Gateshead FC’s hopes of climbing out of the National League and into the English Football League were dashed following a disappointing playoff campaign, and the fallout has been as dramatic off the pitch as on it. The club’s captain, Greg Olley, has pointed the finger squarely at ex-Nigerian international Victor Anichebe, whose high-profile attempt to buy the club has, according to Olley, unsettled the squad at a crucial moment.
Anichebe, the former Premier League striker with stints at Everton, West Brom, and Sunderland, has been leading a Nigerian consortium in a bid to take over the fifth-tier club. His presence at the Gateshead International Stadium and reported involvement in club affairs-before the takeover was even finalised-sparked intense speculation and uncertainty among players and staff.
Olley didn’t mince words in his criticism, suggesting that the drawn-out takeover process created a climate of distraction and anxiety. “You talk about contributing factors to why players aren’t playing well, why the club’s not thriving and yeah, it’s a massive factor,” Olley said, referencing months of rumours, shifting priorities, and a lack of clear communication from both current and prospective owners. He described how Anichebe, despite not officially owning the club, was allowed into the dressing room to outline his plans and expectations, which only deepened divisions within the squad.
The uncertainty was not limited to the players’ futures; it also affected recruitment and morale. Gateshead boss Carl Magnay admitted that the ongoing speculation made it difficult to plan, stating, “From a recruitment point of view, we don’t know what structure we are working under because we have been told it’s happening imminently since January. So week-to-week, we don’t know if it’s happening. The uncertainty has been a hindrance and we are feeling the brunt”.
While Anichebe’s ambitions for Gateshead transforming the club and pushing for promotion are seen as positive in the long term, the timing and manner of his involvement appear to have had a destabilising effect. As Gateshead’s playoff dreams faded, Olley’s comments captured the frustration of a team left in limbo: “There’s almost been a little bit of a divide in the camp… it’s been tarnished for a while now, for a few months.”
