Cheesecake
Senior Member
MAGPIES FOOLED BY `BANTER`
Posted 13/06/09 19:46The north-east businessman claiming to be preparing a £150million takeover of Newcastle has emerged as a Sunderland fan having some "banter".
A press release issued on behalf of a 'Rick Parkinson' on Friday morning announced he had put together a five-man consortium ready to offer Mike Ashley £90million for the club.
It also claimed Parkinson would put £30million into restructuring the business and install Alan Shearer as manager with a £30million war-chest.
However, it was revealed later on Friday that the club were aware of the consortium and it has now emerged that 'Parkinson' is in fact Richard Parker, a lifelong Sunderland fan.
He told the Daily Mail: "It's all friendly banter. I'm sure the majority of Magpie fans will see the funny side but I'm afraid it is something they're going to have to put up with for a while.
"We haven't had a great deal to shout about in the last 16 years or so at Sunderland, but this summer has, without doubt, made up for all those years of hurt. Newcastle's plight, as difficult as it is for their fans, is music to our ears.
"We could easily have gone down on the final day as well, but that makes it all the funnier for Sunderland fans and nobody can really blame us for milking it for as long as we possibly can."