The Mail and Telegraph are both reporting today that Mike Ashley is very likely to sell Newcastle United, and in the short term.
Xu Rongmao – Chairman of the Shimao Group
With the Newcastle fans so against the current regime, it’s difficult to see how they can carry on, in the atmosphere of hate that surrounds Newcastle right now.
It’s said that Ashley has already tried to make contact with representatives of Dubai International Capital, who were leading the ongoing bid to buy Liverpool until the project was personally taken over by Sheik Maktoum.
And it could be that Ashley’s attempt to get Keegan back on board could be connected with one of the two potential bidders, who are currently said to be interested in buying the club.
One potential buyer is Chinese property billionaire Xu Rongmao, who is reported to have plans to expand St James’ Park and redevelop the surrounding area. It is also understood that he would want Kevin Keegan as his manager.
There are only 10 known billionaires in China, and he is one of them, but he is said to be no Donald Trump – he’s bigger. Mr. Xu is the chairman of the Shimao Group, controls much more land than any private developer in America, and builds luxury real estate projects that put even Mr. Trump to shame for their sheer scale and flamboyance.
However, Mr. Xu almost never grants interviews and is highly secretive about his operations. Who does that remind Newcastle fans of?
There has also emerged a group of North East businessmen who are also said to be mounting an effort to buy the club.
Sources claim a group of North-East businessmen, with the financial capability to raise the money necessary to buy Ashley out, are sniffing around and may mount a bid for the club. They could always ask for £1K from fans to build their cash assets, as we’re sure quite a few fans would be willing to do that, in order that local people own the club.
Either way, the sooner this happens the better, because the current lot in charge are showing no leadership or management skills at all in running the club.
The bad news is the Newcastle club is like a ship drifting in the ocean, and going nowhere in particular.
The good news is it’s still afloat.
Comments welcome.
185 comments so far
Dan13
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Comment #1GO FOR IT
fraser 2k8
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Comment #2Gr8, the sooner the cokney mafia out better. Like the Chinese guys idea!
xfer
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Comment #3If the North-East group needs our cash to build up the cash assets just to buy over from Mike, how are we to compete in the transfer? More donations?
Lew Davies
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Comment #4Oh please.!!!
North east business men TRYING to raise the cash….
This has got to be the biggest load of twaddle ever, surely.
This is no way forward.
Now a chinese billionaire sounds vey nice indeed!!!!!
Yes please.
Lew Davies
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Comment #5Just make it soon
toonfan
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Comment #6this story is doing the rounds….
Fans Should Own the Club
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:22 PM
Comment #7Another billionaire. Hooray! Prince Charming WILL come and save us!
Keep dreaming. Unaccountable money men won’t solve the problem.
100 pound club shares?
Vote for the board & President?
Fan control of the club?
Now you’re talking…
http://www.savenewcastle.com/7.html
Tom_Toon
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:22 PM
Comment #8Id rather have a ‘cockney’ than the the scum of the earth, the chinese running the club.
toonfan
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Comment #9a local businessman was on another forum last week telling every1 about this proposal so this local buy out does have some credability
TOON LAD
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Comment #10mike ashley is richer than the chinese dude
Fans Should Own the Club
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Comment #11Oh! Goody! Another billionaire Prince Charming to come and save us!
It’s a bigger pipe dream to think unaccountable billionaires will save us than it is to organize and buy the club ourselves.
100 pound shares in the club?
Fans vote on board members and President?
Fan control of the club?
Now we’re talking.
http://www.savenewcastle.com/7.html
It ain’t perfect, but it’s better than “Save us Mr. Random Billionaire! You’re our only hope!”
graeme
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Comment #12As long as they have the integrity that Mike Ashley and his cohorts lack, I really dont mind who takes over.
If it puts a stop to the current ridiculous state of affairs at SJP then it has to be a GOOD thing for everyone that matters – The Club, The Players and The Fans.
It might even make MA a few quid but thats irrelevant.
SteveM
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Comment #13Sounds like out of the frying pan into the fire if you ask me. Chinese property developers arnt esp renouned for their human rights record – we could see some luxery flats being built on St James’ Park if we are not careful. Consortium of local businessmen sounds better but £250 million is an awful lot of money to raise and I wouldnt be happy if the club had to go into major debt to finance the purchase. Trouble is MA can sell to whoever he wants to – if he bails out it wont be with any love for the fans so he’ll sell to highest bidder no matter what the bidder’s plans for the club are.
Taxi For ASHLEY!!(GG7)
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Comment #14so why are chinese the scum of the earth then tom toon?
Tom_Toon
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Comment #15all animal abusers.
not to bothered about their human rights, people have the power, animals dont.
Tom
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Comment #16I’ve been though the good and bad times in the last 22 years of supporting newcastle. I’ll always love the toon. but storys of offloading us to a rich chinese business man is something I never thought would happen. I’ll follow us to the confrence if it all went tits up (touch wood) but its all starting to just seem soulless. Some might say its been like that for a while, and thats their opinion, but ive never felt this angry and betrayed, even when shepherd sacked bobby and brought in souness, I held back my anger. Something is wrong with football, something is very wrong. Nothing will be done about it because people are too rich. Sad times
If this man is as intent on development as it hints he would be, It’d show more than Ashley has so far with his inability to develop the first team so that 4 games in we line up with no recognised full backs, and 4 youth players on the bench. At the moment I’d take anyone just to get Ashley out, but that could lead to a bigger problem later.
