The People and to a lesser extent the Sunday Mirror newspapers today are reporting that Sam Allardyce has a maximum of £10M to spend on transfers this summer – plus anything he can get from the sale of players.
First of all we have no idea if this story is true and we find it rather hard to believe quite honestly.
But if it’s true it’s a terrible blow to Big Sam and his plans to build the squad for a turnaround season at the club.
No wonder he wants to sell Dyer quickly to get the £5M his sale will bring into the coffers. We’ll look at this story but think it’s just mischevious.
Newcastle Owner Mike Ashley
People Sport has reported they understand the lawyer put in place by English billionaire owner Mike Ashley, has told Sam he needs to sell before any more cash becomes available. We again find that hard to believe because we all know the squad is too small by Chris Mort’s own words so who do they expect Sam to sell?
Like most pre-seasons at Newcastle we have already been hit by injury with star signing Joey Barton out until at least mid September with a broken foot. The People is saying the £10M total figure includes the wages of the players he signs. But what does that mean exactly?
Does it mean if Sam signs somebody on a 4 year contract for £3M and pays the player £1m/year it’s £4M or is is it £7M out of the transfer kitty. That doesn’t even sound right to say it includes the wages as well.
Chairman Chris Mort took control at St James’ Park following Freddy Shepherd leaving the club last week. Sam had earlier said this about the new regime at the club:
“They know very little of football. It’d be pretty foolish not to back me now.”
“It’s for me to provide the information to help them understand why I’m doing what I’m doing and where I’m going, and show them we need to initially focus on the first team.”
We know the new regime is on a steep learning curve but what we’ve seen and heard from Chairman Mort so far have been the right things – with no mention of the specific money being made available to Sam – but that’s just solid business.
This is what Chairman Chris Mort said in the program notes on Thursday for the game against Celtic:
“Building a squad that is capable of competing at the highest level will take time – nothing happens overnight – but we are confident that in due course, we can take this club to a higher level.â€
“Sam and I feel more signings will be required before we are ready for the new season, particularly to strengthen our defense.â€
So Mort has already said new signings are necessary before the season starts.  We have to believe this story is made up to sell Sunday papers.
However, what we do now want to hear is a denial for Chris Mort and that there is sufficient money in the transfer kitty to bring in the class of player Sam Allardyce wants and needs. This acknowledgement  must be made very quickly by our new board to clear up this confusion.
If this story is true it is extremely bad news not only for the club but specifically for Sam himself.
Comments are very welcome on this news.
77 comments so far
Phil
Jul 29, 2007 at 11:47 AM
Comment #41Sorry for now wading through all the comments but Mort has said in previous interviews that money is availiable. So this is just rubbish made up by the Geordie hating London press.
MightyMilburn
Jul 29, 2007 at 11:53 AM
Comment #42Paper talk.. jadi jadi jada..
Rich
Jul 29, 2007 at 11:56 AM
Comment #43New Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is hoping to lure Kevin Keegan out of retirement to become the club’s director of football. (Various)!!!!!!!!!!!!!
does this take anyone attention???
i would be very happy with this, i think its probably a move to try and get someone who has alot of football experience on the non-footballing side of things hopefully to push through transfers etc.. whilst BSA is doing other things or vice versa.
King Kev, Mike Ashley & Sam Allerdyce…. could be the english trio to bring us sucess!…or am i getting ahead of myself?
Josh
Jul 29, 2007 at 11:56 AM
Comment #44and come on!
It is from THE PEOPLE!!!!
Hmmmmmmm thats about as trust worthy as The Sport or News of the world!
MightyMilburn
Jul 29, 2007 at 12:05 PM
Comment #45Just read some of the (many) comments – and I agree with Brian.. As frustrating as it is – for all of us Geordies – it is nice to see a change in the clubs behaviour towards the media reg. rumors (transfers etc). I believe that BSA will get the money if he finds the appropiate player(s).. I dont think there is a fixed money pot per transfer window..
It is bloody frustrating to see our back-up goalie having to come on as a substitute striker due to lack of depth in the squad, but I am confident that there will be some additions to the squad before the new season starts..
