After the Newcastle board blow-up with Kevin Keegan, Mike Ashley made a concentrated effort to sell the Newcastle United club.
Mike Ashley – during better times at St James’ Park
But Mike was hampered greatly by the worst ever financial collapse of world financial markets, and it was hardly easy to sell a club for around £250M over the last several months.
There are no signs that the global financial situation will right itself anytime soon, as world markets are now suffering from the policies of George Bush, who 49% of Americans think is the worst-ever US President, in a poll published this week. We surprised he’s that popular. Whoops, not supposed to talk about politics on this blog – sorry about that.
With these facts before them there are reports that suggest Mike Ashley has begun to plan for next season, at least in terms of the financial side of things.
The Newcastle owner admitted at the weekend he has received not one credible bid for the club, and it now seems the responsible thing that needs to be done, is to put in place a financial strategy for 2009 and 2010 for the club.
There is also news being leaked that Mike Ashley would love to return to St James’ Park to watch the Newcastle home games, as his three children still do, and that may be possible, especially if the lads start putting together a good win streak.
Here’s the deal – win the next 6 games and Mike can return to St. James’ Park. 😀
Most fans would have been surprised too that he said last Sunday that he has had a fantastic year, presumably through last August, running a fantastic club, and then steadfastly refused to say anything bad about former manager Kevin Keegan, who is suing him (or it’s Newcastle United Football Club really), for £8M.
Lots of fans still dislike the Newcastle owner intently, but with the fine form shown by Bassong, Gutierrez, Guthrie and Coloccini this season, and the many fine teenagers we have brought to the club this year, some fans are starting to rethink the Ashley youth strategy, and that it could even work, and work well.
But Mike will not pay ridiculous sums for trophy players, as Manchester City seem determined to do.
Reports emanating yesterday that the club was interested in impressive Toulouse 19 year old midfielder Moussa Sissoko, was received well by our readers, and it seems he would be a popular buy, with perhaps Leighton Baines also coming in to challenge Jose Enrique for the left back position.
But there is still a complete silence from Ashley and the Managing Director Derek Llambias, but some statement from the Board, maybe about their intentions in January, would surely go down well with Newcastle fans.
That’s especially true right now with Newcastle going 5 games without defeat, and the lads having their best win of the season last Sunday.
What do you think? Please keep the remarks decent and try to be respectful of others, including Mike – thanks. 😀
Comments welcome.
59 comments so far
51times
Dec 17, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Comment #1You’ve talked about politics, a precedent has been set now Ed 🙂
Daniel
Dec 17, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Comment #2We need a managing director (or whatever role) that is capable of speech. Other than that the club is being run quite well imo. It’d be nice to see MA return soon.
wsq
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Comment #3just because we won 3 nil everything he did is golden
The Alchemist
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Comment #4I agree, sack LLambias… he does nothing and ashley has saved 1 mil a year already!
Spyro
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Comment #5It is clear he isn’t really selling, i would like him to just come out and say it rather than play these silly games. I recently found out some info regarding our transfer dealings and realised that MA hasn’t actually done anything wrong on that front. The man is just trying to run the club in a more sustainable fashion. No one can argue that the quality of our squad is far superior to last year. If we can repeat this process each summer we will be a top within a few years. Now we just need depth and a slightly better marcom’s system.
Simon
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Comment #6I for one would like to see him back at st james’. I think he needs to be involved because we need him to invest. I dont think that he needs to sell to make me happy anymore, I would be happy to see him invest in the team and re-think the managers position in the summer. I think whilst JK is doing ok I think we need a world class manager to push us on, something JK isnt.
I would be happy for him to start communicating, but it seems he needs to feel abit loved, so lets try and start again.
Lets not forget that half of this mess was caused by KK, who shouldnt have walked out.
Spyro
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Comment #7How has Ashley saved 1million a year? WHat is that based on?
Brendan
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Comment #8i been saying it all along the club is after buying better palyers this summer than ever and how much we spend? keegan was mistake from day one its not as if we were going great under him now was it? Id gladly allow ashley back his long term view is much better than buying washed up cast offs like smith germi duff viduka kluivert need i go on? if we where to sell any player we got this summer we would make profit on them? how much will we make on smith? germi? duff?
