The Newcastle United Blog

60 responses so far ↓

• 1 Toonboy // May 25, 2008 at 10:21

  Would’nt surprise me at all.

• 2 The Entertainers // May 25, 2008 at 10:29

  I’m not that confident. I dont believe Ashley is actively seeking to sell, but if a big enough bid came in then i think he would sell. He’s a business man first, football fan second!

• 3 MarK // May 25, 2008 at 10:35

  that would be the case with any football club wouldn’t it ? if a big enough bid came in you’d sell it.. I doubt he’d accept one so soon though..

• 4 sirjasontoon // May 25, 2008 at 10:38

  “He did it so the club can work more efficiently, especially in the transfer market and scouting young talent before the lads are fully developed”.

  We are certainly a major force to be reckoned with in the transfer market..the dennis wise appointment is really paying off.

  I think we will struggle next year under this regime and I hate Dennis Wise and the whole recruitment team.

• 5 D B F // May 25, 2008 at 10:44

  wud not suprise me one little bit if he sold up 2morro 2 b honest

• 6 paulthepom // May 25, 2008 at 10:44

  who cares.the fact is,if he sells nufc tomorrow we are better off than what we were.every owner of every club is in it for the cash.if he does sell.it will be to someone with a lot of money.

• 7 Spot The Zebra // May 25, 2008 at 10:46

  Way.

• 8 toonoholic // May 25, 2008 at 10:48

  or it could be someone like the glazers who would spent next 10 years paying up the loan and interest ?

• 9 Rem // May 25, 2008 at 10:51

  Why is everyone having such a go at the recruitment team????!!! the transfer window hasnt even opened in alot of countries.
  Everyone calm the F down.
  The vast majority of transfers dont occur till august!

• 10 Leo // May 25, 2008 at 10:52

  bull sh-t

• 11 Sav // May 25, 2008 at 11:00

  Just a thought on a throw-away line about Chris Mort’s law firm getting paid by the hour for his services to the Toon, He’s been here a year - anyone like to figure out what that will have cost?
  I reckon somewhere between Oba Martins and Michael Owen.

• 12 robertsa // May 25, 2008 at 11:07

  wouldnt suprise me like i wanted the belgravia group or whatever they were called.

• 13 sirjasontoon // May 25, 2008 at 11:10

  The recruitment team is a shambles look at the Modric saga..they couldn’t tie shoe laces never mind tie up transfers.

  If Ashley sells I couldn’t care less..yes we are financially better off but it is clear from the last window when we bought some pubeless wonders from abroad that he is not going to splash his wedge on talent.

  To be in any contention of a UEFA spot at least 60m needs to be spent minimum as the squad is paper thin with a piss weak defence.

  We are nothing more than bottom 5 at the moment teams like Villa,Blackburn,Pompey,west ham,spurs are leaving us behind.

  A prime example man city in discussions with ronaldhinio..why is that little prick Wise not knocking on some decent players doors??

• 14 Leo Smith // May 25, 2008 at 11:19

  High Powered Lawyer? On somewhere between £80k-£110k per week? Dream on. Try £200000 per annum max, absolute max, which works out at just under £3000 a week. Still far more than most are likely to see in their lives, but a helluva lot less than the players. Stop trying to get on the backs of the board - they’re doing a fantastic job. Does anyone remember FFS at all on here?

  Two years ago we were after one target it seemed, and it took us about 2 months to seal the transfer of a certain Obafemi Martins. Yes some clubs have bought players, but that would be (as far as know):

  Modric (Spurs, £16.2m)
  Bosingwa (Chelski £16m)
  Schwarzer (Fulham, free)
  Degen (Liverpool, free)

  Correct me if there are any others. Of those, I’d loved to have had Modric but that’s it. No-one is really doing business yet. We’ve seen some *evidence* (not paper talk) that we’re actively pursuing targets (Modric, to a lesser extent Gomez) which is more than can be said for eg Liverpool, Everton, Pompey, Aston Villa, Blackburn and especially Man City (!) - our biggest rivals in the coming season. So calm down, give the new (fantastic) board some credit and enjoy the signings when they come.

