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Belgravia Group, a secretive Jersey-based investment group, is thought likely to make a bid for Newcastle United this week. Belgravia has a range of investments from property to equity and derivative funds. They manage more than £1 billion for wealthy investors. They are targeting the shareholdings of Sir John Hall, who controls 28.8 per cent of the club and his son Douglas who owns an additional 12 per cent. They would also like to buy out the 28 per cent of Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd, but this may prove more difficult, as he has resisted approaches to sell out and has been increasing his stake. The Jersey company is sitting on a huge pile of cash and has set aside a pool of money to buy in more players. Evidently they think they can make of a financial success of the club, as this is not a 'trophy' purchase by a rich individual. It is likely that the leading Premiership clubs, with the exception of Arsenal, will be bought out by wealthy individuals or investment companies. Even clubs lower down the Premiership are attracting interest with persistent reports that a Korean investor could buy reading from John Madejski.
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