Rob Lee had talked yesterday about how Alan Shearer was now getting a little annoyed at the way the club is being run under Mike Ashley.
Alan Shearer – next manager at Newcastle
Rob also said that Alan would never consider working under owner Mike Ashley, and we think right now that feeling is mutual – very mutual.
Alan’s people have come out today and said that Alan would consider working with Ashley again, but until the club is sold, why fix something that is just not broken?
And as Alan said when he took the job in April, results are everything in football management, and he got just 5 points from a possible 24, so his record is not on his side right now.
We have to think that Alan cooked his goose immediately after relegation, when the club had to cut down big time on their expenses, since their revenues were being halved.
But to have somebody go in and say he wanted £20M transfer fund, and up front at that, suggests to us to us that Alan didn’t understand what relegation meant to the cub, at least from a business viewpoint.
And at least 300 workers at the club were soon laid off and as we have seen, Newcastle just didn’t have the money, and we are still in some debt.
And when did other relegation teams go out and spend money like it grew on trees?
The best situation would have been to keep the good players we needed, and then somehow get replacements in for those we didn’t want, but since we never had a manager – it was left to Ashley to sell who he could.
As it turns out the team has landed on its feet, and made a great start to the season, and yes results are everything in this games so 5 wins out of 6 and Newcastle fans are happy these days.
The only good reason for bringing in Alan in the short term, is to have the long term structure of the playing side of things in place early, because it’s almost certain Alan will be the next manager of Newcastle, once Ashley finally leaves.
If Alan keeps Chris and Colin on board, and doesn’t make too many changes on the field, the transition could be smooth, which is what we need.
Alan can then start putting the club in order, setting up a great scouting system, and other things that are hardly being done right now,
He will also be able to attract players in the summer from around the world, assuming we get promoted.
The only person we can see pushing for this is likely owner Barry Moat, and because he is said to have a good relationship with Ashley, maybe there are discussions ongoing to start to make some of the changes to the club Barry wants, even as Ashley continues to be the owner.
Comments welcome.
33 comments so far
Mag_Laad
Sep 8, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Comment #1If Shearer in other words doesn’t bring Dowie back and has Hughton as his assistant 🙂
hitman
Sep 8, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Comment #2for shearer to work with lard arse he would have to invest in the first team and he isnt prepared to do that.
stevep
Sep 8, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Comment #3Shearer will never work for ashley, oh hold on a minute he will????
Think its more a case of Ashley will never hire Shearer, wether we like it or not Ashley owns the club and can hire/fire anyone he pleases, the fact Shearers getting annoyed dosn’t matter one bit. When is KK’s 10 million court case due – another hasbeen sucking the life out the toon
Eaststander
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Comment #4Stevep that is a poor look on the situation mate. Keegan is a legend and so is Alan do you not realise that desperation makes you think that Ashley has any good intention for this club. I am starting to think that only half arsed toon supporters come on here now and whinge at ED and think Hughton is the way forward. Wake up boys this leauge is weakened we will never stay in the premier without Shearer simple as that.
lesh
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Comment #5Aw c’mon Ed… isnt’t it a bit unfair to say that Shearer cooked his goose by asking for £20m and didn’t understand the ramifications of relegation?
Without knowing the club’s financials and Ashley’s attitude to such a plan, he was working blind and perhaps naively optimistic.
However, as we understand it, Ashley’s not got back to him yet so I think that such behaviour is grossly discourteous and unprofessional.
Might that behaviour answer your headline question Ed?
workyticket
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Comment #6Last time Rob Lee said something about Shearer, and Shearer was asked about it on television, he said that it wasn’t true.
Isaac Hunt
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Comment #7Lesh: You forget – Ed is a journo!
Spitfire
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Comment #8I don’t think Shearer – or any Manager – should be expected to fully understand the business ramifications . I think its pefectly in order for a manager to say “I need £20million to get us promoted at the first time of asking”. Whether the owner can deliver that is another matter entirely. Just because we are top of the league today does not mean we are fixed.
punk skunk...
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Comment #9Love Rob Lee,
But…
…Shut ya’ gob, Rob!..
Johno Toon
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Comment #10Think its a bit unfair to bring in Shearers record last compared to Hughtons this season and not mention Hughtons record last season as that was very poor
Spitfire
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Comment #11Read George Caulkin in the Times – excellent piece
punk skunk...
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Comment #12At least there’s a modicum of somethin’ that can be loosely described as stabilty atm…
…Different set of circumstances to last season, under CH or AS!..
Whumpie
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Comment #13I’m a big admirer of Hughton, not least because he’s so calm and decent about everything. But does he have the clout necessary to keep this run of form going, get through rough patches and take us all the way up into the upper reaches of the premiership?
I doubt it; at least not alone.
BUT even though I’d love to see Big Al back at the helm, I am starting to think along the lines of “it ain’t broke; don’t fix it”. Just.
Let’s see what happens when our current run ends and we have a few injuries. My hunch is that Shearer’s time will come, but not just yet – and that when it does, Hughton will be his 2nd-in-command.
Quite a partnership too.
It’s all moot anyway for now. Let’s hope Chris gets a few more games to show what he’s made of. Six is nothing to make a judgement on – 10 would say a lot, and make it hard to put Al in at all.
punk skunk...
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Comment #14Spitfire,
they’re now callin’ what we’re in, ‘stasis’, rather than turmoil…Who woulda thunk it?..
