By Matt Jones
March 30 2006

Newcastle United have been sold. With football clubs going for millions of pounds one person has nipped in and got the Magpies on the cheap. Well not quite. Mr Keith Kelly has bought Newcastle United Football Club.

The Tyneside based club are actually registered as Newcastle United Football Company. The move has sparked a legal battle after the fan chanced his luck after discovering no such company existed on the Government register of UK companies, companies house. Companies House have no problems with this a spokesperson added.

“I was on the Companies House website looking to see which companies are registered and discovered Newcastle wasn’t registered as ‘club’, but as a ‘company’ which I thought was a little strange,” said Mr Kelly.

“So I put in for it myself and, to my surprise, I got it. I didn’t want anything for it - just for the certificates to hang on my wall and for me to be able to say to my mates that I own Newcastle United. I paid for Newcastle United FC too, because that was not listed either. I’m a fan myself - have been all my life - and was proud and excited to get the companies set up in those names. I couldn’t believe nobody else had already done so.”

Kev Luff, www.NorthEastFootball.co.uk

Soon after setting up the companies however, Keith starting getting letters from St James' Park. He received a letter from Dickinson Dees Solicitors, who represent Newcastle United Football Company, telling him to give up the names or face legal action.

Keith added: "I have had sleepless nights over this. Newcastle United's solicitors told me last week if I didn't sign the papers to have the company struck from the register of businesses by 5pm last Friday they would take me to court.

"I didn't do it and now I am looking for help. I don't have the money to take on a football club, but I've done nothing wrong.

"They told me I would lose this case if it goes to court and end up owing them tens of thousands of pounds."

The letter which was sent on behalf of Newcastle United, claimed Keith had infringed on the club's trademark and demanded that he would have to shut his companies down.  They even sent pre-completed striking off papers with the letter.

The letters said: "We insist on each of the above names being struck off the register of company names held at Companies House as you have no rights in relation to any of them.

"If you do not agree to this proposal, my clients inform me they will commence court proceedings against you. In such legal proceedings they would look to you in respect of payment of their legal costs, which are likely to be substantial."

Keith added: "I've been on the sick for a long time and was trying to get back on my feet and figure out a way to get back to work.

"The certificates do not mean I own the football club, just that I own the business called Newcastle United Football Club, which is my business. I was considering importing goods from China, where I have family.

"If you cannot think of a name for your company, there are names of dormant companies already registered with Companies House you can buy, or else you can pay to have your own name registered, so long as nobody else is already using it - and that's what I did."

A spokesman for Newcastle United said: "We are unable to comment on Mr Kelly as there is legal action ongoing."

Dickinson Dees added: "We cannot comment on a case unless we have been authorised by the client. In this case we have not."

A spokesman for Companies House said: "As far as Companies House is concerned Newcastle United Football Company Ltd and Newcastle United Football Club Ltd are separate companies."

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