FORMER Manchester City director Garry Cook has become the latest figure to be linked with a possible buy-out of Newcastle United.

The ex-Nike executive is understood to be working with a group of American investors to try to put together a viable consortium to take over from Mike Ashley.

Like the competing group being overseen by former Chelsea and Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon, however, Cook’s investment team are yet to table an acceptable bid, and have not entered into a period of exclusive negotiations.

Given the need for a formal process of due diligence, it is now extremely unlikely that either group would be able to complete a takeover before the turn of the year, even if they were able to meet Ashley’s £300m asking price.

Cook’s interest reflects a desire to return to football after a successful stint with Manchester City. Thai businessman Thaksin Shinawatra appointed Cook as chief executive when he took over at the Etihad Stadium in 2008, offering the former Nike employee a £1.5m -a-year salary that was a Premier League high at the time.

Cook retained his role when Sheikh Mansour bought City, and helped transform the club into a major European force. He was involved in the appointments of Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini.

After leaving City, he was involved in a group that took over Wigan Athletic, before selling the club on to a consortium based in Hong Kong. He left his position at Wigan earlier this year, and has also worked with the Ultimate Fighting Corporation (UFC) in a managerial capacity.