Newcastle could be the latest Premiership club to be targeted for a takeover after a Jersey-based investment company confirmed their interest.
The Belgravia Group announced to the Stock Exchange today that they are considering making an offer for the Tyneside club, which has a current value of around £81million.
A statement said: "Following recent press speculation, the Belgravia Group confirms it is examining the potential opportunity of acquiring Newcastle United plc, which may or may not lead to an offer for the company being made by Belgravia.
"A further statement will be made if appropriate."
It is understood that Belgravia have been in talks with former chairman Sir John Hall, who holds a 28.8 per cent stake in the club, while his son and current deputy chairman Douglas, controls a further 12 per cent.
Sir John confirmed earlier this year that he had received "expressions of interest" in his stake, and speculation named the US hedge fund Polygon as potential buyers.
However, Belgravia, a private company which has diverse interests including construction, hospitality, aviation and sports marketing, has entered the fray.
But a spokesperson for the company insisted any offer is a long way off with talks at a "very preliminary" stage.
He said: "It is at a very, very early stage. In terms of a timetable, it is far too early to say."
Under Stock Market rules, should Belgravia - or indeed any other investor - acquire a 30% stake in the club, they would then have to make a formal takeover offer.
Chairman Freddy Shepherd controls around 28% of the shares after increasing his stake gradually over recent years, and it is understood he would resist any move to buy him out.
Having confirmed the approach to Sir John earlier in the year, Newcastle plc felt no need to comment on today's news.
But by 10am, the club's shares were trading at 67p - 6p or 10 per cent up on close of play on Friday.
Shepherd, who served as Sir John's deputy chairman before replacing him at the helm in December 1997, has overseen the redevelopment of St James' Park and invested heavily in the team.
But the process of restoring the club to its former glory was initiated by the MetroCentre magnate, who invested a major proportion of the £70million he banked from the sale of the retail development in his dream of establishing Newcastle as a force in European sport.
