We started a poll on February 17th asking if fans thought that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley would reinvest back into the squad, the £35M in transfer fee, the club received for Andy Carroll.
Will Mike Ashley Reinvest £35M From Carroll Sale Into Stengthening The Squad?
- Yes (41%, 504 )
- No (39%, 482 )
- Not Sure (20%, 254 )
Total Voters: 1,240
And since Kevin Keegan’s comments yesterday on BBC Radio Newcastle, where he said that he didn’t think manager Alan Pardew would see any of that money, it seems a good time to end the poll and publish the results.
By reinvesting, we meant that the money wouldn’t necessarily all be spent on just transfer fees, but on players’ wages too, and that would count as a valid reinvestment of the money received for big Andy.
We’ve just closed the poll and it couldn’t have been much closer, split right down the middle, as the results above show clearly.
Mike Ashley – Newcastle owner
Each reader is only allowed one vote in all of our polls, and one reason for that is that it doesn’t allow more extreme views to significantly alter the results.
For instance, one person voting a hundred times or more as one example, which we’ve seen is allowed in some other of the polls we’ve seen, and we think that allows extreme views to significantly alter the results one way or the other.
One vote per reader gives a more accurate reflection of what the fans really think.
So the results are the opinions of some 1240 different readers of this web-site, and 504 voted yes that Mike would reinvest the money (41%), 487 voted no (39%) and a rather sizable 254 (20% were not sure.
We have very right to believe the reason that one in five fans just don’t know what Mike will do, is because they hardly know who the guy even is – because he never talks to his customers – the Newcastle fans.
And at the significant risk of sounding like an old broken record the one thing Mike could do to improve his relations with Newcastle fans – is to talk to them – communicate with them – tell them what he’s thinking – and what he’s planning for the club as we move ahead – because quite honestly we have very little idea what Mike really thinks.
If Mike or Managing Director Derek LLambias don’t want to do it, then tell Alan Pardew and have the manger pass it on to the fans, because there’s one thing we are very impressed about Alan – and that’s his excellent communications skills, which are really good, and he’s very comfortable with the press.
After all, close to 50,000 fans spend their hard-earned money every other Saturday to attend the home games, so they deserve some respect and some words from the owner.
One way of expressing the results is to point out that a rather large 59% of readers either think he will not invest the money or are not sure he will invest, and 41% think he will – and we were in that 41%.
The only real conclusion we can draw from these results is the Newcastle fans are truly split right down the middle on whether Ashley will invest that £35M.
The good news is we should know the answer in about six months time, when August 31st rolls around.
On second thoughts, make that when September 1st rolls around.
Comments welcome, but please respect other readers’ views.
122 comments so far
ASTORIA
Mar 2, 2011 at 10:43 PM
Comment #121I can’t believe how many on here are talking as if they are reading from a statement released by Ashley and Llambias? Most are now just concerned about us being financially secure and lowering the wage bill etc. Me…I just want to see a successful team and the directors who are paid 6 figure salaries can worry about that, or heavens forbid our billionaire owner could put some money in? He hasn’t in 42 months (that he wont get back anyway!!!) so far!!!
ASTORIA
Mar 2, 2011 at 11:01 PM
Comment #122Angryman, class post about the helicopter. You have a unique way of expressing yourself that others (Stuart in particular) may not appreciate but for what it’s worth I agree with you on most things…I don’t trust Ashley one bit and never will. I know Stuart is trying to see the good in people and remain positive and we must appreciate that also, however I feel his trust is misplaced, however commendable. Don’t think his Keegan rant was the best either and I found it offence and insulting to a true gentleman who sweat blood for our club.