  And I bet they won’t have ridiculous buy-out clauses in their contracts either…

• 15 Eric // May 25, 2008 at 11:29

  I simply do not believe a word in the press these days. Have never been happy with that ex-Chelsea London based jerk Wise either. We need the likes of Al, Pedro, Lee etc on board - not these overpaid suits farting in the wind on fat (black) cat salaries. They have to see that NUFC is more than just a football team - it is part of the heritage of Britain itself, not a toy for moneybags johnny come latelys!!!

• 16 toon1978 // May 25, 2008 at 11:43

  sundaysun is reporting papers in SPAIN are suggesting that we are looking to replace Kevin Keegan by bringing in MARCELINO…………………”NEWCASTLE are back on the trail of Spanish coach MARCELINO according to sources iN Spain.
  Previous talk of uniteds interest in replacing KEEGAN with MARCELINO died down amid their late season mini revival.
  HOWEVER, the magpies are said to be one of a handful of clubs to have contacted MARCELINO’S agents this week following the resignation as RACING SANTANDER coach,
  And the SUNDAYSUN understands united have sounded out the 42 year old’s representitives via PABLO LONGORIA, a friend and former colleague of MARCELINO who scouts for NEWCASTLE UNITED in Spain.
  Meanwhil, the agent of HAMBURG striker IVICA OLIC has suggested NEWCASTLE have contacted him regarding the croation international, AND the word in TURKEY is that they have made an £11 million bid for GALATASSARAY winger ARDA TURAN.

• 17 Hadrian // May 25, 2008 at 11:53

  you sure thats why he payed the debt off Ed?
  not to make it a more attractive sale , or to borrow against the club ?

  and we replace keegan and ill personally replace ashley !!!!!!!!!

• 18 daiv // May 25, 2008 at 11:59

  Ed
  Why would MA consider selling the club only after he has returned it to one of the top clubs in the land? For a bigger profit perhaps. You argue against yourself. If you don’t want to sell, the least likely time is when the club has achieved its rightful status. MA will sell when he can see a reasonable profit. He’s a businessman with no emotional interest in NUFC. That shirt wearing stuff is all bull.

• 19 MarK // May 25, 2008 at 11:59

  modric wanted euro football and to live in london.
  he would have delayed anyway if we did have a firm bid in.
  but lets just disregard that and blame dennis wise and the recruitment team..

  some people want us to go out and spend like crazy just after we cleared all out debts..

  I’m pretty sure ashley isnt goin to funnel all his money into nufc. hes already spent about 25% of his net worth on the club.

  he wants the club to generate its own money to fund its transfers not use more of his own.

• 20 toon1978 // May 25, 2008 at 12:01

  If Ashley replaces KK then he really does not have a clue about football. He needs to be told that this is not a game of SUBBUTEO or CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER. On another note it has been rumoured that MAN CITY have a transfer budget of 70 million and Liverpool also have a masive transfer budget. SUNDELAND also seem to have a larger budget then us i really hope this is not true because we will fal even further behind but this is all paper talk atm. My views on Ashley at the present time are not good with rumours of wanting to sell NUFC, LOWERING THE WAGES, GETTING RID OF KK, A SMALL BUDGET IN THE WINDOW. It all sounds depressing and i am thinking if he did sell then he would be doing us a huge favour. I give him credit for sorting the dept out at NUFC but thats all he has done IMO.

• 21 najikhin // May 25, 2008 at 12:03

  hope he will sell this club to a richer person..who will gladly splash 40millions on a player and pay 140k per week for that player..

• 22 oioi // May 25, 2008 at 12:06

  i cant believe that some people actually believe the press still?
  they can only get the stories they want by attempting to destabalise the club(s) with blatant lies.
  ashley wants to ban every red top from SJP and any moron who actually believes anything these ignorant hacks write or any rumors they start deserves all they get.
  KK returning was the scoop they all missed therefore severely pissing them all off.
  ive not read a paper for 10 years and im better off for it.
  the favourite tactic is for the sad hack to completely make up a rumor or story then add the immortal words ‘fans unrest’…
  i wouldnt wipe my arse on a newspaper to be honest…even the non sport storys are manufactured biased garbage.
  rant over…good luck KK and the lads next season,hopefully top 8.
  (ps.watch the div 2 playoffs tomorrow and tell me why we shuldnt sign the whole of stockport countys back 4!!!…all teens/early 20’s and would put certain mags / ex mags (not mentioning any names..cough titus cough) to shame).