LeazesMag
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Comment #9I have said this for a while now, but would be interested in others’ views, but imo I think Ashley should start acting like the ‘big’ businessman he is portrayed as. He should grab this club back by the scruff of it’s neck and get back on with running the club rather than selling it. None of us know if we would be any better off if the club was sold. I think we would all be a lot happier if we knew Mike’s intentions were to support a positive future for the club. A family man, with a vested interst in our club and who thrives on the atmosphere of SJP is not a bad thing from my point of view.
sweendog
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Comment #10Brendan .. Ashleys long term view was..
Strip Newcastle of assets
Sell top earners/best players
Replace with young players on cheaper wages.
Bleed the club dry.
So far he has done nothing but this.. I’ll be surprised if he invests in Jan or the summer and I’ll be really surprised if we offered MO a top wage.
Mind you I’d like to be proved wrong but my initial view of ashley (long term investor/good for the club) was obliterated during the summer.
Stardust
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Comment #11Spyro “I recently found out some info regarding our transfer dealings and realised that MA hasn’t actually done anything wrong on that front. ”
Can you elaborate please fella?
sweendog
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Comment #12Daniel .. exactly an MD that manages
Kevin Nichol
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Comment #13If he wishes to return to St. james he must come out and mke his intentions for the club known and get rid of the dead wood (i shall make my feelings known on this person at the end of my blog). Roles for certain individuals MUST be crystal clear!
THE MANAGER MUST HAVE FINAL SAY ON ALL FIRST TEAM TRANSFERS!!!!! I have no problem with a Director of football bringing in youth players and devoping the acadamy! But buying and selling firsteam players without the backng of the manager is a disaster and will not/does not work! A manager will not pick players he does not want and we can’t have anyone picking the first team other than the first team manager!
We need someone at the helm who will communicate to the geordie faithfull; very much in the manner that chris Mort did in his short tenure with the club!
This F@CKING PRICK Llambias is about as much use as a floppy cock!!!!!
AO
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Comment #14spyro- are you going to the game on sunday? Have you been this season? Have you ever been to SJP? And do you even support the mighty toon army?Are you just an armchair fan(not a real fan).
This will be my second visit this season and my 6th visit in all to newcastle. Me and tom-turan-toon are off to Quaser after the game if anyone wants to join us.
Jimmie
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Comment #15Get rid of Lamblias or whatever hes name is. But Wise could actually stay if he manages to bring in more players like Colo, Bass, Guthrie and Jonas, IF JFK wants them, the manager shell always have the final say on signings!
AO
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Comment #16stardust,comment 10- i was just about to pull him up on that. spyro lives down south so the only info he will have is what he read of the internet. Although you would have thought he had just been in a secret meeting the way he worded it.
Xisco Is A Pirate
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Comment #17“Me and tom-turan-toon are off to Quaser after the game if anyone wants to join us.”
Dear christ – it’ll be like the opening sequence of saving private ryan but in a warehouse
Spyro
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Comment #18Stardust
Well i am not one to lie about having secret sources or anything mate, it was just information about our transfer dealings (spent, recieved) on the IMS website.
Stardust
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Comment #19You cant please all of the people all of the time.
Mike Ashley has turned around the club. He has realigned some dilusional expectations , and now as those who were grieving at KK’s loss start to recover, people are seeing what he is trying to do.
We are far better off in terms of quality right through the club, yes we want to improve again, and I have no fears Ashley does too.
He is the man who cleared the debt, the man who brought back Keegan only to be damaged by it.
Yes mistakes have been made on many fronts, but small mistakes, well intentions which had large consequence.
But ultimately we are far better off as a club on so many levels, i say THANK YOU Mike Ashley, I hope you stay, in time the knee jerkers and bedsheeters will appreciate what youve done – they just were too busy grieving to see it.
Brendan
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Comment #20sweendog,
Milner was not really that good he couldnt cross a ball or take a corner, hardly ever scored so i think we got great deal, personally trying to sell of old players who only warm bench and are on 60 k plus is good idea, if viduka gerimi duff players like that where of our wage bill it would free up millions per yr for younger hungry players.. ask ourselfs how good will micheal owen be at 33? he will still be pocketing 90k and how many injuries will he have in this time.. we have wasted millions in transfers and even more so in wages in the past its time for different approach, its not as if it can be any worse,
Spyro
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Comment #21Kevin
I agree with you about Llambias, he doesn’t communicate witht he fans at all and needs to go imo.
AO
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Comment #22xisco- i wonder who would actually turn up to cause trouble if i mentioned on here where i was drinking after the game. I can just imagine tom-turan-toon turning up dressed in his tescos Harry Potter outfit with his panini football stickers in his back pocket hurling abuse at me. I would have to restrain him by putting my hand on top of his head as he throws wild slaps at me.
