Some really good words this morning from Newcastle United Chairman Chris Mort, to calm things down a bit at the Tyneside club, and put some common sense into the events of the last two weeks.
We’ve been very impressed with Chris, by the way he has brought professionalism to the club, on Mike Ashley’s behalf.
Newcastle United Chairman Chris Mort – Ashley in this for the long term
In a long interview with the Newcastle Journal today, Chris makes it clear that owner Mike Ashley is taking a long term view of the club, and they both are satisfied that the club is on the right path. Two poor displays in the last two games will not derail the definite progress of Newcastle United, as they see it.
Chris Mort has said that Sam Allardyce’s position is not under any scrutiny from the boardroom and suggested the former Bolton boss would have been a prime candidate to be Newcastle’s manager, even if they had been in charge of the club when he was appointed by former chairman Freddie Shepherd.
It’s a really good interview today and all Newcastle fans should read what Chris has to say. Chris always comes across very mature, very businesslike and very positive for the new Newcastle Unitred football club.
Chris told the Newcastle Journal this morning:
“We are like any supporter, we lurch from one result to the next and we are affected by each game and how well we do,â€
“But from our perspective we have to take a more long-term to medium-term view. We are not going to leap to any rash decisions. We are not going to entertain stories like the one we had on Sunday saying that we were going to get rid of Sam because we have lost two games on the trot. We’re not going to get into that type of mindset.â€
“We have a much more long-term view about building the club over a prolonged period of time so that the club can compete at a higher level. That is going to take time, but on and off the field we feel the club is moving in the right direction.â€
“I think the Premier League, generally this season, seems to be more short-term inclined. There seems to be a real short-term thinking in the football business, which we want to resist.â€
“We absolutely want to hear what fans have to say, but we still take a medium and a long-term view, and we will not be swayed from that by two defeats on the trot, no matter how disappointing they may be.â€
“It doesn’t make accepting defeats any easier, especially when it’s a 4-1 home defeat, we’re both unhappy with those sorts of results, but we have to look beyond immediate results and think to ourselves, ‘Are we still heading in the right direction?’ We won’t get knocked off what we feel we need to do by short-term considerations.â€
Allardyce is too strong a character to let the boos, which were heard during Saturday’s game, and the rather intense and rather unfair criticism directed at him since Saturday. But Sam seems well aware of what he needs to do at Newcastle and two poor results will not get in the way of the tough Newcastle manager.
Chris went on:
“Chopping and changing managers here hasn’t worked and the success stories at other clubs are usually connected with longevity,†“The Premier League manager is clearly in a highly pressured position, there are four who have gone so far this season, it’s a pressurized environment. But the guys who have brought success have clearly been there longer term, without doubt.â€
“The fact that Sam wasn’t our appointment and that Mike has lots of money doesn’t create any kind of problem for me. Sam is doing a great job, he’s developed a strong team around him. If clubs had been looking around for a new manager to recruit in the summer then I’m sure we’d all have said that Sam was one of the best you could get. I’ve no problems with that.â€
“Mike might get compared with other billionaire-type owners – he’s a very successful businessman, very demanding, very good at what he does – but that doesn’t work against us taking a medium to long-term view. He takes a long-term view, because he can.â€
And Mort is adamant the volatile nature of football opinion on Tyneside (he’s right there!) will not distract him or Allardyce from what they are trying to achieve. Chris added:
“I think we always had a sense that his club has an intense reaction to what happens on the pitch week to week. We have a club that has a massive following and the team and the club is a massive part of people’s lives in this part of the world.â€
“Because of that, there does tend to be a bigger swing in emotions. One minute it is full of optimism and we are going to qualify for the Champions League, then you lose two games and it’s, ‘Right, who’s going to be the next manager?’ The swings are incredible.â€
Chris is already working with Big Sam on the recruits they will be bringing into the club in January. We think there may be more new players coming in than fans realize. It looks ooks like we still need one or two new defenders. Maybe we’ll still end up with Ben Haim from Chelsea and Edmilson from Barcelona. That would be an excellent start, and would cement the view that Big Sam is determined to make Newcastle a much tougher team to beat than they are right now. Upward and onward.
Comments welcome.
