It would appear from the actions of this morning, where both coaches close to Kevin Keegan, McDermott and Sadler have been sacked, that the Newcastle United Board are determined to press ahead with things at Newcastle.
Mike Ashley – massive mistakes made by owner
It’s hard to see how this will all turn out once the people running Newcastle, none of whom are actually in Newcastle, return to the city, either in the next few days or for the game against Hull City on Saturday.
What is happening at the club right now is definitely being carried out against the fans’ wishes, and it’s really difficult to imagine how Billionaire Mike Ashley, in the midst of an all-out rebellion from the fans of Newcastle United, can hold onto the club, even though it now appears that’s what he wants to do.
The Board have made massive errors, not only in not being able to keep Kevin at the club, but also for issuing statements on Saturday night which are obviously not true, by their own previous statements. And also by their own admission the club is a business – but we wonder who they think the customers of their business really are?
It seems that what’s being lost in all of this – is the proud name of the Newcastle United Football Club.
That an owner came come in and buy a club, and then go completely against what the Newcastle Public, the Newcastle Fans, the Newcastle Players and the Newcastle City Council want, seems unbelievable.
But perhaps with all the big money in English football, this is what football in England has come down to.
For the faithful fans of Newcastle United, this episode, now one of the worst in the club’s history, is much worse than any nightmare.
It’s all so very sad for the real supporters of our proud club.
333 comments so far
bill
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Comment #81Micky Toon – sorry mate but that isn’t what most of us want. I think that the Newcastle area is very similar to that of Barcelona and that is how we should be run – by the people for the people. It may take 10 years to get back to the top but after waiting for 50 years another 10 doesn’t seem that bad
Lost Prophet
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Comment #82Spot on Mickey Toon.
I think people need a reality check. No one forces MA to do anything, you just have to look at his prior businesss deals to see that. I have paid my money and I will go to the match and support my team. Why should I let some fat bloke keep me from my seat when he has my money in the bank? I WILL boycott any merchndise, food and drink and I will voice my opinoin of the current board all through the game.
JJ
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Comment #83Can someone tellme why I can only get into the site through newsnow and not enter the homepage???
Its pops up as a bluehost page?
Nick 69
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:27 PM
Comment #84noell orll, u need to get a ife then cos ur on here aswell u c*ck, think b4 u spk cos u just make urself luk lyk a proper numpty by callin ppl on here sad, when ur obviously on here urself, and lets be honest being a toon fan on here isnt sad, but being a fan of sum other team and comin on here to get ur jollys, now tht is sad
The Entertainers
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Comment #85Since Ashley took over we as fans of Newcastle United have had to take a few slaps in the faces.
1) Bringing in Dennis Wise.
2)Bringing in Llambias
3)Ticket price hike
4) Failier to send out season tickets
5)Giving Keegan 12 million to spend
6)Slow transfers
7)Panic buying at end of window
8)Not spending the 12 million
9)Forcing players on Keegan
10)Forcing Keegan out
11) Those statements!
But for me the biggest slap in the face is right now, the one where the club are still treating the fans with ignorance and failing to acknowledge the current situation or letting the fans know what they are doing about it.
Honesty is word rarely used in football, particularly at SJP. But it would be nice to come out and answer a few questions. Like most fans i’m sure we would have a few suggestions to help you get started:
1)Are you planing on staying or selling?
2)Are both options still viable?
3)Is the structure at the club staying or will it be reviewed?
4)Is there cash availble to a new manager?
5)Will the manager have input in transfers?
6)Will transfers be imposed on the new manager
7)Will the club review its PR team?
8)Clarify Wises role
9)Clarify Llambiass role
10)Why was Ashley not present during the crisis?
As you have noticed i have not mentioned names regarding a new manager as i believe the club has hit rock bottom and the foundations need looking at and the fans need to be involved in the resoloution.
However this will undoubtedly fall on deaf ears within the walls of SJP.
hitman
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:29 PM
Comment #86nick 69 dont rise to noell,hes a dirty kiddie fidla
Jammy
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Comment #87People complain that the club is ran from London, yet in the next breath want Indian/Emirati individuals to take over?
nando
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Comment #88strike, strike, strike, strike. hang the board. burn the stadium down.
mozza
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:32 PM
Comment #89you’re right micky if he had bought berba or robhino people would be less eager to stick the knife in, however it boils down to the blatent disrespect we are being shown as fans regarding the lack of communication from the club, i mean that statement the other day was nothing short of disgraceful, it appeared petty and arrogant to say the least, i dont see how ashley can heal the rift, i really dont and the longer this silence continues the worse the feeling grows towards him, well respected sites such as true faith have allready issued a statement demanding he does not stand with the away fans anymore and saturday is going to be very ugly for all concerned imo, sigh
Born Again Geordie
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Comment #90Courtesy of the fine fellows at NUFC.com
Your response
Having now managed to read through a decent number of the emails you’ve sent in, the following set of actions are overwhelmingly in the majority:
Not to boycott the Hull game.
Not to buy club merchandise, including food & drink.
