With problems again present for the second time that Mike Ashley has tried to sell the Newcastle club, the Geordie fans have to be hoping that some offer will shortly be acceptable to the current owner.
Mike Ashley – will he do another U-turn?
This time around, things seem depressingly similar to the last time Mike tried to sell the club late last year, and even with the price reduced significantly to match the club’s current status of a Championship side, there doesn’t appear to be any offers that match the price of £100M Mike now wants for the club.
Of course one of the confusing bits of news we have been fed is that Derek Llambias said over two weeks ago, that “at least two offers have been made for £100M”, so if that’s the case how come there has been no sale?
We can only assume the problem lies with the reported overdraft of at least £30M the club reportedly has, and the transfer fees still to be paid for players such as Damien Duff.
The longer this impasse lasts the more likely it is for Ashley to change his mind – again.
But the club is now in such a mess we all have to hope he doesn’t want to be the one to have to clean up the mess he has created over the last 8 weeks.
And make no mistake, he’s made a gigantic mess at the club, that someone will need to clean up, and the sooner the better.
Let’s all hope it’s not Mike that has to do it.
Comments welcome.
Written from Newcastle, England.
25 comments so far
dows
Jul 19, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Comment #1Anyone read this?
http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport/newcastle-utd/newcastle-utd-news/2009/07/19/coloccini-willing-to-stay-but-only-on-big-money-79310-24186809/
Basically Coloccini bitching about off-the-field situations, and saying it wasn’t his fault we got relegated. The club won’t sell him, and he won’t take a wage cut.
shrews mag
Jul 19, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Comment #2If MA is going to take the club of the market … then (and it pains me to say it) … for gods sake do it now …
At least then he will be able to create a bit of stability in appointing a manager … who will then be able to sell the players he wants … and … to get rid of some of the over paid losers on the books
This will mean that we can plan for the up coming season …
what we don’t want is this decision ‘not’ to sell the club … a few days before the season starts or the transtfer window closes …
the 1st game is only 20 days away … get your finger out and make a decision … one way or the other …
Solaidback
Jul 19, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Comment #3I wrote a few days ago that if MA does take the club off the market, it won’t be until the season kicks off, then he’ll take it to Administration, which will get us deducted 10 points & then he’ll buy the club back for £1 under a different company, sell all the players in January trasnfer window & make up his lose of money!!
I still think this is going to happen & that all the reports about potentail buyers is bogus & even the Profitable Group are only in it for the publicity & haven’t even placed a bid!!
What I don’t understand is, one minute we’re being told that Ashley has some company selling the players on his behalf, the next we’re being told there’s a player embargo & no players will be sold, so what the feck is really happening??
I’m getting fed-up of this whole situ & it’s really putting me of supporting the club under this current regime, so if ashley does do a u-turn, I think I’ll start supporting Newcastle ice-hockey team instead… 🙁
Solaidback
Jul 19, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Comment #4I’m getting to the stage now that I don’t care anymore, I’m completely fed up of reading all this crap about who’s paid what & who’s doing what… its getting on my nerves & making me wish I supported a club who aren’t im termoil, someone like Villa or Everton!!!
At least then I’d be reading about which player we were buying, which players were leaving & how much our beloved owner is giving the manager as a warchest & keeping his nose out of the managers business but no, for my sins I support the only club in the whole footballing leagues that is always in crises from 1 year to the next & I’m finally getting to the end of that love, it’s draining my passion for football away from me & it’s not a nice place too be…..
shrews mag
Jul 19, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Comment #5Solaidback // Jul 19, 2009 at 10:41 AM
… it is depressing … but its the ongoing hope in the face of constant setbacks and reality checks that make us what we are …
keep ya pecker up m8
Solaidback
Jul 19, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Comment #6Thanks Shrews Mag, I know what you’re saying & I’m hoping something happens soon 🙂
Ed, why did you write this blog today? I mean most of your blogs are posted in relation to something you’ve read in the crap-loids but this one has no quote’s from anyone, so it’s obviously from your own feelings & sorry to say, it seems more of a scare mongering blog than anything else??
POLISHGEORDIE
Jul 19, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Comment #7You asked how can we reduced the wage bill, what do you expect when Newcastle have impose embargo on all transferred. So ho hope there.
As far as Mike Ashley is concern, if he does a U turn again he is the biggest fool in the whole world, why waste all these weeks if he is not going to sell. He should swollow his pride and just accept on of the bids ASAP so our club can move on.
Just don’t understand what is the hold up as two or more offer of £100m and the bidders know all the hidden cost involved. If any bidders were serious about buying the club they should just meet Ashley asking price and get on getting our club back where it should be A GREAT CLUB AGAIN
chuck
Jul 19, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Comment #8As I thought, contrary to the repors of tabled bids for £100m. it now seems the only bid is from that dodgy group from Singapore and the reported amount is £70m.
“The Profitable Group”, the very name sounds dodgy, would you buy a used car from these guys ?
At present I just dont know what to think, you could`nt have dream`pt up this scenario a year and a half ago.
It`s a case of organized chaos as we slowly go down the tubes, a rudderless bohemoth , heading for the rocks.
Another analogy would be to Rome burning while Nero fiddles.
This is really depressing and getting worse by the hour.
Rangerman
Jul 19, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Comment #9I wrote a few days ago that if MA does take the club off the market, it won’t be until the season kicks off, then he’ll take it to Administration, which will get us deducted 10 points & then he’ll buy the club back for £1 under a different company, sell all the players in January trasnfer window & make up his lose of money!!