26 comments so far
adam
Nov 7, 2007 at 11:56 AM
Comment #1isnt it great to have some good intelligent people on our board with good business background. fat fred should watch and learn how its done. i agree with giving the manager time (just wish it was sum1 else)
TOONNUTTER
Nov 7, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Comment #2ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
I AGREE WE NEED TO GIVE HIM TIME.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER MANAGERS AND THE PLAYERS THEY HAVE BROUGHT IN, WELL SAM HAS NOT BROUGHT A DUCK EGG YET. SO I THINK HE IS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
ARSENAL / MAN UTD ETC HAVE GREAT MANAGERS BUT THEY HAVE BEEN AT THEIR CLUBS FOR A LONG PERIOD.
I SAY WE HAVE TO LOOK LONG TERM. IF YOU LOOK AT HOW WE PLAYED LAST SEASON , ITS NOT GOING TO CHANGE OVER NIGHT.
MY ONLY CONCERN IS PLAYERS PLAYING IN THE WRONG POSTIONS AND THE TACTICS ( WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE SAMS STRONG POINT , ) DID NOT COME OVER TOO WELL ON SATURDAY.
I FEEL HE IS STILL LOOKING AT WHAT IS HIS STRONGEST TEAM , AND I FEEL A LOT OF COMING AND GOINGS WILL HAPPEN NOT ONLY IN JAN BUT IN THE SUMMER.
THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT.
LETS SEE WHERE WE ARE IN A SEASON OR SO, BUT I FEEL WE HAVE TO GIVE IT A 5 YEAR PLAN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS BY 2012. SOUNDS MIGHTY FINE BY ME.
GOOD ARTICLE ED ONCE AGAIN.
steve
Nov 7, 2007 at 12:05 PM
Comment #3well said – changing manager would be ridiculous at this stage, Mort’s dead right when he says we change week to week depending on results – we’ve changed manager 4 times in the last few years and gotten nowhere (you could argue that we’ve always chosen crap managers)
Lets give Sam a couple of seasons before we judge, if he gets us in top half of league this season then that’ll be something to build on for next season
Brisbane Mag
Nov 7, 2007 at 12:08 PM
Comment #4Mort’s comments are very relevant as the Newcastle United squad requires major rebuilding after Souness destroyed in a short period what Sir Bobby built.
BSA has spent very little money since being at the helm and we all know we need to get rid of several players and buy quality replacements.
Two losses on the trot does not make BSA a bad manager. He needs time to rebuild the squad and get us playing to a set system.
Like many, I’m not too happy with recent performances and the latest two defeats, but BSA has improved the team from last season and will continue to improve the side.
We need to get behind Newcastle United and the manager as he’ll come good; given time…..
adam
Nov 7, 2007 at 12:12 PM
Comment #5sounds like mike ashley will give some money to spend on players….im just wondering who he would go for if he was given mega bucks. which type of star player would sam go for? a anelka, micah richards, or a ronaldinho. i know who we would like but who would sam go for?
bowsie
Nov 7, 2007 at 12:25 PM
Comment #6In fairness, neither Roeder or Souness were sacked prematurely. But yeah we need stability now and Sam will improve.
Stami
Nov 7, 2007 at 12:33 PM
Comment #7ADAM i agree with you! except i am glad it is BSA! he is an excelent manager, his record speaks for its self!
i have complete faith in you Sam!
Jerry
Nov 7, 2007 at 12:58 PM
Comment #8You lot are very naive to believe every word Chris Mort says. If Sam doesnt make the UEFA Cup this year, believe you me, he will be out of a job! Sam should even be feeling lucky he’s not being expected to make the CL places this year.
Football has changed – gone are the days when managers were given forever to turn things around. Its like society now – everyone wants everything NOW.
You talk about Fergie and Wenger staying long in their jobs. They have done that because throughout their tenure they HAVE DELIVERED AND WON THINGS. If either were to go on a losing streal you would see the attack dogs coming out.
Cockney Magpie
Nov 7, 2007 at 1:05 PM
Comment #9well said Stami! i dunno bout anybod else but the things Chris Mort was sayin was exactl what a wanted to hear! i feel aloy happier now and cant wait 4 saturday!!!!
yemozone
Nov 7, 2007 at 1:09 PM
Comment #10sounds like mike ashley will give some money to spend on players….im just wondering who he would go for if he was given mega bucks. which type of star player would sam go for? a anelka, micah richards, or a ronaldinho. i know who we would like but who would sam go for?
very good one Adam.I hope that he will not go for all those old cheap players that will play well in their first few games but later become a disaster.