Spitfire
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Comment #15Punk Skunk
I know – I thought Stasis was the old East German KGB or something
Nick D
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Comment #16I don’t think Shearer ever really grasped just how much debt we were in and that swingeing cuts needed to be made from top to bottom. He was used to getting paid a kings ranson under Shepherd and was instrumental in his mate Owen also signing up for huge wages under Shepherd. The reality and gravity of the situation didn’t seem to register with him.
Why do you think all these alleged buyers have pulled out after doing due diligence. We are a car crash waiting to happen financially. Everything has to done on a budget and the youth has to be developed. Maybe AS got that last bit, but KK certainly never did.
Another good article by Caulkin
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2009/09/george-caulkinwhen-you-say-its-gonna-happen-now-well-when-exactly-do-you-meanthe-smiths-how-soon-is-nowno-prizes-for.html
Without a figurehead such as Alan Shearer, a collective has been built. The team is everything.
punk skunk...
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Comment #17& yet more sayin’ what people are sayin’/thinkin’, rather than what we actually KNOW to be true!..
…A hell of a lot of reiterations there like!..
…Ho Hum!..
…Anyhoo,
…But, at least it is measured, more than you can say about most reports!..
punk skunk...
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Comment #18Spitfire,
🙂
…Excellent mate!..
Geordie-Gerrard7
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Comment #19george caulkin- by far the best journo about right now, he has a good view of all things related at our club
punk skunk...
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Comment #20Maye we should adopt him & rename him, yes, you guessed it…
…Geordie Caulkin?..
punk skunk...
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Comment #21*maybe
Irish Toon
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Comment #22the club has kept many big names and still has a sizeable wage bill. I am by no means pro ashley but at least we still have the best squad in the league and we should be pushing for promotion. we’ve managed to keep a squad that wants to play at st james’. Shearer is just gona have to wait. lets get behind the whole club no matter what the scenario manager, players and dare i say owner. one common goal “premiership status”
waddles millet
Sep 8, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Comment #23LOGGS N FIRE NEE FISH WITHOUT PLUMS
JinkyGenius
Sep 8, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Comment #24Nick D // Sep 8, 2009 at 1:24 PM: Without a figurehead such as Alan Shearer, a collective has been built. The team is everything.
“…keep the red (err black, emm mustard, custard, whatever) flag flying here..” Great stuff, Nick.
dave 1961
Sep 8, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Comment #25i have one fear that’s joe kinnear returning i am 100% against him and i will not buy myself & my sons season ticket until this is finalized, he is every thing i bring my kids up not to be, he deserves to be in the gutter, if that’s not where he is. just a foul mouthed yob. my kids are both terrified of there teachers, and always show them the respect they deserve, and this is how i want them to stay.
lesh
Sep 8, 2009 at 3:34 PM
Comment #26An interesting post @ 25. Didn’t somebody (Mr Books I think) post a day or two ago that one of the reasons the banks are nervous about cash flow is that revenue from season ticket sales, among other things, are down
Well, dave 1961, I think you’ve hit the ‘why sales are down’ nail right on the head.
Like you, many fans threatened not to renew their season tickets until this mess of Ashley’s was sorted out (and that included no JFK) and did he take any notice?
The answer lies in the revenue stream that’s worrying the bank
Bigbadbob
Sep 8, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Comment #27Eastander @4 – couldnt agree more, they say a week is a long time in football well 4 months since relegation and its all been forgotten about by most, they have been rounded up like sheep by Ashley and put into a field with less grass but they are munching away happily with their lot.
Ashley is now a saviour, Hughton a tactical genius, Shola the new Shearer and the yellow strip is ok to, anyone who says otherwise is a pariah to be shouted at and ridiculed.
Pathetic.
Stardust
Sep 8, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Comment #28Lesh – it has far bigger implications.
If fans wanted Ashley out – they did the totally opposite thing they should have – Any investor would want to await the season ticket sales before agreeing to buy – a large proportion of fans failed therefore as investors waited the last minute rush didnt materialise – sales are radically down this year.
Investors deal in hard fact – not in “if Ashley goes sales will rise” therefore the fans may have cost themselves a new owner – just one for thought.
Bigbadbob
Sep 8, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Comment #29Stardust – you must think of the most provocative thing to post to attract attention or your head has been up your arse for the past two years.
You project yourself as an intelligent person yet fail to grasp the unwritten contact that exists between the board and fans that is, you put your money in and so will we but equally the opposite also applies.
No doubt you will have another go at the fans, attach most of the blame to us and exonerate Ashley
Stardust
Sep 8, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Comment #30Blame exists everywhere BBB -something you consistently fail to recognise.
Ashley could have saved himself 100million if he had communicated – as if he did I would have expected us to have stayed up – but as individuals we all have to take responsibility for our own actions or inactions. therefore yes some fans are culpable.
Alan Shearers end of season statement was the correct one “We All havent been good enough” Those seeking scapegoats would have been better off working in the Swiss mountains as goat herders not supporting NUFC.
DJM TOON
Sep 8, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Comment #31stardust, so what your saying is, if everyone stayed away, no investors would’ve touched us, but, isnt it easy to argue that if us fans continued to put our money into the club, then ashley would’ve thpought to carry on regardless because were blind enough to keep throwing our money into his coffers?
you keep pushing the inane arguments and silly points… dull
stop purposefully antagonizing the readers and writers of this blog its just sad and embarrassing on your part
Stardust
Sep 8, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Comment #32DJM – I understand investors reasoning and understanding because I deal with them every day and take those same decisions.
If you want to have a hick town view then carry on – you are damaging the club you moron.
premier
Sep 9, 2009 at 9:13 AM
Comment #33Think Ashley may have had his fill of Messiahs!!