Stardust
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Comment #23Kevin Nichol – re your Post:
i’d like to comment on “The Status Quo”
Clubs like Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are all in the top 4 – every year their managers go out and say I want this player and that player – the Player sees this, the club bids high, gives a nice contract and gets the best players.
Clubs outside the top 4 to get these players either overbid and or pay ridiculous wages, which in time in unsustainable. Even worse we then overbid for the second choice players and so it continues.
The top 4 rely on this Status Quo to maintain their position – they will advocate the only way to do business is by this mechanism – that the manager must bring in his own players.
Ashley realises this quandry, to break into the top 4 without financially ruining the club he has to put in a superior system, that finds great cheaper players, so he can approach the top 4 slowly. He has a team to find them and then the manager should cherry pick from that.
That was the arrangement it just didnt work out for whatever reason.
I love the fact we have bought at good prices, I love the fact our juniors are flying, I love the fact that we arent going for trophy signings – ones with hearts the size of peas.
I buy into Mike Ashleys vision, yes there are pains on the way, but you dont climb everest without a bit of pain do you.
toptoon
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Comment #24How quickly people forget! “Mike Ashley does not know how to run a football club” when Keegan left in the summer, if you had of said to people then that Mike Ashley is going to wait until it all died down and then come back in slowly, there would have been uproar amongst the geordie public! Unions were formed etc.. in order to oust Mike Ashley, the only reason he is still newcastle united owner is the current global recession, The majority of fans realise that Ed so the rebellion has calmed for now because we are stuck with him. We were promised the world and given an atlas, so do not try and defend or promote Mike Asley to The core Newcastle United Supporters. I rate your blog highly as everyone has different opinions and some great debates.
However some of your recent articles suprise me as they do not reflect the general sentiment and conviction of the general public in the Newcastle area.
I realise you live in the United States so it would be difficult, but please try and refrain from publishing articles on this website to the whole world which do not reflect the views of the Newcastle people.
Xisco Is A Pirate
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Comment #25Careful now AO – he’s a trained waiter! There’s no knowing what he could do!
Nothing against you personally T “T” T, jest banter.
HeronMag
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Comment #26To be honest I just want stability. We’ve been waiting for it long enough now.
If Ashley turned round and said he wasn’t selling up I would actually be relieved because it would stop the constant speculation which is damaging our club. Look at Owen. He cited the constant instability as the main reason he hasn’t signed a new contract yet.
I’d like to see Ashley re-commit to the club by giving Kinnear substantial funds in the January transfer window and putting the sale of NUFC on hold. This club has all the potential in the world. I’m convinced that Ashley COULD help us achieve our potential. The question will remain whether or not he even wants to help us. We’ll soon see.
The holey grail
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Comment #27sweendog — are you for real.
Strip Newcastle of assets – please explain after spending 110MILLION on the debt.
Sell top earners/best players – again please explain as those two do not go hand in hand viduka 60k a week, smith 60k a week only martins and owen get more money and do you really think they are worth it. just because they are earning good money by no means we will miss them. Think about it replacing players who are just as good never mind better for less money has got to be a good thing.
Replace with young players on cheaper wages.
just because of the age means nothing look at bassong (1mill) who is arguably out classing collocini (10 mill) and the fact younger players generally improve and sell them on for bigger money, look at diarra going to r-madrid we could have made that profit!!!!!
Bleed the club dry – again please explain yourself????????????????
Stardust
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Comment #28toptoon – you say the majority dont want Ashley but on Eds vote only a 1/3rd are against him coming back to the ground?
You cant please all of the people all of the time
Stardust
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Comment #29Ah the Holey Grail – nice to see you feela – sometimes i feel like one of the spartans making a last stand lol
wallsend warrior
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Comment #30toptoon – explain what ashley has done wrong and i am from newcastle and buy into mike ashleys vision 110% so no ed please keep going and ed in only reporting what is out there if you and all the other sheep want to protest soo be it but dont dear say you are a majority!!!! because you are not!!!!
wallsend warrior
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Comment #31also well said holy grail you are a man who really talks sence mate we need more people like you on this site!!
RobbyBobson
Dec 17, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Comment #32This board has always kinda seemed pro-Ashley in recent months.
At least people are seeing some sense.
Keegan was great….he huffed off…Keegan is not bigger than the club.