I didn’t mention any name.lol
Leo
Nov 7, 2007 at 1:21 PM
Comment #11i find it hard to believe to be honest that people believe sam alardyce isnt a good manager, his record speaks for itself…
Obafan
Nov 7, 2007 at 1:51 PM
Comment #12The last results were bad, but we are very lucky to have intelligent people like Ort in our board. Very good comments from Mort. If it still was Shephard I think the club would be in a crisis now, but with these words everyone is again working hard and knowing that time is needed to have everything right.
Obafan
Nov 7, 2007 at 1:52 PM
Comment #13Off course I meant Mort and not Ort 😉 , sorry guys.
arctoa (D.)
Nov 7, 2007 at 2:10 PM
Comment #14It took Ferguson almost five years to start winning things at Manchester United, so that’s cobblers. He almost got the sack a few times in that period, too.
Bosck
Nov 7, 2007 at 2:16 PM
Comment #15Ok Jerry, so we shouldnt believe a word Chris Mort says and instead believe you??
Well i’m sorry i know who i’m gonna believe. The guy who types on a meesage board or the succesful city lawyer turned football club chairman, who knows that his comments will be read by thousands so if he then goes against them he would be made to look a liar and rather stupid.
Mort and Ashley have repeatedly said that they are not setting any specific targets in the short term but are looking for steady improvement.
Besides name me one manager that is available now that we could realistically get that is better than allardyce anyway?
mourinho – says he does not want to manage a club in england for at least the forseeable future out of respect for chelsea fans.
hitzfeld – the rumours are that fs sounded him out in the summer and he wasnt interested.
mort unlike shepherd and a number of rash chairman in this league has looked at the 2 most succesful clubs in terms of domestic trophies over the last decade and can see that sticking by a manager long term and allowing him to build is they key to success. Ferguson was on the brink of the sack in his first couple of seasons but the board stuck by him and have never regretted it, and wenger has been allowed to completely restructure arsenal in order to bring long term success.
Jerry
Nov 7, 2007 at 2:42 PM
Comment #16Arctoa – you are wrong! Fergie won the Cup Winners Cup before he was under any threat of being sacked.
Jerry
Nov 7, 2007 at 2:43 PM
Comment #17BOsck – you want just one? Capello.
Bill F
Nov 7, 2007 at 2:53 PM
Comment #18Who is he calling volatile, surely he can’t mean the placid laid back people on this blog. 😉
I would agree that Sam is “Potentially” a very good manager and I have always rated highly his “Scientific” ( for want of a better word) approach to football. He did wonders at Bolton and seems to being getting it right for us. But I would have to agree with Jerry, if the sh*t hit the fan then many people including us placid lot would be calling for a taxi. I would rweckon he has about 2 years to get it right imo. Then Mort and Ashley (sound like undertakers don’t they) will be looking around if it aint.
Jerry
Nov 7, 2007 at 3:03 PM
Comment #19Bosck you really think Mort will give a toss about the contents of some interview he gave to the Chronicle if NUFC do not perform under Allardyce? You say he is a City Lawyer blah blah blah – that in my view makes it more likely for him to back pedal.
Dont be that naive my friend.
If going contrary to what one has said publicly made one look stupid then am sure Politicians and lawyers, of whom Mort if one of, would be deemed the most stupid on the planet!
Am not saying Mort is an outright liar. Of course not. All am saying is when the situation changes, like a prudent man, he will change his mind with it.
Hadrian
Nov 7, 2007 at 3:38 PM
Comment #20ehh ? the tosser implying that its us ? have a word with the papers your giving interviews with for a start morty
Rob kirton
Nov 7, 2007 at 4:08 PM
Comment #21I am not one of those shouting for Sam’s head, however I can see where Jerry is coming from. I am sure Ashley / Mort will have set Sam sort sort of target this year. If he doesn’t meet it then no doubt his position will be reviewed.
There is mileage sticking with a manager if he is progressing matters and getting results. I don’t however buy into this business of saying Sam has a track record of success. In eight years, he once got his team to a League cup final and once qualified for Europe . I suspect he will have to up his game quite a bit to survive at St James’s . I think most of us will wish him well in his task, whether or not he is up to it is still very much open to doubt. He’s got to walk the walk as well as he can talk the talk.
