When Newcastle sign new players in the summer, let’s hope they improve the terms of the deal, as far as the club is concerned, and not leave themselves wide open for ridiculous payments in the future.
Mark Viduka – may get July payment even though he’s left club
That comes after realizing that Newcastle player’s contracts contained nothing in them at all, about getting a lower wage if the club got relegated – presumably because that was never going to happen, but of course it did.
And therefore when new deals are arranged this summer, that relegation clause should be standard issue, in the contracts, and yes it means being relegated form the Championship. But good planning needs to cater for all possibilities, however unlikely they may appear.
And it’s being reported today that Newcastle United face new bills for departing strikers Mark Viduka and Michael Owen, and also defender Claudio Cacapa.
It’s the local Sunday Sun, reporting that Viduka, Cacapa (remember him?) and Owen’s contract give them another month of wages, if they cannot find a new club before the month of July is out. How’s that for an incentive to find a new club quickly?
It looks like their agents got one over on the club, when they put that clause in, and we just hope the new owners will employ people who know how to run a football club, because Newcastle desperately need that experience right now.
It’s hardly like these two players will need to line up in the unemployment queue to get their dole money, is it?
Why wouldn’t Michael, Mark and Claudio just ensure their new contracts are signed on August 1st, so they qualify for the extra money – at the higher wages they were on at Newcastle? That’s the type of thing these silly clauses in contracts will tempt players to do.
Owen is on around £110K/week and Viduka gets about £65K/week, and Cacapa is probably on around £40K/week, so over about 4 weeks, that’s around £940K – money the club can hardly afford – and shouldn’t be paying out.
There’s nothing wrong with somebody buying a football club, who has no previous experience in owning a club, but the intelligent ones always get some professionals in who have that experience, so they can then ensure the club, their investment after all, is run well, efficiently and professionally.
That’s something Mike Ashley never really did, and the club (as well as Mike) are now paying the consequences of an ill-conceived purchase two years ago. The club is relegated and in a dire situation currently, without a managerr or any leadership, and Mike has lost around £150M, and maybe even more.
Hopefully, Mike’s ownership will all be coming to an end very soon, and it cannot come soon enough for the so many disenchanted Newcastle faithful around the world.
Things can only get batter from now on – right? 
If the answer to that it yes – then that’s the good news on Newcastle for today – roll on tomorrow – and we may even be forced to report some good news, on what may happen, once Alan is brought in as manager.
Comments welcome.
62 responses so far ↓
1 SteveNUFC // Jun 28, 2009 at 2:11 PM
i dont suppose an extra week of wages will make much difference at our sinking ship….. we doomed to failure until new owners which i think is just a mike ashley ploy ti buikd our hopes up.
can the plays not just sod off and relise how much trouble they have already caused with the help of fat mike….
2 Big Dave // Jun 28, 2009 at 2:35 PM
I just wonder if there is anytruth in it but wouldnt surprise me. and Ed I really do hope we get some much needed and long awaited good news. im still gunning for something happening on wednesday
3 Rodzilla // Jun 28, 2009 at 2:44 PM
…”Things can only get batter from now on – right?”
Ed, was that a Freudian slip or deliberate?
4 magpie6699 // Jun 28, 2009 at 3:20 PM
I thought it wasn’t to do with any clauses in their contracts but some sort of legal or “union” thing: i.e that applies to ANY player whose contract expires and is not able to get a new club before the next month is up?
5 batty // Jun 28, 2009 at 3:34 PM
mike ashley should be arrested for mental torture to 100,ooo plus toon fans
6 bill // Jun 28, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Magpie you are correct.
My last post which seems to have been lost in the ether explained that this sort of thing is not unusual and that that NUFC will have known about this for years.
There is no story. The press are just having a field day because a big club is in trouble and they are heaping it on. It’s pathetic.
7 Doocey // Jun 28, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Frazier Campbell set for Sunderland?
8 flyingmag // Jun 28, 2009 at 3:49 PM
This web site i totally agree.
9 RyanToon // Jun 28, 2009 at 3:52 PM
what a game
spain 2-2 south africa
et left!
10 Ross // Jun 28, 2009 at 4:11 PM
ryan-i only switched on at about the hour mark but i’ve seen everything eventful so im happy like.
Guiza’s second, and the SA equaliser were both quality like.