Move on. Ashley is not a Abromovich type chairman and never will be. Look at Villa, after a few seasons of investing no more than 20 million a season (what ahsley said he would invest), developing their own youht players they are pushing for top four.
macas
Dec 17, 2008 at 1:05 PM
Comment #33Ashley has proved himself to be a liar. Do we really want a man in charge who’s intentions are anything but clear? He treat the fans and Keegan with contempt with the comments that came out on the club website. And as for Milner, Capello has come out and said he regards him highly and that he is very much in his plans for the England team.
toptoon
Dec 17, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Comment #34Stardust – the majority of the people on this blog do not live in newcastle. You go to the pub before the game, you sit in the stadium, then you will surely get a better idea of how people feel about Mike Ashley! Im not saying you dont do this stardust. But the general feeling on the ground is very much anti-ashley. Where just stuck with him, times aint good so we accept it for what it is. Most people had hopes or dreams of a geordie abromovich to rescue us, but in times like these people realise more than ever that this is very much unlikely.
Yes the youth policy is good. but as Bobby Robson found out years ago when we were in a similar position, “you need men not boys in the premier leauge” compared to most other premiership teams we have a very poor quality and small squad. Good enough to stay up, but thats it.
It has not been that way since we have been in the premier leauge.
we have a very poor
HeronMag
Dec 17, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Comment #35It’s not down to being ‘pro-Ashley’ or ‘anti-Ashley’ now.
The one thing we all are on this site is pro-NUFC.
Even the Ashley-Out brigade must realise that to create even more upheaval at this club when we are so vulnerable does not benefit us at all.
I don’t trust Ashley. But I don’t trust any billionaire. To get that much money you have to have a ruthless personality.
We need to get stability again. Even if we have to put up with Ashley to attain it.
Stardust
Dec 17, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Comment #36TopToon – I am around the city every game – one of my mates makes it known to all and sundry I am pro Ashley – just to see the reaction.
The intial response I agree with you is Anti-Ashley – maybe 70/30% , but on further talking to people to discuss my rationalle (good job I like good Newcastle Banter in a drink filled pub lol) I believe its more of a safety in numbers mentality. Its easier to stick with the mob and be safe than reason or argue with it.
I would say virtually evry supporter I speak to and debate with comes out on either side of a very thin line – either pro or against, but the vast majority see he has done a great deal of good.
Thereon the real issues are still not backing KK and/or spending more money – my reasoning being its not the amount of money that counts its improvementsover time.
The general consensus is – improve PR and everyone would be happy. Not a lot to ask.
So whilst i appreciate you sentiments I think you paint it too simplistically and probably come out on the Anti side of that very thin line yourself.
The holey grail
Dec 17, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Comment #37well said stardust!
top toon – its way to easy to pick up a paper and accept what they say, but honestly think of what they are saying and why they are saying it, take today for example with owens contract they are all saying he has rejected it and others say HE TOLD TEAM MATES HE WANTED TO MOVE, they are just unsettling our team as they have sucsessfully done in the past. most people dont really know why they dont like ashley they just know they should and agreed the way he has been potrayed by the southern press hasnt been the best but again ask yourself why they have attacked him the way they have with all rumors and no fact, to unsettle the fans – achieved, to unsettle the players – achieved, to affect our preformances, – achieved.
we are where we are mainly because some fans have let them achieve their goal in taering a great club OUR GREAT CLUB in half. no one knows anything about the ashley, keegan insodent so they could have went either way but which way would sell newspapers ??? keegan walks out AGAIN or ashley and wise (as they know he isnt geordie fans bottle of brown) push him out the door.
ashley cant sell the club full stop, either hate him and our club will achieve nothing or support the team (not nessiseraly him) and the team will improve.
martin sheridan
Dec 17, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Comment #38i love mike ashley
ronaldeano
Dec 17, 2008 at 3:47 PM
Comment #39AO,
You couldent hold me back with your hand sunshine! I could drop you with ease, but i wouldent waste my energy on spotty little boy like you 😉
Guinea Mag
Dec 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM
Comment #40Ed; sorry buddy but disagree that MA should wait until we win 6 home games before he returns to SJP.
He’s the owner of the club and although he’s made a few mistakes; i.e. appointing Llambias, etc. he’s done a lot of good things also and should be allowed to return with his family to watch his/our club…..
The world has changed because of the financial crisis and big money transfers will be a thing of the past except for maybe Man City in the future!