……
If it was that easy every club would do it to shift their debts, shame it’s not.
Rangerman
Jul 19, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Comment #10I don’t think it matters too much if Ashley sells or not as we will still appoint Shearer, have little new money to spend and will have to get rid of some of the big earners if it’s him or profitable/Shepherd in charge.
At least with Ashley you know if we do go up he will sell the first decent offer he gets, I’m not so sure the other will or if they can afford to subsidise the running costs.
Nick D
Jul 19, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Comment #11I am surprised ashley was never given a harder time for not selling up to the Abu Dhabi group when they wanted us before man city. Of all Ashley’s dispicable behaviour, surely this was his biggest offence.
Now the only hope is a dodgy Singaporean group
and even worst case scenario, the man who put us where we are in virtual meltdown with his stupid decisions one Freddie Shepherd.
You do start to get a bit paranoid in thinking there is a curse on us.
Rangerman
Jul 19, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Comment #12I am surprised ashley was never given a harder time for not selling up to the Abu Dhabi group when they wanted us before man city.
…..
Is it any more than a rumour?
bill
Jul 19, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Comment #13The problem we have is that there is very little information coming out about the proposed sale and that the people who are telling us anything are generally not trustworthy.
I think the Merchant Bankers should make a general statement without naming names. That might still the waters for us for a few days.
Obafan
Jul 19, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Comment #14I’m getting sick every time I see the picture of that fat loser.
magpie6699
Jul 19, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Comment #15I talk to my friends who are in business and they say that the Administration option for Ashley makes absolutely no financial sense at all. Even f he could pocket money from player sales, it just doesn’t add up to that much when you total it up – not remotely close to £60M or £70M 0r whatever. it also assumes that a) someone would buy the players at their inflated wages and b) that therefore their price won’t be compromised. If he can’t sell the players who would bring in sizeable amounts of dosh, then he’d again be stuck with paying out fortunes in wages each week.
Tbh, in some ways, hate to say it, but if Ashley had just come out with the big apology at the end of last season, got rid of Lameduckarse and brought in a football-experienced executive PLUS offered AS the manager’s job plus (say) £5million + whatever he gets for sales of those who should go / want to go as his transfer kitty – I’d be feeling much happier than now. And I think MA would have ended up with a good chance of being better off in he medium term, IF we were challenging for promotion, as the ticket revenues and merchandising (well maybe not the away strip) would have netted him a lot more cash.
POLISHGEORDIE
Jul 19, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Comment #16Sure there were bids of £100 made, .Ever hear of “brinkmanship” with one side trying to push the price up and the other trying to push it down. This is what is happening at the moment.
If Ashley does not sell then he will have to reinvest and sort out all the financial crises he is in. This will cost him a lot more money which he does not have, with ticket not selling and his business profit going down. His only option is to lower his price to who ever decides to buy. As I understand he has until 31st August to sell it.otherwise it will be in 2010 by that time we might be bottom of the league.
bill
Jul 19, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Comment #17Here we go again!
bill
Jul 19, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Comment #18Magpie:
Didn’t quite follow your logic on selling players and paying wages.
I would assume Ashley would sell the players and pocket the money and then go into administration.
I mentioned this scenario once before, he could do just that (sell the players), sell SJP (the stadium) to Newcastle United Holdings in repayment for his loans and then put the club into administration. Anyone buying the club would then have to rent the stadium from Newcastle United Holdings.
I don’t know FA rules or the legalities involved here but if I was in his position I would be trying to lose as little as possible, and I wouldn’t be that bothered about the football club I left behind.
Having said all of that, its probably all rubbish. The one thing that I am hanging my hat on is this player embargo which I hope means he is negotiating the sale.
komfort
Jul 19, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Comment #19u-turn !!…the sooner the better he takes his gambling , drinking & lying elswhere and some respectical people come in who know how to run a football club….fat git.
workyticket
Jul 19, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Comment #20Rangerman // Jul 19, 2009 at 1:26 PM
“I am surprised ashley was never given a harder time for not selling up to the Abu Dhabi group when they wanted us before man city.
…..
Is it any more than a rumour?”
No.
batty
Jul 19, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Comment #21useless fat bastard
Nick D
Jul 19, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Comment #22Apparently yes it is more than a rumour as the Man city exec Cook admitted as much when interviewed.
stk85
Jul 19, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Comment #23why the hell did lambyarse and bobby not meet that group?!!?!?!?!
to be honest i wouldve wanted someone who could build a good hard working team, not some galactico bollox. adebayor always wanted to play for city….. of course u did, u greedy selfish money grabbing overpaid numbskull.
ashley should really be hung drawn and quartered for what he’s done to this club.
the situation is so incredibly simple yet we drift and drift. appoint a manager, sell some players, stop phaffing, accept a bid
also, rangerman are you stardust in disguise?
bill
Jul 19, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Comment #24Anyone listening to Talksport?
I asked the Times journo about the Newcastle sale situation but left the room for a few minutes and only heard the back end of his answer.
Brisvegas
Jul 20, 2009 at 2:26 AM
Comment #25My mate in India is saying that there is a lot of excitement about Newcastle. The rumour is that an Indian is behind one of the bids – not wholly, but in partnership with another group.
No word on who the Indian guy is – but everybody suspects Ambani.
And they suspect the other group is FFS’s group.
They say there is no hold up – it’s all normal, and it will be over by the end of the month (heard that before) but defo by season start.
They say that the US group has dropped out and the Omani is wavering. Apparently Ashley’s loan repayment is crucial.
Well, that’s my contribution.