The coming season will no doubt be a re-building season – and next summer hopefully we will have just crept into Europe (I’ll take it in any form it presents itself – InterToto, fair play award) and then we wont have a club take-over interfering with season preparations..
I like BSA.. and I feel he is saying the right things.. There are few managers I would take in instead – but of course Wenger would not be a bad replacement.. Doubt that he will move so far north..
Lets keep our faith in the new management and BSA.. and the quality players which we do have at our club.. I love being optimistic before a new season.. I guess because it is all that I have to hang onto (no silver ware.. yet..)
PK
Jul 29, 2007 at 12:09 PM
Comment #46Same OLD story..damn i am furustrated..wonder if the “Keegan” times will ever be back at St.Jame’s actually..avery year its the same story..If we dont bring in players this week..i will really get angry!
George
Jul 29, 2007 at 12:15 PM
Comment #47Josh i think you are on the same wavelength as me.
You are looking at things with an open mind and looking more deeply.
The transfer market is a joke as are the following comics THE SUN, NEWS OF THE WORLD, SUNDAY PEOPLE, SUNDAY SPORT, MAIL ON SUNDAY,
DAILY STAR, DAILY & SUNDAY MIRROR and most local papers. Have i missed anyone out?
Phil P
Jul 29, 2007 at 12:25 PM
Comment #48errr ‘Or keep him give him a year, on a tiny budget and in that time try to get the man he wants. Speculated to be Wenger.’
Lol Ant you working for the Daily Star?
I think this story is a load of shit though, I doubt the budget is as big as we originally hoped but this figure is just plucked out the air to fill column inches, as you all say. Have faith, theres still time.
nightfall
Jul 29, 2007 at 12:26 PM
Comment #49ed – if we get cicinho, geremi can play in midfield… if sdb gets injured, we still have this position covered… i’m just worried sam won’t have enough time to prove himself… looks like we need to finish in top 7 if sam wants to keep his job… but for that we need quality signings…ASAP…before their price rises…
ToonKing
Jul 29, 2007 at 12:27 PM
Comment #50There are reports that Big Sam put in a bid of 3M for Fulham’s giant midfielder Papa Bouba Diop, and also i think the same price fordefender Abdoulaye Faye from former team Bolton.
Anyone can confirm these ?
Dingo
Jul 29, 2007 at 1:08 PM
Comment #51well i just read this as well http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/6918967.stm looks like he aint comming either. 🙁 for all the comming and goings though I think we are a better team than we were last year… lets look at the Juve match this afternoon and see if it bouys us up again. Whatever cash we got, whoever we bring in, we are bringing them into a new new era at NUFC like it or not. The ball is rolling, as ever we will have to sit back and watch the highlights…… as long as we beat the makkams ill be happy this season, anything else is just a bonus.
Obafan
Jul 29, 2007 at 1:45 PM
Comment #52Don’t know what to believe anymore 🙁 All the rumours are driving me crazy. Yesterday it was Bosingwa, Hangeland and Cicinho; today it is Chiellini, Diouf and Faye. I don’t care anymore with who we are linked with, cause is this all true? And if its true nothing happens at the moment, so I wait and see what happens. One thing is for sure we need new defenders and that’s that.
I hope we can play a good game this afternoon against Juve and that we don’t have another injury, cause that is something we don’t wanna happen.
ToonKing
Jul 29, 2007 at 1:55 PM
Comment #53I’m tired to of all the speculations too, i don’t care anymore, when i know 100% that we got someone in then i’ll be happy, no use to wind myself up for all the bull papers write.
Let’s just enjoy the game today, it’s almost starting.
The Old Lady will get a taste of Big Sam and his Toon Army today!!!!
HOWAY THE LADS!!!
apan
Jul 29, 2007 at 2:14 PM
Comment #54lets back him up u guys, at least he doesnt spend on rubbish players like souness he only spend less than 2 mil for 4 quality players and we are like the lowest spender in the EPL currently, do u want him to spend 20 30 million on players that arent certain to pull it off in epl (boumsong, luque to name a few) so i think better for him to spend wisely than spend like an idiot buying remember this is not Football manager and not as easy as some will thought, different players have different personality so yeah some will like the club but not the place, some will come for the epl popularity, most is for the money only a bunch will come here really for the football…
expect some shocking transfer in the next 1 2 weeks im sure BSA can pull him off he just need the support and backing from the management and the fans! HOWAY THE LADS!
