The new Manchester City owners’ actions yesterday, are what Newcastle were really hoping would happen when Mike Ashley took over last summer.
Mike Ashley – not what Newcastle fans had hoped for
The Abu Dhabi United Group for Investment and Development [Adug], took over the club from former Thailand Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, and they immediately signed Robinho from Real Madrid, for £32.5M, beating of all clubs, Chelsea, to the world class Brazilian.
But nothing like that has happened at Newcastle, although to be fair Mike has put the finances of the club in much better shape, and he did pay off the £80M in debt, that we owed when he took over.
Mike has promised much but delivered little, and we thought he made a fantastic move by bringing Kevin Keegan back to the club last January.
There is still nothing official word from the club, but if it is true that Kevin is no longer manager, whoever is the new manager, will be the fourth manager in 15 months at the club. That says it all.
But there’s still time for Mike to come to his senses, although it’s hard for us to comment on the situation, since we don’t really know what happened, so we’re in dangerous territory.
But what Newcastle fans definitely want is Kevin back in as manager.
And then Mike Ashley can decide if w he really wants to own this club, which is much bigger than him, and if not he should sell it to some organization like The Abu Dhabi United Group for Investment and Development, who will invest in the club.
Can you imagine what it would be like on Tyneside today if had been Newcastle who had just bought Robinho?
No problem in selling season tickets then – that’s for sure – one less problem for the club.
A message to Mike – please don’t wreck this club, even though you own it.
Comments welcome.
291 comments so far
sirjasontoon
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:25 PM
Comment #81The club don’t even have the decency to make a statement this meeting was this morning for F’s sake it is now 6.30 they don’t give two stuffs about the club or the fans in my opinion.
I have not been happy with Ashley since he took over he is a penny pinching twat “remember the players had to buy club suits !”
He has got to be the tightest billionaire I have seen at a club…i don’t give a damn if he cleared some debt he is nothing but a greedy fat bastard and spent money on poundstretcher players.
Keegan will be back when we have some real billionaires pumping us with cash and ambition KK will be back better bigger than ever.
KK…until next time Pal : )
P.S Wise you little piggy faced cockney twat you aint got a clue.
jacob
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:26 PM
Comment #82Muppets! We’re a laughing stock again! How do I go into work tomorrow and face 20 sneering mackems – again? Talk about providing them with information! Imagine how hated we will be if Wise gets the job? Ashley out!
danuneek
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:27 PM
Comment #83What the fck!
carl
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:27 PM
Comment #84why arnt my comments shown up?
TerryMacsPerm
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Comment #85Ross – Is that for real? It would certainly make sense of a few things like no statement
Irishtoon
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:30 PM
Comment #86Ed, I used to think that this blog was worth reading. I’ll never darken this website with a hit again as that rates as the most ridiculous, childish, immature headline and post ever on Newcastle United. What age are you really? 8?
Ashley has just proven what we all thought for the last while. He is a crass populist, more interesting in perceived as being one of the fans, drinking while his (and our) team get thrashed by a properly run club, than acting like an owner, pathethic. leave while you still have some self respect. Full of leaks and bs on wow signings, his only intention is to make a profit by selling on the best players so that he can some of the money out that he lost by not doing his homework before he bought.
Wise will never be accepted as Toon manager, his position is poisoned due to his role in KK’s departure.
I will never spend another penny supporting that team until Ashley and his cronies are gone. They have no heart and no feel for the club and its needs.
shearer's right foot
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:30 PM
Comment #87if these rumours turn out to be true i want some proper answers
non of the bollocks they say infront of the camera what mirror overs the truth
i feel its the least we’d deserve
but like we’ll get it
simon376
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:31 PM
Comment #88I was willing to give Ashley a chance even after last night, but today has totally changed the way I feel
Lots of stories going round at the moment, one of them being that Keegan has gone because of his support of Barton. Now as much as I want to see Barton away from here (now not the time to go int that again) if that is the case, talk about hypocrisy. What about all the bother Wise got into all those years ago, smashing up a taxi among other things. How can he say Keegan has to get one thug/trouble maker out yet employ another as a director. Sort yourself out Ashley
Spyro
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:34 PM
Comment #89if it turns out that KK walked i will have lost all respect for him
I Made 1000
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:36 PM
Comment #90eieieieieie ooo up the premeir league we go, wen we gt to europe, this is wat we sing we are geordies super geordies, keegan is our king!!!!!!!!
