In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Steve Howey, who made 150 appearances for Newcastle United, claims he thought the takeover was going to go through last summer, however he still has confidence it can eventually get done.

Mike Ashley had finally found a party in PCP Capital Partners who were willing to meet his asking price for the Magpies, and after seeing their proof of funds the deal was passed onto the Premier League for them to complete the Owners and Directors tests.

However, after months of silence from the Premier League, PIF withdrew their offer with both sides giving different accounts of what they were told and what happened, which has seen the takeover now go to arbitration after Ashley launched a complaint.

Speaking on when he thought it had finally happened that Ashley had left, and why he still hopes it can go through, Howey told FFC:

"I thought that the takeover was going to go through before it fell at the last hurdle to everybody's devastation.

"I'd seen it flash up on Sky Sports saying breaking news about Newcastle's takeover and I thought 'oh brilliant', but then I saw it had collapsed and you just couldn't believe it.

"Let's just hope that it can be resurrected and I see things on social media which I try not to get too involved with because you just think 'what's the point?' We've been down this road so many times before about the club being taken over."

Newcastle have struggled this season despite seemingly spending smart last summer when they brought in Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser, Jamal Lewis and Jeff Hendrick, all players with Premier League experience.

The Magpies will be relying on that experience in their final nine games which includes a final day trip to London as they face Fulham at Craven Cottage.