Obafan
Jul 29, 2007 at 2:18 PM
Comment #55apan – we maybe are the lowest spenders, but that’s also because we don’t spend at all (not in the last weeks). BS is always speaking about quality, but if you don’t spend for quality then it is simple; no quality is coming. Okay, the 4 new players are all quality for a low price (or free); well done on that, but it’s just not enough.
If you want quality players then you have to offer money; it’s as simple as that in this period of managing in football world.
Ed Harrison
Jul 29, 2007 at 2:25 PM
Comment #56Josh – there’s a bigger article in the Sunday Sun on the same topic.
http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/newcastleunited/sundaysun/tm_headline=show-me-the-money%26method=full%26objectid=19535649%26siteid=50081-name_page.html
ToonKing
Jul 29, 2007 at 2:26 PM
Comment #57I just read on Newcastle World that Cacapa left Lyon and is a free agent, and we could be in the race to bring him in. He not that tall, only 1.80, but he’s strong and a quality player. It would be great to get him for free.
t-g-w
Jul 29, 2007 at 3:05 PM
Comment #58Anyone else worried that neither Owen nor Ameobi are on the bench for us this afternoon?
ToonKing
Jul 29, 2007 at 3:20 PM
Comment #59Damn we need a LB fast, Huntington is terrible as a LB.
t-g-w
Jul 29, 2007 at 3:24 PM
Comment #60Luque again!!!! Albeit a penalty…
t-g-w
Jul 29, 2007 at 3:42 PM
Comment #61Get in – And Carroll!!!!
ToonKing
Jul 29, 2007 at 3:55 PM
Comment #62Given is the shiiiiittttt!!! :)) Awesome as always.
Oh and did i mention we need a LB fast ? 🙂
Phil
Jul 29, 2007 at 4:26 PM
Comment #63Anyone notice how BS has blanked Mort all game!
Ivan
Jul 29, 2007 at 4:50 PM
Comment #64keep dyer!!!!!!!
please
Josh
Jul 29, 2007 at 4:50 PM
Comment #65Ed – Do you believe all this not enough money stuff??/????
Craig
Jul 29, 2007 at 6:46 PM
Comment #66I don’t think it’s true, but would explain our slowness in the transfer market at late. I really don’t think Mort should be chairman, can’t we employ someone with more experience in running a football, I think he’s struggling already.
lenshk
Jul 29, 2007 at 8:02 PM
Comment #67Im afraid to tell you that i know for a fact that ashley has no interest in the football side, he bought the club to enable him to tie the toon to 10 yr shirt deal to one of his companies these words came from ashleys mouth unfortunately!!
he plans to oust addidas as he has probs with them in his main business he has plans to sell the toon once he has achieved this,
also believe what you hear about keegan and shearer being new manager within weeks this came from terry macs lips last thursday
apan
Jul 29, 2007 at 8:20 PM
Comment #68we are debt ridden, so i guess chris mort is being cautious cpz well theyre still a businessman after all but if they want extra money they need to spend so that we can get europe spot next year then the cash will flow in
valle
Jul 29, 2007 at 8:25 PM
Comment #69I know for a fact that Ashley want to make the toon the worlds biggest club and he is willing to use all of his 2billion to archieve this. His mother told my mothers friend and so on… Well, there have been enough BS on this board alrdy so lets stop it here. As i said earlier, MA would be the dumbest man alive if he bought Newcastle only to as a cash machine. We have been on the verge of revolt for years and i will bet all i own that if that really was his intentions, the supporters of NUFC would howl him in the tyne river. The place have a sense of hope and a new dawn about it, can u imagine if that just turn out to be a false dawn?… Nah, MA didnt earn all his money by doing stupid things like that, which would ruin his name, not only in the North east but in all of england where football lovers have felt our pain for years. He will want to make a name for himself and his bussiness by making the toon into a high profile club which he can then use to promote his other companies.