simon376
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:36 PM
Comment #91If this is all because Keegan wouldn’t sack/sell Barton no matter how any of us feel about him, it stinks of hypocrisy. Wise was a little thug and in trouble with the law for smashing up a taxi. So you can’t sack a manager for wanting to keep one thug while making another a director
Dandra18
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:37 PM
Comment #92When Ashley took over, he said this would be a long, slow process and that it wouldn’t be very exiting at times. But when everything was in order, the club would be in a much stronger position. These could just be the growing pains. And to hear people calling for the return of Freddy is ridiculous, all he did was blow money on crap players. Say what you will about the slow progress int eh transfer market, every player Wise et. all have brought in has been a bargain and top class.
RossNe5UFC
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:37 PM
Comment #93TerryMacsPerm – To my knowledge it is, like i say im just passing on what he said, but hes been right about alot of stuff in the past, i think its wise keegan has an issue with more than anyone..I think its a keegan or wise ultimatum like. But yeah i swear thats exactly as ive heard it so i thought id pass it onto you good gentlemen.
simon376
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:37 PM
Comment #94sorry, almost the same comment in twice, just so sick.
Lets hope Ashley is watching or can at least hear whats going on and thinking about putting it right however it can be done
SPL
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Comment #95Ashley might have the keys to St James’ but the club belongs to the fans. If KK has been sacked then the best thing Ashley can so is sell up and move on as there’s nothing left for him in Tyneside. The fans are behind KK, it’s a shame the owner and the board didn’t back him. I wonder what Ashley will do with his empty stadium every Saturday afternoon?
ToonKing
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Comment #96just a little something from the hungarian fans :
http://kepfeltoltes.hu/view/080902/mike_ashley_newcastle_3_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg
matt lee
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Comment #97re-god-damn-diculous ashley out along wif his cokney midget and co. hopefully buyers will think “now is the time to buy the toon” and fat ash “now is the time to sell” and with a nice twist the new owners re-appoint keegan …thers for dreaming.. spozedly bets are suspended on tht daft curbishly as nxt manager – yup just seems 2 get worse… but any 1 remem wa happend to tht spanish manager tht fat ash was spozedly in talks wif just after he appointed keegan….fatash had this planned all along
dick
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:39 PM
Comment #98even if peace does break out at sjp the transfer window is shut now, and how can all the parties involved possibly work together for any length of time it would just be a time bomb waiting to go off
ToonKing
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Comment #99could this delay be because were waiting on KK’s replacement ….
PS: feck Ashley
RossNe5UFC
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Comment #100I gotta go to work, but be back on here for bout 12.30 to see whats happened! Lets hope ashley has a long think on his way up from london and makes the correct desicion for NUFC and not just his wallet..i still back him until i hear official comments.
nufctj
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:42 PM
Comment #101So is that what we really want then? A takeover which will give us the money to join the frenzy of paying ridiculous amounts of money for players? No way Robinho is worth what City paid, they will not even finish top four with him.
If KK is really gone it is a sad day for NUFC, but then if we all remember, in the not so distant past, the hiring of KK in the first place was handked like a circus act. So why should we expect any different when he leaves? Why wouldn;t have KK been MA’s first choice over ‘Ol ‘Arry? Why bring in a guy who was loathed by all supporters of NUFC as a player to be your Director of Football? Then doing it without even letting KK know? He found out from the press if we all remember.
MA bought the club with doing “due diligence” why should we expect any different on any other matter?