11 Big Dave // Jun 28, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Batty seen this and thought off you >> http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/381075/Serial-gambler-Elliott-Short-made-pound20m-on-Betfair.html
12 nimo // Jun 28, 2009 at 4:22 PM
cant believe the sale of the club is being held up by kk and his ridiculous court case for 9million. wish that man would get over himself. he was the one who threw his teddy out
13 ObaFan2 // Jun 28, 2009 at 4:24 PM
I posted this a few days ago and it covers alot of the contracts and clauses, it’s another excellent article by true faith and a real eye opener. The contracts and clauses in player contracts are absurd and this article shows how much trouble our beloved club is in:
http://www.true-faith.co.uk/tf/features.nsf/0/81A8E6F8810610F5802575DD00780A9D?OpenDocument
“Newcastle’s wage bill is rumoured to be in the region of £1.2m per week. And that is just for the players, before employer’s tax and national insurance is taken into account. This will be reduced at the end of June, as the contracts for five players expire (Caçapa, David Edgar, Peter Løvenkrands, Michael Owen and Mark Viduka). On the plus side, that is approximately £305k a week less that Newcastle will already need to pay next season. The bad news is that those players will have been paid over £1.5m for the six weeks between relegation at the end of the contract, and then comes a sting in the tail. Or at least the first sting in the tail, as players have loyalty bonuses written into their contracts – often referred to as signing on fees. These are (usually) a year’s salary spread across the length of the contract, paid at the end of each season and these have to be paid to a player in full before they leave, unless they submit a written transfer request. For the five players out of contract, these are likely to be in the region of £3.2m. In other words, when relegation was confirmed, Newcastle realised they would have to pay those five players around £4.8m in the full knowledge that they would never play for the club again because they could not afford to renew their contracts.”
and there’s lots more!
It’s a long read but worth a go
14 nimo // Jun 28, 2009 at 4:32 PM
i hope some of you took my tip for going for the ryan n channon trained horses at newcastle even thou ryan is a makem lol
15 daffy // Jun 28, 2009 at 4:33 PM
batty- 100,000 ? didnt see that coming.
16 batty // Jun 28, 2009 at 5:06 PM
batty // Jun 27, 2009 at 11:53 AM
komfort me lucks gone a bit shite m8 but iam backing som tala in the 310 each way m8
<<<<< na backed me own tip lol
17 Mac // Jun 28, 2009 at 5:10 PM
AAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHH
18 komfort // Jun 28, 2009 at 5:30 PM
well done batty , now go out and invest some of your winnings on new clothes..
…you look a sight for sore eyes walking around in those track suit bottoms & shoes..
19 Sav // Jun 28, 2009 at 5:34 PM
On the Richter Scale of NUFC fan embarrassments over the past 12 months, this hardly rates a blip.
Sure, its a stupid contract and yet another obscene waste of money. Some lawyer or agent, or director who signed off on it ought to lose his job. But probably they won’t.
Anyway, Viduka and Owen ought to be the ones embarrassed. If that pathetic brochure is owt to go by, Owen has a brass neck under that extra-thick skin he was talking about. Can you imagine Shearer, Beardo, Rob Lee or any self-respecting footballer producing the likes of that muck.
Shame!
20 batty // Jun 28, 2009 at 5:37 PM
komfort divent slag me trackeys and shoes man its not my fault u didnt back it lol
21 komfort // Jun 28, 2009 at 5:54 PM
aye batty it’s just sour grapes m8 soz..
..but trainers would look better with your matalan bottoms .. haha
22 Big Dave // Jun 28, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Batty i wasnt trying to imply that your a Serial-gambler lol
23 batty // Jun 28, 2009 at 6:18 PM
bigdave why dont u come to the next gamblers anonmous meeting with me and komfort thats ware we get all our tips from m8
24 Tom Mo. // Jun 28, 2009 at 6:25 PM
holy grail, any news from your friend???
25 Big Dave // Jun 28, 2009 at 6:33 PM
batty funny enough the only bets i have done was for the Toon to win the FA cup every year for the last 14 or so years needless to say i havent won. My Bro is a big gambler and i think that put me off lol
26 Doocey // Jun 28, 2009 at 6:52 PM
Any craic lads?
27 Rodzilla // Jun 28, 2009 at 6:57 PM
Interesting article though Dave. The lucky (well not really) b@stard. If only MA had a bit more gambling nous.
…and Komfort, leave Batty alone. I can remember when you used to sell white sports socks – three pairs for a pound, off a table on Northumberland Street.
28 Rodzilla // Jun 28, 2009 at 7:03 PM
….and nowt ganin on Doocey, na.
Apart from Mike Ashley is the Devil and Llambias is his pet Owl Demon. But everyone new that.
29 RyanToon // Jun 28, 2009 at 8:29 PM
why didnt we sign ONYEWU when he was with us???!!! top player imo been class in the usa side
30 komfort // Jun 28, 2009 at 8:34 PM
aye those were the days rod..if wasn’t for your good self i would never have lasted..
..your custom was always welcome !.
31 komfort // Jun 28, 2009 at 8:39 PM
and of course mr jackson..
32 Rodzilla // Jun 28, 2009 at 8:58 PM
Shamone motherkomfort. Purveyor of finest quality Terry Towelling socks to the stars. You’ve many a toenail snag to answer for.