• 23 daiv // May 25, 2008 at 12:08

  Eric
  Well said. We do not need Wise and the other guy who is chairman. They all support other clubs and are only interested in NUFC to make a quick killing.

• 24 toon1978 // May 25, 2008 at 12:13

  Good post OIOI i see what you are saying. he papers are all negative towards NUFC and i am one of the fools who buys the papers for stories about transfers. The next name to crop up is SWP but that needs to be taken lightly. One paper is saying that KK may be replaced and another paper saying that KK wants SWP. Also in the NEWS OF THE WORLD it says in big letters MAN CITY have millions nd milions to spend nd will bring in RONALDINHO but in another part of the sports bit in the Same paper it says RONALDINHO WILL sign for AC MILAN the papers are full of shit the writers want shot especially the donkeys that write for the EXPRESS,SUN.

• 25 Spyro // May 25, 2008 at 12:17

  too many complainers on here

• 26 toon1978 // May 25, 2008 at 12:22

  Spyro the world is FULL of complainers mate.

• 27 Hadrian // May 25, 2008 at 12:23

  no smoke no fire , we all know the media will do anything to stick the boot in .
  but i think every respectable toon site has worries about whats happening at the toon .
  the constant leaks to the london press are generally belived tobe comming from someone connected with the club now due to the contant leaks in the london based press .

  not saying take anything at face value here , but we shouldnt be dissmising it either .

• 28 Eric // May 25, 2008 at 12:26

  Read the article in the People. All tripe. Also read what Avram Grant’s missus said about the press. She is so right. Look what the press says about NUFC. I got a reply from the Press Commission about my complaint about what the Daily Mail publishes about NUFC. I am only a third party and am not affected so I can do nothing about the crap in the media. The Press Commission are toothless puppies. These lying fatherless reporters get away with it all the time. Do not buy these lying rags. If you do then save the back pages to wipe your arses - several times!

• 29 Spyro // May 25, 2008 at 12:27

  there are no leaks, no moles, no spies. they make up crap because people in the south believe it without a second thought. I know because i live down here, people down here love to hear NUFC failing. The papers are just giving the public what they want. Stop complaining about it and just ignore it.

• 30 Hadrian // May 25, 2008 at 12:30

  spyro , even people connected with nufc for decades are resigned to the fact that we have someone who’s got mates in the london press .
  even nufc.com have hinted it , and you wouldnt catch them spreading shiite so easily .

  tell me how ‘this is london’ news has carried toon stories the day before we hear about them up here .

• 31 toon1978 // May 25, 2008 at 12:31

  SPYRO why are the ppl down your neck of the woods want to see NUFC fail so much,are we that much of a threat a mediocre mid table club a threat to the mighty ARSENAL, SPURS, WESTHAM, CHELSEA. How sad and disturbing. I think they dislike us so much because SPUR spend an absolute fortune and we still turn them over HOME AND WAY.

• 32 toon1978 // May 25, 2008 at 12:37

  Anyway iwould be happyif we could pull in these 5 players ie

  1.ASHTON
  2.ARDA
  3.SWP
  4.SHOREY
  5.DUNNE

• 33 ronaldeano // May 25, 2008 at 12:40

  The funny thing is, you all BELIVE all the shit that is written in the papers! The only time when we should all belive what is writen is when a player signs on the dotted line. Dont get pissed off with the crap they print because you will do your OWN heed in!

• 34 Spyro // May 25, 2008 at 12:42

  toon1979, the thing people on here often misunderstand is that Spurs too are a team that people down here want to fail, even though they themselves are based in london. The media have even managed to turn us and spurs into rivals through the way they have told their stories over the years. The reason is because both us and Spurs are ambitious teams who are not willing to accept being mid table. Both teams have a fair amount of money and are not afraid to spend, so in a sense, yes, we are a threat to the top four. Both sets of fans are known for being good supporters and we always let it be known that we have high hopes for our team. This annoys people down here (bar spurs supporters) as the majority are top 4 supporting, glory hunters who feel we have no right to be optimistic or have any sort of aspiraions for our club. They are also very jealous of NUFC support and resent Tottenham as they are classed as having some of the best support in the premier league also.

• 35 ronaldeano // May 25, 2008 at 12:43

  @Eric, you are spot on there mate

• 36 Bill F // May 25, 2008 at 12:55

  To many people using to many CAPITALISED words in their comments. I find it IRRITATING and don’t bother reading them, which may be a PITY as they may be saying something WORTHWHILE.

