Former Newcastle United co-owner and director Amanda Staveley has commented on the Premier League's ongoing financial dispute with Manchester City, addressing the commercial pressures on the league and calling for unity.
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Staveley played a large part in negotiations around Shiekh Mansour’s acquisition of Manchester City in 2008, while bolstering relations with Middle Eastern investors ever since.
The highly successful businesswoman oversaw a major takeover of Newcastle United, which concluded in 2021 when a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund agreed to an 80 percent stake for around £305 million.
More recently, a proposal by Staveley to acquire a 25.1 percent minority stake in West Ham United via her investment firm PCP Capital Partners fell through when existing shareholders exercised their rights of first refusal.
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Every word from Staveley’s statement on potential Man City and Premier League settlement
After being found guilty by an independent commission of 114 of the 115 charges, Manchester City expectedly decided to appeal the decision, which a new commission has under Christmas Eve to hold a five-day hearing.
From the deadline, the commission will have 30 days to issue an adequate and fair verdict, which will feed into a potential punishment that could see City relegated, fined or held under a lengthy transfer embargo.
Stavely, who brokered the aforementioned takeover of City 18 years ago, hinted that the parties should reach a settlement rather than a punishment that the club would simply contest.
Speaking at a sports conference at Stamford Bridge, with comments relayed by the Daily Mail, she said: “You’ve got so much pressure on football. I think we should just focus on the future, getting it right and trying to build bridges with our neighbours.
“I think it will get resolved. The Premier League had a difficult thing, an opportunity [to bring the case]. You’ve got to put yourself in their position. You’ve got 20 clubs.
“Half of them are shouting at you to do one thing; the other 10 clubs are shouting at you to do another. As an executive, you’re always pulled; you’re always threatened to be sued by one club.
“Clubs are meant to be co-owners of one league. So, to navigate all of that is really tough. With how important the Premier League is, we have such an exciting league.
“European football is potentially the most watched sport in the world, and we should really nurture this asset. We should nurture our fans and do everything we can to resolve the issues that exist today.”
How Staveley brokered Abu Dhabi takeover of Man City
Manchester City’s glory years really came to light following the appointment of Pep Guardiola, perhaps the most influential manager in football history, following the historic 2012 Premier League title win that kick-started the club’s rise.
The Catalan famously led City to a maiden UEFA Champions League title as part of a remarkable treble in 2023, the first English team to do so since Manchester United in 1999.
In 2008, Staveley acted as a key dealmaker and established close ties with Middle Eastern investors, eventually recognising Mansour as an investment arm in the sale of City from previous owner Thaksin Shinawatra.
Staveley connected the parties, and the club was eventually bought for around £210 million. On the same night of the takeover, City signed Robinho for £32.5 million, conveying the new owners’ intent.
While it was widely reported that Staveley’s firm, PCP Capital Partners, received around £10 million in commission from the proceedings, a High Court hearing found that it has actually pocketed just £5 million from the deal after expenses.