Amanda Staveley in a fascinating interview with the Times.

"I’m very much still interested in buying Newcastle and our bid remains on the table. I’m very concerned, I’m very surprised and I’m disappointed about what’s been said this week. The suggestion that we were either wasting time or not serious is absurd. It’s hurtful. Hugely hurtful. This is something we’ve been working really hard on. It’s not something we’ve just thrown together. I’m putting a lot of my own capital into this and our investors, who come from around the world, include sovereign wealth funds.

“They’re such passionate fans and it’s a great club, I’m a northerner. My family home is an hour away from St James’ Park. I just love football and Newcastle has a proper history and a real magic. That passion of the fans is vitally important when you’re looking at a club, because you know that you’re a custodian. I’m also a passionate believer in investment in the north east, because I know it’s tough. A lot of great things are happening in the city — we’ve got friends, like the Reubens, who have invested there — and it’s a really special place, with its own identity. It is absolutely unique.

"This is an investment, but it has to be a long-term investment. Newcastle would be run as a business, but we want it to be a successful, thriving business that is an absolutely integral part of the city. Rafa is doing an incredible job. We want Rafa to be part of this project.

“The famous curry house is the only time I’ve met Mike. It wasn’t a formal meeting and it was arranged by Mr Desmond. Mike was engaging and interesting. I enjoyed his company. I would never had done that (being pictured). If I had, I certainly wouldn’t have been pictured smoking. I hadn’t had a cigarette for years. My dad nearly killed me. There has been a lot of miscommunication through the press, but that’s not my fault. This is football.”

#NewcastleUnited