  As for the story line it sounds a bit like the dreaded vote of confidence that managers get.

• 37 toon1978 // May 25, 2008 at 12:59

  My apologies Bill F i will now STOP using CAPITALISED words just for you

• 38 TomPoon // May 25, 2008 at 13:14

  bull shit

• 39 Bill F // May 25, 2008 at 13:24

  Thanks toon1978

• 40 Tom_Toon // May 25, 2008 at 13:33

  If DIC i offered id love for Mike Ashley to sell, not sure about a russian or american investor though, they dont seem to be seinsible enough.

• 41 Midjew // May 25, 2008 at 13:41

  It does not matter to much who owns the club as long as they have plenty of cash and dont get the club in BIG debt.

  To be honest it would be fun to have someone willing to splash the cash big time.

  WHO cares how much we spend does not effect us so…

  Roman Abramovich??? U Have any rich friends who also want a big club?? Just give us 200m in transfer fees and we’re yours

• 42 liamtoonbirchy // May 25, 2008 at 13:47

  if MA gives us 40m to spend we should be happy

  we will sell ameobi 1-4m, duff 5m and rozenhal 3m or part of swap deal with pandev or behrami

  That will leave us with 50m

  samba - 5m
  dunne 5m
  shorey 3m
  aimar ?
  zarate loan
  mbia 3m
  swp 8m
  ashton 10m
  turan 13m

  SORTED!

• 43 liamtoonbirchy // May 25, 2008 at 13:48

  does anyone know any good players that will be available on a bosman?

• 44 toon1978 // May 25, 2008 at 13:59

  If i was Mr Abrmovich i would buy NUFC and i would by these players for us toon fans

  Cech
  Miguel Toure Terry Cole

  Ronaldo Gerrerd Kaka Giggs

  Henry Messi

  my dream team for the toon then i woke up in a bowl of weetabix lol.

• 45 Nick Dryden // May 25, 2008 at 14:06

  I think we have to realise that a lot of players have solely being coming to NUFC for the money and whether Ashley is planning on selling up or not, he has tried, along with Mort to introduce a culture of a wage ceiling and bringing in top talented hungry to succeed youngsters from around the globe. Throwing money at the problem has solved nothing in the past, albeit it has been spent by an interfering buffoon of a chairman and a succession of below par managers.
  I love KK, but I wonder if he is able to find and discover young players and coach them to the technical levels that a Wenger and Quiroz could. Maybe Marcelino at 42 would have both the contacts and the coaching ability to mould younger players that KK and the likes of Terry Mac so obviously lack.
  Maybe we just have to learn to evolve, however, painful that maybe in the short term.

• 46 toon1978 // May 25, 2008 at 14:10

  Nick Dryden excellent post mate.

• 47 Bully // May 25, 2008 at 14:10

  thuram on a bosman old but still a gd defender

• 48 Slam Dunc // May 25, 2008 at 14:13

  Great post Leo Smith comment 14.

  Says it all really. Transfers take time to set up and we seem to be doing all the right things i.e. scouting players and making enquiries.

  The press are trying to sell papers so they have to print something, whoever said it had to be true.

  I’m still wanting you all to sign this petition for Sir Bobby, it’s better to spend our time doing this than stressing about transfers:

  http://www.trophy4toon.co.uk/latestnews/23may08.html

• 49 Midjew // May 25, 2008 at 14:34

  Nick i AGREE!

• 50 Taiwantoon // May 25, 2008 at 14:35

  I don’t trust MA. I accepted the excuse for the limited spending last summer for bad business management by the previous board, but I won’t take any this term.

• 51 Bill F // May 25, 2008 at 14:51

  I have to say I reluctantly agree with TaiwanToon, I have always felt a little uneasy with MA. its gonna take some real committment to convince me his intentions are honourable. Is it going to be a marriage made in heaven or a one night stand.

• 52 Ian // May 25, 2008 at 15:16

  The whole problem that there is so much speculation is that a big professional business-Newcastle United cant organise their PR.

