Billionaire insists takeover talk is fake; Even the man from Del Monte says 'No'.

Byline: Paul James Chief Reporter

ONE of the South African businessmen linked with a takeover of Newcastle has labelled suggestions he is interested in the club as "fake".

Billionaire Johann Rupert, the man behind Swiss-owned luxury goods company Richemont, has rubbished reports he has eyes on succeeding Mike Ashley as owner at St James's Park.

Fellow South African Jonathan Cleland claims to have already spoken to former manager Kevin Keegan about a return to the club if a consortium he is heading is successful.

However, Mr Rupert has denied he is one of the men involved in the bid.

"I have never met Mr Cleland, never spoken to him on the phone and my secretary does not have a record of him calling," he said.

"I haven't spoken to any of the other parties either. I don't know Mr Cleland, I have a preference for cricket and rugby. I don't know anything about football and I'm not a football man."

Mr Rupert added on Radio 5 Live: "I think it is a bit naughty. They use your name, you deny it - it is a total joke.

"If you Google me you find out I was supposed to be involved in Blackburn, which is untrue, and I'm now linked to Newcastle. I feel sorry for the fans because of the things that are going on there.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the whole thing was a fake."

Two other businessmen linked to the club have also insisted they are not involved in any bid.

Brian Gilbertson, former chief executive officer of BHP Billiton Ltd, the world's biggest mining company told Bloomberg News yesterday: "I don't even follow football. You can say I deny it."

And Vivian Imerman, the former owner of Del Monte, who has since invested in Scottish whisky producer Whyte and Mackay, also denied any involvement.

A spokesman for his company Vasari said: "Vivian Imerman can re-confirm that he has no involvement whatsoever with any proposed purchase of Newcastle United nor any other football club. Neither Vivian Imerman nor Vasari the investment company Vivian heads, has any interest in investing in football clubs."

Of up to eight bids that interim manager Joe Kinnear told are owner Mike Ashley are on the table, a Nigerian consortium is the only other to have spoken publicly about their intentions.

Fronted by Obafemi Martins' agent Chris Nathaniel, the group hope to reinstall Kevin Keegan as manager.

Yesterday Mr Cleland, who made his name developing brands including Coca-Cola, Cadbury's Schweppes and Whyte and Mackay, said he had met with Keegan in Manchester on Monday night and that the pair had a "strong mutual interest in working together".

He said: "He is our preferred option but we cannot make any concrete decisions on the managerial position until negotiations on our planned takeover are further advanced.

"I think he understands and supports our concept of developing the club organically."

If you Google me you find out I was supposed to be involved in Blackburn, I'm now linked to Newcastle

CAPTION(S):

CENTRE STAGE Mike Ashley has been told offers are on the table but a takeover appears no closer.