In as much that recent results don’t mean he should be sacked, neither do they suggest we’re going to make real progress this year. If Kenwyne Jones make a real mess of our defence this weekend, Allardyce will really start to understand what pressure in the job means. Backing of the board is one thing, he will also have to carry the fans; and I think we all know how fickle they can be.
magpie boy
Nov 7, 2007 at 5:36 PM
Comment #22ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh SHut up All of you just be patient and be realistic sam allardyce is a different person from ferguson and wenger stop comparing him with them….Thats the problem we want to compare ourselves with the Top yet its a fact newcastle united has a big problem surely.
1st the injuries
2nd the defence
so you wanna suck big sam and then when another coach comes he too would haft to change things and believe me guyz we will be losing games too so you would want to sack him too?Maybe thats why our team moral is down coz if the fans themselves criticise them and boo them thats why teams like derby,reading will beat us atleast their fans appreciate their players and coach
jamie
Nov 7, 2007 at 6:05 PM
Comment #23jerry, fergie was under extreme pressure has united struggled when he first took over.
from the telegraph:
The fledgling who saved Fergie’s neck
Two past finalists, one winner, one loser, climb back on the Cup ladder a decade on to lift the ranks of potential giant-killers
By Simon Turnbull
Published: 30 December 2001
Even if Mark Robins scores the goal of the season in Rotherham’s third-round FA Cup tie against Southampton on Saturday it is unlikely to be remembered as the most significant strike of his career. The goal he scored against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on 7 January 1990 earned Manchester United a 1-0 win and earned their manager a stay of execution that has stretched to 12 years and 14 major trophies.
Even if Mark Robins scores the goal of the season in Rotherham’s third-round FA Cup tie against Southampton on Saturday it is unlikely to be remembered as the most significant strike of his career. The goal he scored against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on 7 January 1990 earned Manchester United a 1-0 win and earned their manager a stay of execution that has stretched to 12 years and 14 major trophies.
Indeed, as Sir Alex Ferguson gets ready for his final fling in the FA Cup, he might reflect with wry satisfaction upon that fateful third-round tie. It was billed as Fergie’s final fling of the dice as the manager of Manchester United. Three years into his tenure at Old Trafford, United were struggling on the fringe of the relegation zone and had been knocked out of the League Cup by Tottenham Hotspur. The Stretford End was rapidly reaching the end of its tether.
The FA Cup was regarded as Fergie’s last hope of salvation. Defeat against Forest, according to the general consensus, would have brought a premature end to his time at Old Trafford. “Everyone says that was the case,” Robins reflected. “If we’d gone out of the FA Cup that would have been our season over, and people have drawn their own conclusions. I think it’s got more significant over time because of Alex Ferguson’s achievements at Manchester United.
Duncan Disorderly
Nov 7, 2007 at 10:06 PM
Comment #24Sam has got a lot going for him – his record SUGGESTS that. What he does need is time to apply his experience to a very different challenge. I think that shows with our away form right now – we need to be patient and let him work out for himself what tactics to play where.
His ‘scientific’ approach also extends to injuries – partly that’s about not tolerating sick-notes but also about training techniques and ancouraging the discipline required by players to become and remain fitter. I think we’re seeing the results of that already but it needs time.
2 other points worth making – Sam’s work in the transfer market has been outstanding – FAR better than any other manager I can remember, and it’s much tougher now with more money to spend around the league and less time to spend it in. And add to all that, we’re not in Europe!
The other point is behaviour of the players – I hope we have seen the last of dressing-room bust-ups and public tantrums – the way our players have behaved under the last 3 managers at least, including Sir Bobby, was totally unacceptable and showed a distinct lack of discipline. The fact that BSA could control the likes of Anelka, and the way players have taken being dropped so far this season give me the confidence that he is the right man to put previous wrongs right and get the team playing for each other and staying out of the tabloids and on the pitch
joe
Nov 8, 2007 at 3:13 AM
Comment #25Why dont all you sam haters just go support another club if u dont wanna see sam manage us? Believe me even if we finished 14th this season he will NOT be sacked. His position will be reviewed, but he will NOT be sacked. End of story. He is one of the best british managers around and ashley and mort arent stupid enough to do anything rash.
Tom_Toon
Nov 8, 2007 at 10:30 AM
Comment #26BEST BRITISH, you said it all there.