  A multi million pound business needs to manage its customers well, fans in the case of a football club, at least every two weeks their should be a statement, doesnt matter what it is, ie about the new stand arrangements etc and the press can ask questions, ie any major sales of players - no we arent expecting any-that is as much as I can say, any major signings-we are expecting some but unfortunately that may not be for 6 weeks or so if we are succesful-that is all i can say.

  that is all it takes, they need to look after their business, otherwise the papers can have great fun time, nothing to write? lets make up something about Newcastle who said what in the pub?

• 53 HATE PRAWN S'WICHES // May 25, 2008 at 15:34

  Ashley to sell NUFC - YES WAY!!
  First of all Mike Ashley is a ruthless business man, how do you think he has become so successfull at the age of just 44? He’s out for number one!! The investment he’s made buying the cub, was a way to make a larger profit, through other conections such as land which he wouldn’t have been able to obtain, if not owner of nufc? and is planning to build on it! making it a seperate venture to the club, and intern sell on NUFC, after tarting it up, such as no debt, getting the club finances in order, etc!! spending as little as possible to making it look more attractive to buyers!!
  watch and see!! we’ll have a new owner this time next year!!

• 54 HATE PRAWN S'WICHES // May 25, 2008 at 16:14

  Ashley to sell NUFC - Yes Way!!
  Mike Ashley is a ruthless business man, looking out for number one!! with no emotional interest!! how do you think he’s become so successfull at the age of 44!!
  He bought the club, to gain other investments such as the land which is connected to the club!! which he intends to build on! this in its self will make him a huge profit!!
  sorting out the clubs finances and spending only the bare minimum to make NUFC attractive for buyers!! £300million for the club + what he makes on the land = Huge profit!!!

• 55 daiv // May 25, 2008 at 18:13

  Hate Prawn sandwiches
  Spot on. MA is out for himself but most bloggers cannot bear to think that the supporters are being had over again. It hurts like hell to admit it but he will sell up when the time is right. KK will walk before then.

• 56 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 25, 2008 at 21:01

  aslong as he sold it to someone stinking rich, i wouldnt care

• 57 HATE PRAWN S'WICHES // May 25, 2008 at 21:37

  Being a Toon Fan, when I heard this time last year, a billionaire was buying the club I was over the moon, so excited! I imagined the same as most that it would be another Abromovich success story, another chance to get to the top!! competing with Man u, Chelsea. disapointment with the new regime!!

  I to hope he sells?

  DIC Please!!!

• 58 chuck // May 25, 2008 at 22:09

  At least Ashley gets the rounds in, more than anyone can say about FF.
  The guy seems to be a genuine fan and has attempted to straighten the club out from the indebted shambles he inherited.
  So lets give the man a chance and we can all make our minds up in time, not on rumor
  or what the tabloids say.

• 59 noel hopper // May 26, 2008 at 0:40

  are there actually any commentators on here who know anything about the club. Hate prawn just to inform you but the land is not owned by Ashley but is owned by Newcastle city council. The council will never, would never and could not sell the land for fear that the gallowgate end would be used for what it was originally. Lampposts and a length of rope anyone. Secondly Ashley’s main business in in sporting goods so it makes sense for him to own a football club now lets see who has the biggest fan base after man u…. oh yeah I remember….thirdly he has paid off the debts…gone… that means that unfortunately the club is not worth 300 mill….in anyones money….I am not sure I get what all the moaning is about…from the younsters bought so far it looks like a world class youth squad we are assembling…If you want instant one year results then you are not a real toon fan…long term year after year sucess aka man u…fergi has built world class teams but always went for youth first…forrester,krul,taylor,lualua,n’zogbia,godsmark,soderberg,zambrella,baheg,carroll…and so on…all world class youngsters. I would much rather have ten world class youngsters who want to play for the shirt than one twenty - thirty superstar who kept bemoaning that he wasnt playing for chelsea…stop moaning support the team and stop believeing idiots in wopping lane and fleet street.

• 60 HATE PRAWN S'WICHES // May 26, 2008 at 1:21

  NOEL HOPPER - Sorry I got that wrong about the land, heard Ashley wanted it to build on! I agree about so called past it superstars!! yes we need quality, young talent!! future superstars! to go with what we have got!
  I still believe that Mike Ashley is a ruthless business man! and will tart up the club and finances to sell to make a profit!
  why I said £300million is he’ll want back what he has put in the club! approx 135million to buy club from old regime, £100million paying of debt, £? what ever he spends on transfer targets + the rest profit!
  I just want the best for the club!

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