While we all struggle to pinpoint any new news in the Newcastle sale saga, there is some evidence today that good progress behind the scenes, has been made with Newcastle this week.
Ashley – attending Ascot next two days – will he wear Newcastle strip?
Both Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias are expected to be at Royal Ascot over the next two days, which would seem to suggest no immediate announcement on the Newcastle manager will be made and we understand Shearer has not spoken to Llambias and Ashley for several days now, and that the relationship between Shearer and Ashley is not good – but what’s news.
From a pure Newcastle viewpoint, Shearer will be annoyed at how shabbily Ashley is and has treat the club over this last year, and it gives us a good insight now into what Kevin Keegan , who may re-emerge as Southampton manager imminently, had to go through last summer.
According to Keith Harris, Chairman of Seymour Pierce investment bank, who has been charged with selling Newcastle, at the second attempt, significant progress has been made this week with four groups already said to be well into the due diligence phase.
The internet data room, where information is available on the Newcastle financial accounts, was opened on Wednesday.
A source close to the deal told the Newcastle Journal today:
“We remain very optimistic that a takeover will be agreed by the end of this month.”
“Two of the bidders have already shown they are very serious about doing a deal and possibly three of them will make an offer to Mike Ashley.”
All groups have signed a non-disclosure agreement, which says they will not reveal anything about what they learn through looking at the Newcastle books, and will also not reveal their identities until after the deal is done.
News today that the Newcastle Journal believes the group headed up by Freddy Shepherd at Newcastle, still has to prove they have the the funds available to buy Newcastle.
But that is at odds with what we were told earlier this week, that groups were only allowed to pursue due diligence, if they first proved they had the funds available.
There remains very little new news on what’s really happening at the club, although we are seeing players like Sebastien Bassong want to get out of “mad” Newcastle at their very earliest opportunity.
Seb yesterday openly admitted he in talks with two Premier League clubs, thought to be Arsenal and Tottenham, but isn’t that only possible after a fee has been agreed between the clubs?
It should be, but it looks like anything goes at Newcastle right now, and the club seems to be in a complete mess, at least from the outside, but perception is usually reality.
Comments welcome.
114 comments so far
THE MAGPIE
Jun 19, 2009 at 9:24 AM
Comment #1The sale will be finalised on the 30th June-nothing will happen till then apart from players getting ready to jump ship on july 1st.
Wilad
Jun 19, 2009 at 9:27 AM
Comment #2Ed
Cracking article, cracking blog.
Keep the faith.
Johno Toon
Jun 19, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Comment #3What makes you say that magpie?
batty
Jun 19, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Comment #4wel i hope freddy becomes chairman and gets us another alan shearer
Johno Toon
Jun 19, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Comment #5anybody than fat fred batty! Come on! look what he done to Sir Bobby Robson! And that was the start of this clubs fall from grace
Ericles
Jun 19, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Comment #6I still think that the FA should be looking into what is happening at Newcastle. I am more than ever convinced that there is a case of Ashley bringing the game into disrepute. Ascot? All the shite was there – Ashley, Llambias, Barton, and Owen!
batty
Jun 19, 2009 at 9:47 AM
Comment #7Johno Toon ashley has done 10 times the damage to what freddy did m8 and wor bobby only had another season in him m8 with fred we would be near enough certain to get promotion m8
batty
Jun 19, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Comment #8Ericles // Jun 19, 2009 at 9:45 AM
I still think that the FA should be looking into what is happening at Newcastle. I am more than ever convinced that there is a case of Ashley bringing the game into disrepute. Ascot? All the shite was there – Ashley, Llambias, Barton, and Owen
<<<<agree m8
SBR4EVA
Jun 19, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Comment #9In was under the impression that a due dilligence audit should take 21 days.
Does anybody else here share the same feelings as I do about what lies within the depths and may surface, not unlike the Lambton Worm, from the afore mentioned data room?
batty
Jun 19, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Comment #10ashley attending ascot this week maybe john mccririck will bump in to him and flatten him
Johno Toon
Jun 19, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Comment #11I do agree that ashley did do more damage than fat fred but i belive the foundations of our mess were all down to fat fred.
Yes he would provide funds to help us get promoted but i would also belive it be funds the club does not have and he would also sign players behind the managers back like he done to sir bobby and souness ( tho he should never of got the job in the 1st place )
stafford
Jun 19, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Comment #12i would personnally rather Fat Fred than Ashley but I really hope we can move forwards as a club and not bring Freddy back. Will his company SSS have the money to get the club moving and sign players, I dont think so. He wont be able to securitise seats like he did in the past, due to the economical climate – lets hope for something new and someone special for a special club. Oh and bring back Keegan – yes I am obsessed by the ONLY messiah!
UTD111
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Comment #13What we need more than anything is proper businessmen running the club and a sound plan for stability and growth.
