Simon Jordan has joked his infamous 'deader than a dead thing from dead land' declaration on the Newcastle United takeover was a 'call to action' which helped complete the deal. The sale of the Magpies to the consortium backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund was finally confirmed on October 7, almost a year ago.
Toon fans keen to see the end of the Mike Ashley era had endured numerous twists and turns in a saga which lasted more than two years. Hopes of an unlikely breakthrough with the Premier League began to mount in the closing days of September last year.
However, Jordan dismissed claims of the takeover being resurrected while arguing any talk of an agreement was being pushed by the soon-to-be new owners of Newcastle. A week later, hundreds of supporters gathered outside St James' Park to celebrate the announcement of the sale going through.
