Newcastle owner in talks with 8 prospective buyers

NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND: Embattled Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is holding talks with eight prospective buyers for the Premier League club, interim manager Joe Kinnear said on Thursday.

Ashley put the club up for sale after fans called for his departure in the aftermath of manager Kevin Keegan's resignation last month.

"I know for a fact Mike is talking to eight consortiums," said Kinnear, who was brought in last week to halt Newcastle's decline. "Who they are, what they are, when it will happen, there is no time-scale on it."

"I am contracted for eight games, but I assume that should due diligence and the deals go on a little bit longer, it may run into 10 or 12 games."

Among the interest parties are a group of Nigerian businessmen and a South African consortium.