33 Toon_Factor // Jun 28, 2009 at 9:02 PM
RyanToon
Because he made too many mistakes.
34 Rodzilla // Jun 28, 2009 at 9:09 PM
TF, he did seem like a lost puppy with us, having said that most of our big CBs over the last 10 years have. It’s the old consistency argument again. I doubt we’ve had a settled back four (I.E. 4 months consecutive game time together) for over 10 years.
35 batty // Jun 28, 2009 at 9:22 PM
ROD did you used to ware them Terry Towelling socks aswell when you were a kid lol
36 RyanToon // Jun 28, 2009 at 9:31 PM
TF
street ahead of coloccini
37 batty // Jun 28, 2009 at 9:34 PM
ryan get on trap 5 at monmore tonight 10 05 race its called weak bladder it will p:ss it m8
38 Toon_Factor // Jun 28, 2009 at 9:42 PM
eh?
39 Rodzilla // Jun 28, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Batty, aye mate
…ye could spot them a mile off. Rund yer ankles within 40 paces
40 Stuart79 // Jun 28, 2009 at 9:46 PM
batty // Jun 28, 2009 at 9:34 PM
ryan get on trap 5 at monmore tonight 10 05 race its called weak bladder it will p:ss it m8
I’d probably put it on the 1005 at Monmouth instead Batty!
41 Rodzilla // Jun 28, 2009 at 9:47 PM
…more like closed tubes than socks.
42 Stuart79 // Jun 28, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Ha ya on aboot the dogs man!
43 Rodzilla // Jun 28, 2009 at 9:52 PM
…a was onboot alsations (“Rund yer ankles within 40 paces”)
44 Rodzilla // Jun 28, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Batty, yee got money on that then?
45 RyanToon // Jun 28, 2009 at 9:55 PM
batts. wasted all me money on sat on the horses
46 Rodzilla // Jun 28, 2009 at 9:59 PM
…ye should stick te fitba Ryan.
47 batty // Jun 28, 2009 at 10:05 PM
fckin clever c0nt u lot it was suppose to be a joke y na weak bladder p:ss it
48 batty // Jun 28, 2009 at 10:07 PM
aye rod i used to ware them ide get up at 630 and pinch me sisters trainers before she went work we were that hard up lol
49 Rodzilla // Jun 28, 2009 at 10:16 PM
…hope ye never stooped as low as GymTraks Bats.
…all that velcro pallava
50 batty // Jun 28, 2009 at 10:17 PM
http://www.newcastle.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=159156
51 batty // Jun 28, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Rodzilla // Jun 28, 2009 at 10:16 PM
…hope ye never stooped as low as GymTraks Bats.
…all that velcro pallava
<<<<na but a went school in a pare of cricket shoe,s once ha
52 Rodzilla // Jun 28, 2009 at 10:23 PM
…obviously bought from the local Cricket Shoes Shop then Bats eh
53 Rodzilla // Jun 28, 2009 at 10:34 PM
http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport/newcastle-utd/newcastle-utd-news/2009/06/28/inferior-sock-horror-no-shop-shocker-79310-24002635/
…..wouldn’t bother clicking above btw
54 Rodzilla // Jun 28, 2009 at 11:02 PM
I say boll0cks anyway. Anyone that dares question my judgement, form an orderly queue
55 Rangerman // Jun 28, 2009 at 11:02 PM
street ahead of coloccini
………
Not much between them going off their performances for us tbh, both would benefit from playing at a club where they would get time to settle into the Premiership.
56 Rangerman // Jun 28, 2009 at 11:12 PM
Daily Mail reckons Simon Cox has agreed personal terms with West Brom, not sure who’s signing him as they haven’t got a manager yet.
57 Sav // Jun 29, 2009 at 1:27 AM
Is that Onyerwayyou, because I’m sure I heard them shoutin’ that from the SJP players’ entrance a fair few times th’other day, like.
…… Followed by the sweet, melodic sound of someone’s arse being booted.
58 beyethegreat // Jun 29, 2009 at 8:16 AM
rangerman
i could be wrongg but i think they have a DOF
59 reetpetite // Jun 29, 2009 at 9:18 AM
rumour has it that spurs will announce bassong and 2 other newcastle players by the end of the week. Owen, beye and martins are the players being discussed.
This is from a couple of respected itks on the spurs message boards.
60 batty // Jun 29, 2009 at 9:25 AM
reetpiteet whats this aboot the defoe signing
61 reetpetite // Jun 29, 2009 at 9:27 AM
batty- dont know. nile ranger is being mentioned aswell.
62 RyanToon // Jun 29, 2009 at 9:34 AM
reetpetite
so if youre correct (which i doubt) then youll have to take your comments back
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