A Singapore-based investment company has confirmed that it is interested in acquiring Newcastle United Football Club (NUFC), which was put up for sale by owner Mike Ashley earlier this month.

The Profitable Group said that it had been in contact with Seymour Pierce, the company appointed to oversee the sale of the Premier league outfit, but had not yet entered into talks with Ashley or club chair Derek Llambias. A statement from the Profitable Group said: "The group considers the leaking of the group's interest in this matter unfortunate, and as supporters of Newcastle United, seek only to serve in the best interests of the cluib, the fans and the local community."

Sportswear millionaire Ashley, who acquired NUFC for £134m in May 2007, is looking to sell the club for £100m, admitting that his tenure had been "catastrophic for everybody". NUFC was relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2008-09 season.