This barrow boy has got to go and take his cockneys with him.
waddler
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Comment #14Does anyone know when the transfer window closes.
We won’t have a new owner until 1st july.
l want a new start with real businessmen running our club.
l don’t care who it is as long as they intend to build us into a top 4/5 club again and it is not Shepherd.
sahota
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Comment #15Newcastle should Ban entry to Mike in future….Nobody shop from his shop SPORTS DIRECT
Let him feel the pain we are going through.
Toon Graeme
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Comment #16Im not business savvi but correct me if I got this wrong.
The ‘data room’ is when the potential bidders get access to the full accounts of NUFC and can see the full income, turnover and outgoings etc etc
Then they (if they want to) then come up with a business plan for NUFC and table a bid to MA
MA then says yes and then f**ks off for ever out our lives and we can rebuild.
harry861
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Comment #17How can anybody want Fred Shepherd is beyond me. He was start of the downward trend & saying that Sir Bobby had one more season in him; that I do agree.
It was the way Shepherd FIRED HIM after just 5 games into the new season & if he had any compassion in him at the end of the previous season , he should found him advisory post within Newcastle United, he certainly deserved that after the very good years that we had.
Remember he bought Owen on credit; not the manager.
stafford
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Comment #18@ waddler I believe it opens on the 1st of July and can not exceed 12 weeks. The Prem is 31st of August so I would imagine this league will be similar
Big Dave
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Comment #19TG i think that sums it up. and contrary to what some have said you dont get access to the data room untill you have proved that you have the 100 mill asking price. Batty we need to start a bring back our own fred the shred group lol
Stardust
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Comment #20Ed “we understand Shearer has not spoken to Llambias and Ashley for several days now, and that the relationship between Shearer and Ashley is not good – but what’s news.
From a pure Newcastle viewpoint, Shearer will be annoyed at how shabbily Ashley is and has treat the club over this last year, and it gives us a good insight now into what Kevin Keegan , who may re-emerge as Southampton manager imminently, had to go through last summer.”
Ed tell us your source that knows they havent spoken, every article for months has been Ashley and Shearer get on well – yet you decry the opposite – have you simply MADE THAT UP?
Time for folks to be decent, objective, realistic and to stop hunting witches. You continue to destabilise without evidence.
Chris G
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Comment #21‘……Oh and bring back Keegan – yes I am obsessed by the ONLY messiah!’
I suppose anything is possible. The Daily Mail is reporting that Keegan isn’t taking over at Southampton after all:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1194129/Keegan-taking-Southampton-insists-Le-Tissiers-pal-Dennis.html
Stardust
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Comment #22Toon Graeme
No – the Prospectus for sale WILL INCLUDE a relatively detailed financial overview.
Due diligence is simply about checking the facts as they are presented.
In addition, due to the timing, it suits Ashley to sell quickly as he will get better value, I expect their financial modelling going forward to be disclosed, which will include the “what if” scenarios in the projections.
vivadavidkelly
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Comment #23shepherds problems stem long before the sacking of SBR. as newcastle fans we all strive for a new era without ashley, and certainly without shepherd. i fail to see how bringing in shepherd will spell a new dawn. it has been mentioned a million times before but his mis managment snowballed the club into the position we find ourselves in today. He liked the sound of his own voice a little too much, not to mention the fact he is a crook. it makes me laugh all the people who are yearning for him to come back. yes i want ashely gone but not replaced by anoth ametuer. if that means foriegn ownership then so be it – at least they know how to run a business. i also think there is no substance in this story – still no quotes, aprt from the ever present club source. i wont believe a thing untl we hear from a named source, namely fat mike or del boy. i also think shearers silence is a good thing. if he knew nothing then we would be hearing from him or he would be away by now. the fact that he is still hanging around means that he must know something, otherwise he would be running the risk of looking stupid. he wouldnt let himself be dragged along like this unless he was fairly certain what the outcome will be
Shot Bru
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Comment #24Totally agree with Harry, we can’t have Sheperd back. He spent the Northern rock cash on signing Owen, and their sponsorship deal doesn’t run out till the end of this season. Most of the money we still owe on transfers is from his regime, which could be anything up to £40 million. His record of appointing managers is pretty poor as well, and if he takes over will appoint Shearer as manager, which would be a mistake in my opinion.
vivadavidkelly
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Comment #25by the way southampton are welcome to KK. spoilt brat, it will all end in tears. he has proven he cant manage on a budget, when the going gets tough, which it is bound to on minus 10 points he will be off by christmas. can think of 100 managers i would rather than KK. he has burnt alot of bridges with many in newcastle
Toon Graeme
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Comment #26Stardust – thanks.
Im curious as to why over the past few weeks there have been suggestions (on here) for Shep of the Fred to come back and take over.
No way this should happen.
We need a clean slate and to hopefully get someone in who can run the club ‘correctly’.
Then again – you cant control what you have no control of. Ive said that loads lately but it does sort of sum up the situation.
