Crystal Palace co-owner Steve Parish has labelled Newcastle United's transformation since the takeover as a 'fantastic news story for football'. However, the businessman feels Premier League rules need to ensure the division remains a 'fair and level playing field'.
Parish sat down with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville on the latest edition of the Overlap to discuss the state of football in the country along with the fallout of the failed Super League. The former Manchester United full-back raised the subject of state-run clubs, and the risk it can pose to the competitive balance in the Premier League, given the fact Manchester City have won their fifth title in six seasons.
Newcastle's protracted takeover was eventually approved in October 2021 after the Premier League received 'legally-binding assurances' over the separation between the Saudi Arabian state and the Kingdom's Public Investment Fund. However, this has not prevented sustained criticism in the intervening period, with calls for the league to re-examine the deal emerging as recently as March.
READ MORE: Eddie Howe sends 'hardest' transfer window warning as 'very small' Newcastle pool truth told
Asked if the divide between the so-called 'Big Six' and the rest of the Premier League was already 'out of control', Parish stressed the need for rules to protect clubs from rivals with 'unlimited money'. However, the Palace co-owner namechecked Newcastle in his argument over state-run clubs, and outlined his hope for the city as a whole on the back of the takeover.
Parish told the Overlap: "With the state-owned clubs, I personally feel that as long as we deal with a country as a country, that anybody should be allowed to own a football club. We allowed anybody to buy a business.
"The benefits those owners have brought to their clubs and to their towns, I think it's very difficult to stand in the way of that. It's very difficult to stand in the way of what's happening at Newcastle which is a fantastic news story for football.
"I'm sure all the investment that will go into a fantastic town, a place I've visited a lot, I have businesses up there, I've got a lot of affinity for. But we need rules because there are some people who have just unlimited money.
"If you just make it a factor of you can spend what you want, the rest of us might as well just pack up. I'm talking about the Liverpools, Man Utds, Arsenals and Tottenhams, not just the Crystal Palaces.
"We need to embrace all that's good about those situations, and just make sure we have a fair and level playing field. There's a lot of work to be done on that in order to get the rules right."
READ NEXT
- Newcastle have 'eyes and ears' open to James Maddison as Howe drops relegation transfer hint
- Newcastle United's best and worst scenario in Champions League group stage draw
- The 'big' £40million 'lift' Eddie Howe will have from pre-season onwards with Newcastle United
- Newcastle notes: Chelsea lap of appreciation halted by Toon party but Mauricio Pochettino has eye on United status
- Newcastle United transfer rumours: Magpies plot '£10million move' for young Brazilian
