Martins leads Newcastle players’ revolt
• As fans kick against Nigerian takeover bid
By Olawale Ajimotokan, 09.24.2008

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins is among ring leaders of players seeking an exit from Newcastle United in the wake of the acrimony that has trailed the club following the departure of Kevin Keegan earlier this month.





Newcastle, which started the season on a bright note with a point at Manchester United, has drifted to the foot of the table and an uncertain future with three successive losses.

Reports from England yesterday claimed that at the last count 11 first team players had indicated interest to leave St James Park in the winter transfer window which opens on January 1st.

Martins and local boy, Steven Taylor are believed to be arrow head of players disgruntled at the treatment meted out to Keegan by the club’s top brass.

Though Taylor has since dissociated himself from the exodus, reports claimed the situation has escalated with Martins, who cost the Toon £10m three years ago handling in transfer request on Monday to caretaker coach Chris Houghton.

Other speculated rebels include England striker Michael Owen and Charles N’Zogbia.

The injury prone Nigerian, who has not played for the club for over a month, is expected to return to action today in a Carling Cup Third Round action at St James Park against Tottenham Hotspur.

While the exit speculation continued to gain ground, a section of the club fan base has strongly voiced sentiment against the likely take over of the club by a consortium of wealthy Nigerians.

Either in a display of stereotype and lack of knowledge about Nigeria, some of the views echoed on the ‘Chronicle Live Fans Forum’ were clearly anti Nigeria.

Most of the comments were skewed and a demonstration of hatred against Nigerians who were lampooned as petty criminals and con artists.

Here is a selection of some of the posts: kthec wrote : be wary of Nigerians asking you to deposit 1k into an offshore account, for your share of nufc.

PeterWard: As Kthecat says are these the same Nigerians that send out these e-mails promising a fortune if you help them get money out? You do have to give them a substantial sum first. I had such an e-mail a while ago. Said to be a pretty nasty bunch. Selling to a Nigerian consortium? How much further can we sink?

Chriz78: Yeah right. And within 2 days of accepting the offer, Mike Ashley is going to be found dead on some Nigerian wasteland with a burnt tire round his neck. Not that I'm stereotyping or anything,

However, against the odds it seems a Nigerian take over is imminent as the tycoons are set to match Newcastle’s owner Mike Ashley’s £400 million (N96bn) asking prize.

Ashley is willing to divest of his almost two years controlling stake of £134.4million he acquired from Sir John Hall after he fell out with the fans following Keegan’s departure.

Reports say he has appointed London-based investment bank Seymour Pierce to handle the sale of the club after the Nigerian consortium announced it has raised £350million and is bidding to secure more cash to fund a takeover bid.The Nigerian bid is deal is being brokered by NVA Management led by Chris Nathaniel who is hopeful a deal will be done at the expense of a Dubai-based Arab Group whose offer was outright turned by Ashley because it was far wide the mark.

If goes thorough it will put Nigeria in the searchlight as the first African team to own an English Premier League club.


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