Not to drink in Shearer’s Bar or any bar within SJP.
Not to shop at Sports Direct, Sports Soccer & Lillywhites.
The strong view is that watching and supporting the team in black and white is a birthright and fans refuse to have that taken away from them by the actions of outsiders.
Words like “pride” and “dignity” are being used and as we hinted at on Thursday night, the mourning of Keegan’s demise has quickly given way to much greater fears over where NUFC is heading now under its current leadership.
The preferred scenario of most is for Ashley to sell up and ship out, as his actions have tarnished the “product” to an extent where it’s become “damaged goods” and will only continue to deteriorate and reduce its market value.
Needless to say, any future shirt-wearing or match watching among the fans by the owner would not be advisable – although we’re sure that’s already been
taken off the agenda for fear of further provocation.
Whatever good feeling that had been produced by his forays among the fans is long gone, as are his chances of “having fun” here, as his interview last month mentioned.
As to what form protests inside the ground will take, that will doubtless become clearer over the coming days, but we’re duty-bound to urge that the more extreme views being expressed aren’t translated into actions.
To stress this point further, pitch invasions etc. would make headlines but affect the team on the field – and as we’re hearing, that’s not the collective will of supporters.
That and any other criminal acts would only reinforce perceptions of ungovernability and deter possible new investors. Ground bans and criminal records would inevitably follow – please don’t become stars of CCTV.
PS: Again, we’re trying to show a representative view of what people are expressing to us here – and not being deliberately inclusive or exclusive of any opinion.
We are aware of the people who are taking their own forms of action in the form of contacting the club over cancelling season tickets, direct debits etc.
dave v
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Comment #91Bill not much gets passed you.
One question though, do you think the fans can buy the club?
Personally in this day and age were billionaires are entering football, I see it as a fairytale prospect as much as i hate to say it.
Mr Noell Orll
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Comment #92hitman, thats right fanny boy warn the “lads” not to bite and then bite ya’self, classic, why d’ya run away earlier fanny boy? did me words bring home some disturbing truths like? hahaha
Ericles
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Comment #93Are we beyond the miracle of a Geordie consortium taking over the club? Yes, probably.
Even if 250,000 Geordies nationwide put in £100 each Ashley would sneer at us for trying. Anyway it was so-called Geordies who sold out to Ashley anyway. Trouble is we are such a massive club compared to Ebbsfleet!
Black and White Blood
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Comment #94After the initial announcement, I wonder how many of you have actually cancelled your direct debits as I did (read previous threads over the last few days for details), although I disagree, my dad is going to the match to protest. I remember there was a lot of ‘I’m going to cancel my direct debit’ – Just wondering that’s all..!
mozza
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Comment #95aye just blank them
Micky Toon
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Comment #96Bill, like I said earlier. It would be nice if we could have a club owned by geordies, ran by geordies and a team of 11 gerodies on the field. That was what Sir John Hall had wanted.
But, would people really want this if it meant we had to do an AFC Wimbledon? No doubt people will say yes, anything to get jabba out, etc.., etc..
If we were to become the new AFC Wimbledon, we wouldn’t be able to play at the ground, that belongs to Ashley. We couldn’t afford the players wages and what colours would we have? The old Purple and blue of Newcastle West End or heaven forbid the White and Red of Newcastle East End? We couldn’t have B&W because that would mean Newcastle United and that belongs to Ashley.
Let’s face it the majority of NUFC fans would not support us going back to basics. If you want that go support Newcastle Blue Star. Me? I support Newcastle Untied and all the crap that goes with it. I’m not happy, but if it means that I support a club that is ran by a muppet, which by the way is no different to the past 12 years, then so be it. At least I’m honest and realistic with my opinions, and I don’t think I’m on my own.
bill
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Comment #97Spitfire – you are right about not attending, unfortunately some will go because they just want to watch the team. It reminds me of what happened in Germany prior to Hitler coming to power, they just let him get on with his antics so long as it didn’t bother them, and we all know what happened there – don’t we?
I think that a totally empty stadium would make a huge impact with the media worldwide. Obviously the Hull fans will be their because they will be hoping for 3 easy points from a totally demoralised team.
Spyro
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:40 PM
Comment #98Mr Noell Orll
I am not normally one to engage in conversation with ‘fernando’ type bloggers but i am curious, where are you from? I only ask because sometimes you sound like you are from the south, and other times you sound like a northerner.
Tom_Toon
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Comment #99Gorkskino, they made a profit this season from transfer, are run financially sound and have an owner worth at least 5x as much as ours.
hitman
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:42 PM
Comment #100bill,if people turn up to watch the match,ashley will think he has getting away with it.
Black and White Blood
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Comment #101Mozza – ‘you’re right micky if he had bought berba or robhino people would be less eager to stick the knife in’
Yeah, but the simple fact is that he did not – End off!
bill
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Comment #102Micky Toon – how long do you think Ashley can hang on if no one is going to the games?
At worst, we would be relegated before he gave up. Coming back from the Championship wouldn’t be that difficult.
