confident. Marcus is [as] driven [as] ever, I’ve spoken to him a few times over the last few days.

“He wants to get the football club back to where it should be and we all know that that’s going to be a difficult job over the next three or four months in particular, but that’s not unachievable.

“When you look at the squad and the games that are coming up, we’re in a good position, so everything’s there. He’s definitely focused and his ambitions are still there to try and get the club promoted this season.”

Asked clarify his comment that there is no offer offer on the table, he reiterated: “That is correct.”

And similarly that the appointment of a new manager is purely down to Evans and not a prospective new owner, he said: “That’s correct.”

Photo: TWTD

budgieplucker added 15:32 - Mar 1 Amanda Staveley's consortium has been trying to buy Mike Ashley out of Newcastle since 2017 and discussions have gone on for over 3 years. Even more recently there has been a suggestion that Mike has offered to lend the consortium money to complete the purchase, but yes there is a haggle and negotiating process which could go on for months, hence why I would speculate that no serious offer may have been raised. Always be wary of a consortium. ME will have various clauses in any deal and is trying to remain attached with some % ownership. Don't be surprised if this one has a lot of legs in it and will run for many months yet!!!

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greenkingtone added 15:37 - Mar 1 Good luck Paul and thanks fforn the good things you did, Yhe pwnership of the club by an Amercian consortium worries me. They only understand "soccer" clubs. If you talk to Man United fans many of them hate the Glaziers. So "hold on tight to the hand of nurse, in case we meet something worse."
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Europablue added 15:39 - Mar 1 I just want to have a manager who isn't constantly moaning and making stupid excuses. If he just says we need a lot of improvement, but I see positives signs, then that is fine with me. If ME is lucky enough to appoint a good manager, there's no reason why we can't be successful because ME doesn't really meddle.
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londontractorboy57 added 15:43 - Mar 1 Anyone thinking that the American based consortium comprising of Hedge funds And Pension funds was serious, would come into the category of numbskulls. A pension fund would be looking at an annual return of at least 5% on their investment where is that coming from ? We own nothing the players are not worth much and we make an annual loss of at least £5million. BCWYWF

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ArnieM added 15:59 - Mar 1 YAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
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cromwellblue added 16:00 - Mar 1 Inevitable reaction on this site as usual. Complaints about social media but this site if full of comments acknowledging speculation as fact. Calm heads needed. The level of detail in some reports is too much for it to be without some merit. "No offer on the table" doesn't mean there are not ongoing discussions. "No actively looking to sell" doesn't mean there are not interested parties. Any involved parties will always play it down, deny it or simply refuse to comment. The absence of an absolute statement of it all being rubbish would suggest there is something. A buyer needs a seller, so I am sure this will roll on for sometime and may or may not lead to a takeover. In the meantime it would be nice if many on this site could act with a bit more decorum. While we all know there is still much wrong can we perhaps try a more reasoned approach to the commenting on this forum. A good few on here are only adding the bad vibes. We have a new manager to look forward to. Let's hope that gets us where we need to be. As for the takeover let's just wait and see.

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Stewart27 added 16:01 - Mar 1 London tractor boy. You can say only BCWYWF if the current situation is ok. Or even remotely close to being ok. If you think this club has been well run then I have no words for you.
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PutneyBlue added 16:02 - Mar 1 With a US takeover will we have to change our name to something like Portman Blue Sox or IT Galaxy?
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Drifter3012 added 16:07 - Mar 1 There must be something going on behind the scenes.I don't think Lambert would have said anything in his post Doncaster match interview otherwise. I think others it will only become clearer when it gains more "real world" legs rather than media speculation. If you look at the Derby & Sunderland take overs they rumbled on for months. For the time being I am with you Europablue. Just want the best manager we can get hold of who will have a positive attitude and a real desire to move the club on. It is clear that if we can maintain a solid team in as many matches as possible we can get to the Playoffs. I just want someone who will inspire the lads and give them a real chance of being able to play attacking football.

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Broganonthewing added 16:32 - Mar 1 There is a deal in negotiation at the moment for sure! Evans would not have just sacked Lambert, too much of a coincidence, particularly as we have won the last two games. O'Neal is reading from a prepared script.
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dunkz84 added 17:25 - Mar 1 Let's face it, the club aren't going to come out and say yes we've had offers or accepting offers. We don't do it with transfers so why would they talk and be open about the sale of the club. It will all just be rumour until it's all signed and finalised then an announcement will be made.
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Saxonblue74 added 17:56 - Mar 1 Who predicted Lamberts departure yesterday? None of us. That's because none of us have a clue what's going on. It's always been that way, and always will be. The same goes for any potential takeover, we'll know if and when it happens and not a minute before.
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jas0999 added 18:06 - Mar 1 One down. One to go. Club can't move forward with Evans at the helm.
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istanblue added 19:17 - Mar 1 Don't worry people. This statement is probably all just part of an NDA between Evans and the consortium. They can't say openly that there is a takeover for fear of jeopardising the deal.
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munstermanagement added 20:08 - Mar 1 https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/01/us-led-consortium-close-to-comp
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midlandblue54 added 20:12 - Mar 1 Good luck Evans selling season tickets if this all falls through !
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eddiespearitt03 added 22:52 - Mar 1 JUST GO EVANS. PLEASE. GRAB THE CASH AND STOP CLINGING ON TO THIS CLUB LIKE A LEAD WEIGHT !!!!
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londontractorboy57 added 11:37 - Mar 2 I think you should read somemore of posts you will change your closing statement. This club went tits up when the fans got MM removed and Now Lambert ludicrous to keep changing like for like managers. MM was the premier league for this kind of manager.
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