Newcastle United fans' shock at plans to sell club to Osama's family

London, July 7 (ANI): Proposed plans to sell the football club -- Newcastle United -- to the family of A Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden, have been met with shock, dismay and disgust by fans of the club.

The Bin Ladens, who own a Saudi Arabian building firm, plan to hand over 300 million pounds for the Premier League giants to owner Mike Ashley, reports The Sun.

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It is expected that millions more would be spent on retail and leisure developments near St. James' Park. Representatives have already been in the city for talks and to check out potential sites, according to reports.

Frank Gilmour, of the Independent Newcastle United Supporters' Association, said: "It's disgusting, an absolute joke. But it's up to Mike Ashley. Will he really be prepared to sell the club to the family of a terrorist?"

Plumber Joseph Currey, 37, described the proposed development as "ridiculous", and accused Ashley of selling out while promoting himself as a Newcastle fan.

Season ticket holder Andy Walton, 24, a PR executive, of Gateshead, said: "I'm shocked to the core. I can't believe we could be sold to a company with terrorist links."

Ashley bought Newcastle from Freddy Shepherd last year for 137million pounds. The Sun told last week how Ashley quoted 420 million pounds when approached by New York finance firm InterMedia Partners.

For the fans, however, it is no consequence that Osama Bin Laden was disowned by his family before 9/11. (ANI)