valle
Jul 29, 2007 at 8:30 PM
Comment #70Have anyone else noticed that from time to time, new names pop up on this MB to spread doom and gloom… I wonder what SFC fans are up to these days, besides changing the names on their shirts everytime a new player turns them down.
lenshk
Jul 29, 2007 at 8:39 PM
Comment #71dream on! by doing what youve said is bad business, im gutted by what ive heard but never the less these words came from ashley i will say no more but when this happens which i pray dosent you track me down,
Gangstalord
Jul 29, 2007 at 8:57 PM
Comment #72every1 this is bull shit dnt b dragged in to thi whole “chris mort is being cautious”, no MA just spenr 133million buying the club hes not going to just stop their. i dont think i need to explain why this article about us having only ten million is not true ….cough ‘the people’ ‘sunday mirror’, !!!WTF THE TRANSFER DEADLINE IS THIS TUESDAY!! pleasde can someone tell me its not true
valle
Jul 29, 2007 at 9:10 PM
Comment #73No its not, its free advertizing… When he was about to take over, rumours had it that he was aiming for champs league medals. Now im not saying that its a realistic goal as things are, but imagine the rub of on his other companies if he could succeed, he would have free access to use united players to promote his stuff and if any of them should become national icons… well. Ur rumours might sound more true if u could say how u came in a position to hear such things otherwise im old and experienced enough to know that allot of ppl live through lies on the net.
bb
Jul 29, 2007 at 9:32 PM
Comment #74I think what were seeing from the moment FS left Sam strugling on quality but not on numbers, we need to sell before we can buy, veryone costs too much, the new directors dont understand anything about football, dyer can only go if we get top money etc etc
relax lads for the first time in years we have someone playing the transfer window with a bit of knowledge and an experienced manager who wont be driven by the media.. still not giving interviews to the bbc.. the sunday people transfer kitty story doesnt bother me its either them bitter at not getting hints of targets or sam feeding them rubbish to try and drive down prices either way it helps us…. viduka for nothing or chopra for £5mill what would you prefer
plus isnt it funny that since fs left the newcatle insider the chronicle uses so much seems to have dried up
all the best and relax, i think we are gonna havea decent season
iain
Jul 29, 2007 at 10:13 PM
Comment #75if this is true its obvious that its becuse Ashley doesnt want Sam here beyond this season.
But even if it is ashley is taking the piss becuase the new tv deal is £30m that the club could split 50/50 for fees and wages. thats why all the clubs like fulham/pompey etc are spending becuase its not actually costing them anything beyond there means with the increase in income.
If its true Ashley would be well advised to stay away from matches as he wont half get some grief of some sections of the support over this.
i tottally agree that the club would be mad to come out and say this our budget as the agents would be licking there lips at the thought of their 15%.
the only thing that allows all this to make sense is that the clubs debt has gone beyond being serviceable and ashley is having to fork out millions to clear some of it.
lenshk
Jul 29, 2007 at 11:33 PM
Comment #76im a businessman and intelligent enough to know that the knock on effect of what you call free advertising (does £131 mill equate to free advertising maybe im missing something here) would never give a return worthy of that investment,the reason i know this is im close to someone who was very close to a deal with Freddy Shepherd before this mike ashley came from nowhere to steal the deal,my contact has spoken with ashley and has a verbal that he can have 1st refusal on the club as soon as he has done what he needs to do.this has pissed me right off because there was going to be b ig money spent with this other deal.i cant say much more only that just watch the clock ticking away on the transfer window,i know people throw these daft ones about but if you can believe what ashley says well these were his words which to me are not only shocking but the halls have got alot to answer for if this is his real motive lets hope he is playing a game of bluff,im hoping!
valle
Jul 31, 2007 at 6:03 PM
Comment #77Well i am a business man to, and u can be pretty sure that this story is bullocks. MA knew that there was debt when he bought this club, almost all clubs have debt, that not to say that they cannot be milked, there are loads of money going into EPL clubs each year (More the higher u finish, making investment profitable) that can be transfered to his other businesses. If all u got from football clubs was debt, then ur friends friend woulndt want to be neither now would he?