NEWCASTLE, England, Oct 6, 2008 (AFP) - The Nigerian consortium bidding to buy Newcastle has warned the Premier League crisis-club that they are ready to look elsewhere if a deal isn't completed soon.

The African businessmen are believed to have tabled a 200 million pounds offer after Newcastle owner Mike Ashley signalled his intention to sell up.

But the group are unhappy with the response from Newcastle so far and Chris Nathaniel, of NVA Management, who is the consortium's front man, insisted they were ready to pull out if negotiations don't go smoothly.

'We're talking to possible manager and key personnel for the club,' Nathaniel told The Sun. 'Once that is sorted, we'll fine-tune our offer.

'We're prepared to look at other options if our bid for Newcastle is not successful. I've been approached by several top Premier League club offering us opportunities to buy their clubs.

'People are having a go because the businessmen have not made themselves known. But I can assure everyone they are astute, respectable and wealthy men.'