I’m not advocating starting a new team, just put that bastard under so much pressure that he has to sell.
Ericles
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Comment #103All actions taken by fans must be responsible and mature in conduct. We cannot stoop to the level of the hoodlums now running NUFC. We need to hurt Ashley in his wallet and his pocket.
We must not play into the hands of the press who are on the side of Ashley and Wise and just itching to do the Toon Army down. I bet Ashley is nowhere to be seen on Saturday. Nor Wise, nor Bambi-arse.
Bye Bye Ashley
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Comment #104We need some anti Ashley songs making up for the Hull game.
Here’s my crack at it.
To the Dads army tune:
Who do you think you a kidding Mr Ashley,
If you think Newcastle’s done.
We are the boys who will stop your little game,
We are the boys who will make you think again,
So who do you think you are kidding Mr Ashley,
If you think Newcastle’s done.
Followed by: F Off Ashley, F Off Ashley, F Off Ashley etc etc etc.
I think t-shirts Ashley dressed as Hitler with the little tash & stuff.
He dares park his tanks on our lawn, well we’ll park ours too?
Howay the lads & keep the faith.
mozza
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Comment #105i noticed that spyro
Oblongfanny_Martins
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Comment #106The chronicle is saying the majority of fans dont want a boycott of the hull game, who are the tossers at the chronicle talking to? they have published “fans veiws on the shock exit of KK” and most of them are anti Keegan. F*ck lee ryder F*ck anal oliver F*ck john gibson and boycott the game its the only weapon we have.
IanG
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Comment #107@ Born Again Geordi – post 89
I think this should read
TO BOYCOTT THE GAME
….as the majority (72%) on Vital Football advocated this approach.
Not sure why Ed Harrison isn’t putting up a poll on intended actions as well. That would give us an indication of fans intentions.
Micky Toon
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Comment #108Personally I think of all the actions that are being talked about, people cancelling season tickets and the associated direct debits could be the one that makes the most noise.
However, and I don’t know what the contract states, by cancelling one of the 3 year deals you may get your self in trouble as you may have entered into a contract with the club, so they could have you over breaking a contract. I don’t want to see any toon fans on the BBC’s Baliffs program. 🙂
bill
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:46 PM
Comment #109Hitman – I think that you misunderstood, I don’t think anyone should attend the games, I’m not.
Some people I have spoken to are doing so, unfortunately.
Ericles
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:46 PM
Comment #110Mickey Toon has made a lot of sensible points.
Spyro
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:47 PM
Comment #111mozza
It’s not just him either, i have noticed that a few bloggers on here who claim to be “geordie born and bred” have been using well known southern slang.
Scary
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:49 PM
Comment #112The media will concentrate on the game, but there are several hundred thousand fans who don’t regularly attend matches, they are a huge largely hidden force.
The people of Liverpool never forgave the Sun Newspaper, over Hillsborough, and it is still widely boycotted, so we must keep up the long term financial pressure on MA, I can’t see a quick fix here, we have to force him to sell.
Also
We can all send random e-mails with big attachments, they all get looked at & up busy up their servers.
These are some of my favourites
Sports Direct sales – cs@sportsdirect.com
NUFC Membership – membersclub@nufc.co.uk
Anyone got MA, DW or Gollums e-mail?
STF
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:49 PM
Comment #113Total Walkout is Required!! Anything else will not get the result we need!!
IanG
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Comment #114I’m surprised that fans are camped out at Ashley’s private residence
hitman
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Comment #115we should get metro radoi to put massive speakers oot side sjp, so all that boycott can listern
hitman
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Comment #116to the match
mozza
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Comment #117exaactly my point black and white, he has had no intention of doing that ever, the modric deal still makes me laugh, we had no intention of trying to sign modric ever imo it was just spin but as i said people including myself would have been a lot less eager to stick the knife in had he bought those sorts of players, instead they are attempting to copy the arsenal model, which wont work as we dont have their scouting network or wenger
Marty
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Comment #118I think HULL spent more than us this year…….
MA said he loved this cllub by saying he was a supporter as you just cant support this club without loving it.
SELL OUT FATTIE
IanG
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Comment #119meant to say:
I’m surprised that fans AREN’T camped out at Ashley’s private residence
Black and White Blood
Sep 8, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Comment #120Born Again Geordie – I strongly disagree with there suggestions.
Not to boycott the Hull game – I believe and WILL boycott the game + more, furthermore I would be pleased to see a Hull victory which would intebsify the pressure on Ashley.
Not to buy club merchandise, including food & drink – Well I assume we will see on match day if people do, I tend to think people won’t though.
Not to drink in Shearer’s Bar or any bar within SJP – Well that’s not working, having attended recent protests at SJP, I have noticed that Shearer’s was very busy – People can resist everything except temptation!
Not to shop at Sports Direct, Sports Soccer & Lillywhites – Not going to happen, I was at the Metro Centre yesterday, and it was heaving, you see people are to greedy, and will always opt for a bargain.
Hey mate, but this is just my opinion!