As always for us fans its just a case of keep on keeping on.
davef
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Comment #17More bollocks from the leading ragtops who in there right mind would buy us. and if the chinese man is so anti interview how do we know he is interested, this glass is not half full it is defo half empty!!!!! MA and co will still be here this time next year!!!
Nick 69
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Comment #18id rather have chinese owner than a bunch of cockney w*nkers anyday, cockneys along with makems r without a doubt the scum of the earth
KK FOREVER (Ross)
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Comment #19tom toon-i preferr to think of rapists, murderers, child abusers etc as the scum of the earth, not the chinese. thats a rather ridiculous statement you’ve just made there son.
jules
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Comment #20I can’t believe the prejudiced comments being made about any group of people. Dont believe the press/media, just because someone is Chinese it does not mean that individual has a bad human rights record. Dont confuse Governments with individuals!
You want more of the same from stand up guys like Ashley ? they can be trusted cant they ? LOL
Lets be honest though any businessman wherever they are from is going to be looking for something in return for investment in any club.
TOON LAD
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Comment #21http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/world2008.pdf
SOME ONE BUY US
Atoonlad
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Comment #22Me Love Chinese Long Time !
ToonStar
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Comment #23TOON LAD
where did you get your info from? This chinese guy is 3 times richer than mike ashley
Alex
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Comment #24Does anybody actually know who these North-East business men are . How much they are worth and do they have the necessary funds to bring in new players ?
TOON LAD
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Comment #25Warren BuffET
TOON LAD
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Comment #26Warren Buffett
zeetoon
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Comment #27please BUY our club Mr. XU!!!
geordie
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Comment #28EVERY RICH CONSORTIUM AND THEIR PETS ARE GOING TO BE MENTIONED NOW. SAME AS PROSPECTIVE BUYS IN THE TRANSFER MARKET.WORLD CLASS LINKS BUT NO MARKS BOUGHT. IF WE ARE TO BOUGHT AGAIN ANIL ABNANI IS THE MAN TO CHANGE THE FACE OF THE CLUB FOR THE BETTER,LINKED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, AND WILLING TO PUT HIS HAND IN HIS POCKET.
Hadrian
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Comment #29Xu Rongmao
US$7.03 billion (2007).
i wouldnt be so comfortbale tbh , maybe its a case of the better the devil you know /shrug .
anil ambani was a better investor imo .
and this group of local businessmen , as long as they didnt plan to run at to much of a profit , and benifited of all the other perks that come with your own club , then id like to see that route taken myself .
with a better ran set of accounts , there could be alot of money left over each season to invest in the squad .
Tom_Toon
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Comment #30commentsssssssssss
Simon
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Comment #31I’m afraid Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway only use the value investing method, buying a company that is undervalued., and they only buy companies they can understand.
NUFC..no chance.
Would love a North East consortium takeover, but I can’t see it.
Paul
Sep 14, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Comment #32If Xu Rongmao were to take over, this would be a very sinister development. I for one don’t want anyone who has such close ties with the Chinese government.
Nick 69
Sep 14, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Comment #33a north east consortium would be nice, but at the end of the day we could not possibly compete in the transfer market, i mean by what ive read it will be a stuggle to get the money to buy the club together never mind a decent transfer budget.
anil ambani said one of the reason he pulled out is because he was unable to hold any constructive talks, get him up here for a meeting and he may well revive his interest!!!!
graeme
Sep 14, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Comment #34There are some good footballers coming out of China – we would be 1st in line for a shed load of cheap players!!!!!
And the shirts would be cheaper as well!!!
Ying Tong United anyone lol???
Tom_Toon
Sep 14, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Comment #35Name some good footballers coming out of China.
Zheng Zhi is good and Yu Dabao of Benfica is promising and they have this goalie who had a trial at Inter, the rest are shocking.
Leo
Sep 14, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Comment #36animal rights? tom toon you have out done yourself, usually sensible comments from you, you cannot tarnish a person with the same brush as a whole nation due to where he is from
otherwise us all on hear would hate you being from cambridge
Gonufc
Sep 14, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Comment #37Would far prefer Ambani, he seems more genuinely interested in Newcastle rather than ‘property development’.
gosh
Sep 14, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Comment #38Chinise is a good idea.
There is a MASSIVE MARKET AT CHINA!
THIS WILL HELP THE CLUB TO MOVE ONE BIG STEP FORWARD
hitman
Sep 14, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Comment #39this is a year old,dont know how much he haS earned since like…….Property developer Xu Rongmao has a fortune of $2.1 billion. Xu Rongmao is a well-connected risk-taker and among the first generation of real estate magnates in China. Xu, the chairman of the Shimao Group, controls much more land than any private developer in America and builds luxury real estate projects that put even Trump to shame for sheer scale and flamboyance. But, unlike Trump, who is never at a loss for words, Xu almost never grants interviews and is highly secretive about his operations. By all accounts, Xu is a pioneer, willing to take big gambles. Through Shimao, he created one of China’s first luxury real estate brands. He bought prime land in Shanghai in the late 1990s when others were fleeing the market. Now, with housing prices rising, the Shimao Group is so profitable that Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are preparing to take the company public in 2006.
Tom_Toon
Sep 14, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Comment #40Leo – I aint from Cambridge, i was born in Newcastle, I justmlive in Cambridge.
Chinese are scum, especially this guy, connections with the scum thatn they call a government.