Its gonna be hard to – but we have to just coast along until the season starts again.
Johno Toon
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Comment #27who would you like in charge shot bru? Personally i would keep Shearer but if not coppell would be my choice
Dennis Twice
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Comment #2830th June Ashley gives a statement: “Not potential offers” “keeping club”
Stardust
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Comment #29Shot Bru // Jun 19, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Totally agree with Harry, we can’t have Sheperd back. He spent the Northern rock cash on signing Owen
Shot Bru – he didnt, Shepherd front loaded the revenue – i.e. he took all the sponsorship from Northern Rock and took into the accounts immediately – even though it was to be paid over the years (so the revenue into the accounts should have been spread)
He then signed Owen – but he did the opposite – he spread Owens payments over years.
This then led to a spike of revenue in, in the accounts which enabled him to pay out his 5mill dividend (he did this each year for 5 years)
That meant Owen could not be paid for, as well as other players, Sir John Hall knew it – (he had also received dividends) – thats why he jumped ship.
Mike Ashley ended up paying for Owen, Martins, Duff etc etc etc.
Shepherd was the rapist of NUFC – not the chairman.
stafford
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Comment #30Chris G – I would love it!
vivadavidkelly – you have a short memory and who said southampton wont have cash! The man is a living legend, that put NUFC back on the map!
Big Dave
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Comment #31Shot Bru the thing is if MO had played the way he was expected it would have been classed as a master stroke, but it didnt and i think a lot of that was down to the injury he got with England. as regards debt most of the debt was for SJP upgrading that leaves 40 odd mill which wasnt that much in real terms considering where we were in the EPL if you have a look at the debt at the top clubs it makes our debt look like chicken feed. and lastly does anyone think it was just FFS decesion to sack SBR ?
Big Dave
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Comment #32Stardust just wondering do you know if when we were a plc was things like wages etc available to be seen by others
Shot Bru
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Comment #33Johno realistically i would like Darren Ferguson. I think Shearer is a legend and conducted himself with incredible dignity at the end of last season, but i was pretty scared by some of his tactical changes during games of which there were many. If new owners were to appoint Shearer or anyone for that matter they should be given a 12 month rolling contract and not the usual 3/4 year deal, a bit like Celtic have done with Mowbray.
Big Dave
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Comment #34Stardust i meant in a total breakdown not just annual wages or was that kept inhouse ?
UTD111
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Comment #35Come on folks – you should listen to Stardust and his wise words…..
After all, he’s the lad who was telling us Ashley was doing such a fine job for the club when anyone with eyes and ears could see the barrow boy was running us into the ground.
Don’t know how you’ve got the nerve to show your face in here Stardust – after all the rubbish you spouted and personal abuse you directed at people for months.
Mind, it was like being savaged by a toothless sheep LOL
Johno Toon
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Comment #36Daern Ferguson could be interesting , didnt think of himself
ian
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Comment #37Big Dave it seems pointless trying to tell the truth on here to some, Shepherd was the chairman but not in control of the club, the major shareholders were the Hall family it was there board except for Shepherd, they sacked Robson but it was Freddy’s job to tell him.
The Halls sold to the numpty Ashley and Shepherd could do nothing about it as he was not the majority shareholder.
Equally we will never know who sanctioned what at the club, I know all of the board backed Shearer and Souness over Bellamy which I would not have done, business performance above personalities for me. It was just a young kid sending stupid texts, hardly violent or threatening actions, why didnt Shearer change his mobile number and not give it to bellamy or any of the young players?
I cannot belive anyone is still defending Ashley they are non fans just having a joke.
Shot Bru
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Comment #38Cheers for clearing that up Stardust, either way Sheperd in charge of huge amounts of NUFC cash don’t mix.
Hey Big Dave i hope you’re not insinuating that Shearer had anything to do with the sacking of SBR lol.
sirjasontoon
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Comment #39Ed can you please stop posting pictures of the Fat Rapist Mike Ashley…or I am likely to Hurl Chunks over my new macbook.
🙂
toon.g.
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Comment #40Anyone who genuinely believes Shepherd has the best interests of this club in his heart must be mad! The first time he was in charge, between him and his son Kenneth, they made a laughing stock of the club and themselves. They were in it for the money and not the good of the club.
I seriously believe that he has no interest in taking over this club again and that this is just a publicity stunt to attempt to make Newcastle fans like him again.
Looking back only 18 months when Ashley bought the club, we could not wait for Shepherd to leave. If it was not for Ashley’s huge investment in the club, wiping out 100m of debt, then we would have been relegated last season as we would of needed to sell the majority of our squad who were a disgrace for this season. Im not justifying the mess that Ashley has made, but to solely blame him and want Shepherd back is crazy.
In the words of the man who i read the majority want, Alan Shearer, these problems did not just start when Ashley took over, they have culminated from previous owners – Shepherd!