The NUFC Takeover Saga: Who's who?
It could be the day 'the Toon' has waited for.
Fans are eagerly awaiting confirmation that Mike Ashley has sealed the deal on a successful takeover bid.
A large majority of the Newcastle United faithful want the takeover to happen quickly and bring the curtain down on the Mike Ashley era.
This latest installment in the NUFC takeover box set has rumbled on since last summer and, like any gripping story, it's full of characters and personalities.
So who are the key players involved and how do they fit in to this tale of suspense, intrigue, false dawns and hope on Tyneside?
Amanda Staveley
Newcastle fans will be very familiar with the name Amanda Staveley nowadays.
Ms Staveley's name was being spoken in the same breath as the T-word three years ago. She was involved in takeover talks with current owner Mike Ashley back in 2017, although Mr Ashley later branded them "a complete waste of time".
Manchester City fans will also be all too familiar with her abilities as a financier. It was Ms Staveley who helped broker Sheikh Mansour's acquisition of City in 2008.
If (that crucial word when it comes to discussing potential takeovers of Newcastle United) the deal does eventually go through, it's understood Ms Staveley's PCP Capital Partners will have a 10% stake in the club.
Richard Masters
Richard Masters is the chief executive of the Premier League, he will have a considerable influence in the outcome of the takeover saga.
Mr Masters was only formally appointed to the post in December 2019, having served on an interim basis before that.
He has worked in the sports industry for more than 25 years and joined the Premier League back in 2006.
Other notable spells include working for the English Football League (EFL) and also working for the England and Wales Cricket Board.
It's the Premier League's 'Owners' and Directors' Test' that's understood to be the final hurdle in the entire takeover process.
The Premier League's official website says the test is "applied to prospective owners and directors, who are then subject to a review on a seasonal basis."
Mr Masters recently said in an appearance before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee that he hoped the takeover process would "conclude shortly".
It was a guarded comment that lends nothing but more suspense to the whole story.
Mike Ashley
Every riveting story needs some controversy and for many Newcastle United fans Mike Ashley is the ultimate pantomime villain.
Mr Ashley has owned Newcastle United since 2007.
In that time he's overseen two relegations to the Championship, has fallen out with club legends like Kevin Keegan and went through his fair share of managers.
However, it would be unfair to say he hasn't spent money during his tenure or been an unqualified disaster for the club.
In some quarters Mr Ashley has also been praised for how he has run Newcastle United in business terms.
He says he has been looking to sell the club for years but only for the right price. The current deal is understood to be around £300m, that's down from the £350m touted previously.
Mr Ashley's ownership is so unpopular that many fans have adopted an 'anyone but Ashley' attitude to the takeover and would be seemingly relieved just to have someone new at the top.
Ultimately, the club is Mr Ashley's to sell so it is him who holds the keys to the castle.
Mohammed Bin Salman
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, in a similar vein to Mike Ashley, is a controversial figure to many.
The Prince was appointed to the second most senior position in the Kingdom in 2017, making him the heir to the throne.
It is Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) that will own the majority stake, 80%, in the Magpies if (that important word again) the deal goes through.
Therefore Prince Salman will have very close ties to Newcastle United and future investments.
The Prince and the inner circle of the Saudi state were thrust into the international spotlight in 2018 when Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and vocal critic of the state, was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Prince Salman has vehemently denied the accusations that he officially sanctioned the killing of Mr Khashoggi. He claims there was a "rogue operation" involved.
Saudi Arabia has received international criticism for its part in the ongoing civil war in Yemen.
The state has been also been criticised for other alleged human rights violations, with human rights advocates branding their prospective takeover of Newcastle United as 'sportswashing', a term used to describe a country's activities to distract attention away from its human rights record.
However, many Magpies fans are unfazed by the reports surrounding their prospective new owners and have pointed to the ownership circles of other clubs that haven't had as much attention or criticism.
No one can tell with any certainty the direction of travel for Newcastle United.
The takeover saga has been a story of excitement and hope for some; scepticism and disbelief for others.
But like every story ever told, it has to end somewhere.