Newcastle Renamed LA Galaxy?
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After the latest desperate spin on the Billionaire Foreign Investor Wheel of Fortune the dial has stopped on the name of Philip Anschutz. And the lucky Premier League contestant is Newcastle United.
Unless you've been living under a stone for the last few decades - or just don't care about such things - you'll know that Anschutz is one of the most influential and successful entrepreneurs in US sports and one of the key architects and patrons of Major League Soccer.
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Philip Anschutz: Newcastle's saviour?
Through his Anschutz Entertainment Group he owns two MLS teams, including David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy, an NHL ice hockey team, a stake in the LA Lakers and a raft of sports and entertainment venues from the Staples Center in LA to The O2 in London.
With Keith Harris, chairman of investment bank Seymour Pierce, heading up Newcastle's search for a buyer to take the Magpies off Mike Ashley's hands, fans of St James Park club should be heartened that Anschutz has a long standing appreciation and understanding of the game.
It was believed that Anschutz was up against Clark Hunt in the chase of Newcastle, but the owner of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and MLS's FC Dallas, has ruled himself out of the running, despite the increasing strength of the dollar against the pound making UK opportunities more appealing to Stateside investors.
But before Newcastle fans get too excited, Harris has warned time is running out for the sale to be completed in time for the crucial January transfer window - a potential cut-off point which could make or break a deal.
''If the fans were to put themselves in the shoes of a prospective owner, during the course of a season you have one shot at changing the playing personnel and that's the transfer window in January, so I think there are probably two alternatives," Harris told the Newcastle Chronicle.
''One, if matters can progress quickly then an owner would want to be in position to have a look at the squad and discuss it with the manager before January. If that isn't possible then they would have a look at what has happened during the course of the transfer window with a view to reforming the team after January.''
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can anyone move this to football epl?
thanks