So Who The Hell Is Barry Moat?

Last updated : 07 August 2009 By Footy Mad - Editor

NU

Moat is a lifelong Newcastle United fan, which obviously will impress the Toon Army.

Unlike Mike Ashley ... who just pretended he was a Toon fan.

Moat had already signed up to an executive box for the next five seasons at St James's Park before finalising an offer for the entire club for £100 million.

He is well-known in business circles in the North East, but companies he once ran have suffered during the downturn.

Premier Direct, the shopping-at-work seller of books and novelty goods of which Moat was chief executive, went into administration last June after shares were suspended on the AIM stock market.

Moat had stepped down in 2005 for family reasons after 12 years at the helm.

BNS Telecom, the telecoms company he founded in 1996, is still in operation. Moat became non-executive chairman last year and two months ago boosted his shareholding in the group, buying £500,000 worth of shares.

The last time Moat's penchant for acquiring significant holdings in the North East made headlines was a major investment in property and land in mid-2007, when he bought a 2,566-acre estate 10 miles from Newcastle from the Church Commissioners for an estimated £18 million to £20 million. The Dissington Estate includes several working farms and extensive woodland.

He was last linked with a possible takeover in the club in July 2005.