Let’s bring in the next clown so the circus can continue. Ruud Gullit is now unemployed.
matt lee
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:42 PM
Comment #102and quotes from fat fred “Kevin’s a one-off. I worked with him for five years and he’s got principles, and sometimes they get in the way of your success. I think this is what has happened in this case. I think it’s been too much for him.”
ashley seems to have no principles…so where is our success?
Ian
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:43 PM
Comment #103The real mistake at Newcastle was not placing a professional football chairman at the club who knows football clubs inside out, he would never have given Wise or any other board member a position which would conflict or even appear to conflict with the manager’s position.
Ashley hasnt realised that upon taking on a football club a manager or player could be more important than any other person at a club, it is the nature of the business unfortunately.
Keegan was the key man in the whole club, if there was any conflict at all then unfortunately the others, even if it meant the whole board would have to go before Keegan.
Keegan is at the sharp end he brings in all of the revenue of the club, how Ashley as a businessman didnt identify this early on is beyond me, Keegan would also be first in the firing line of the stadium emptied and the team didnt perform, but that wasnt a problem with keegan.
A board of amateurs excluding Vetere have been kept in favour of a proven, succesful premiership manager, it surely must be dawning on Ashley what problems he has created.
keeeguuurn
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:43 PM
Comment #104wish i was back in the toon … i’d be outside the ground too.
The poor new lads’ heads must be battered!
ende
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:44 PM
Comment #105http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7594531.stm
Ok mates fess up, who’s in this video? I know you’re posting here.
meiny_obano9
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:44 PM
Comment #106keegan is staying.
look on the official site
Martin
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:44 PM
Comment #107http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1383045,00.html
official statement
keegan is still manager!
Massive questions still to be answered – like why the f**k did it take so long
toon lad
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:45 PM
Comment #108KEEGAN IS STILL OUR MANAGER
cam_toon
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:45 PM
Comment #109Kevin Keegan – Official NUFC Statement
NEWCASTLE United can confirm that meetings between members of the Board and manager Kevin Keegan were held both yesterday and today.
Kevin has raised a number of issues and those have been discussed with him.
The Club wants to keep progressing with its long-term strategy and would like to stress that Kevin is extremely important, both now and in the future.
Newcastle United values the effort and commitment shown by Kevin since his return to St. James’ Park and wants him to continue to play an instrumental role as manager of the Club.
For the avoidance of doubt the Club has not sacked Kevin Keegan as manager.
Tom
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:45 PM
Comment #110http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1383045,00.html
Not Sacked.
Christoon
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:45 PM
Comment #111not sacked, its official
tripp
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:45 PM
Comment #112yep, official site says he was not sacked.
Big Dave
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Comment #113http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1383045,00.html. club statement
simon376
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Comment #114He hasnt been sacked on SSN
tripp
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Comment #115NEWCASTLE United can confirm that meetings between members of the Board and manager Kevin Keegan were held both yesterday and today.
Kevin has raised a number of issues and those have been discussed with him.
The Club wants to keep progressing with its long-term strategy and would like to stress that Kevin is extremely important, both now and in the future.
“Newcastle United values the effort and commitment shown by Kevin since his return to St. James’ Park and wants him to continue to play an instrumental role as manager of the Club.
For the avoidance of doubt the Club has not sacked Kevin Keegan as manager.”
ende
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Comment #116Official site says he’s staying!
jonas the legEND
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Comment #117not bin sacked confirmed… happy days x
El Stigage
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Comment #118Long live the Messiah, he better be getting some money in Jan!
ginger geordie
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Comment #119he’s not been sacked ssn just reported!! where are you kev.?
Ross
Sep 2, 2008 at 6:47 PM
Comment #120statement recieved by sky sports news.
Newcastle have NOT sacked kevin keegan. they feel he is a pivotal part of our future. he has NOT been sakced.
whether he has walked is another issue, and the statement doesnt mention it. they do however make sure to tell everyone that they have not sacked him. if he’s gone today, he’s walked, but its all in the air atm.