The Scottish Daily Record is reporting today that Mike Ashley wanted ownership of the Rangers badge a month ago, in return for an emergency loan that could yet save Rangers from going into administration again before the end of the year.
That bid by Ashley was blocked by Chief Executive Graham Wallace and Director Philip Nash, who seem to be battling the Newcastle supremo for control of the Scottish club.
So that probably explains why yesterday Mike’s investment company MASH demanded an extraordinary general meeting to seek the resignations of both Wallace and Nash, and presumably if that happens, it would leave the way open for Ashley to take over ownership of the Rangers badge.
Ashley already has the naming right to Ibrox, for which he paid £1, and the reason Ashley wants control of the famous Rangers badge is that it could bring in millions of pounds in merchandising for his company.
Ashley recently increased his shareholding in the Scottish club to 8.92 per cent – and the Billionaire is simply looking at ways he can take over some of Rangers’ assets for his own benefit – to make money.
After all, the reason he seems to have bought Newcastle United is to use St. James’ Park and the famous Tyneside club as a world-wide advertising vehicle for his Sports Direct business – it’s certainly not for the love of the game or his love of Newcastle United.
Whenever you see St. James’ Park on TV these days, the ground had far better be called Sports Direct Arena, because all you see are lots and lots of Sports Direct signs all over the place.
There should be a law against this sort of thing – it’s not right – but of course football is a huge global business these days.
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84 comments so far
Blofal
Oct 9, 2014 at 8:43 AM
Comment #1If we did snag Cabaye back on loan it would give us a LOT of options… like this for instance..
Janmaat – Colo – Willo – Haidara
—————–Tiote
Obertan – Cabaye – De Jong – Aarons
—————–Cisse
Possible Bench players:
Elliot, Sissoko, Cabella, Riviere, Ameobi, Perez, Colback, Gouffran, Ferreyra, Raylor, Saylor, Dummett, Armstrong, Anita
The competition between players and ability to change it up with substitutions suddenly increases dramatically with just the adding of Cabaye. That squad doesn’t look half bad to be honest (apart from the defence).
sparky55
Oct 9, 2014 at 8:45 AM
Comment #2Ashley is gunning for the current board at Ibrox…He’s making his move and if he’s had to make his move earlier than he anticipated and therefore has to ditch NUFC earlier than anticipated then something could very well be in the offing.
here’s hoping 🙂
expatmag
Oct 9, 2014 at 8:46 AM
Comment #3Bloody hell Ed…..lol
expatmag
Oct 9, 2014 at 8:48 AM
Comment #4Blofal
No way he is coming back on loan mate.
With Mbiwa virtually gone for 4 million and talk of Tiote going in january for 15 million, is this Ashley asset stripping further in anticipation of selling up?
Blofal
Oct 9, 2014 at 8:58 AM
Comment #5Expat I can’t see Ashley being stupid enough to sell Tiote for any money. A blind man can see that without Tiote we will be relegated. If we get relegated Ashley loses the TV money and the value of the club dives.
Our defence is bad enough even with him probably being our best player at the moment.
firebug666
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:04 AM
Comment #6I think Ashley could very well be asset stripping, for example, the players brought in are not setting the premiership alight, but will maybe keep us up. he can and usually does sell who he likes as long as there’s a profit in there for him.
Also h will not lose out if he sells the club, he has already made millions, sold some of the assets, and any buyer will have to pay of the loan he gave himself (the club), of £129 million, that is on top of whatever he gets for the club.
expatmag
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:05 AM
Comment #7Blofal
I can see him selling him and replacing him with some young french kid for a fifth of the price.
He wont need to worry about the TV money. He will have sold up by the time the season ends and ploughed all hos interests into Rangers
JackButler
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:16 AM
Comment #8Even if Ashley buys Rangers outright it does not mean he’s done with us as legally he can own both clubs. But if he thinks the Rangers fans will just sit back and allow him to use their club for his personal gain then he’s in for a surprise. Unlike us, the Rangers fans won’t stand for it and he’ll be run out of Glasgow and Scotland.
firebug666
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:23 AM
Comment #9JackButler
He’s not allowed to own two clubs mate, Under European rules he could own up to 49% of a second club as long as he does not hold a majority share, under the SFA rules he is only allowed to own 10% of a second club.
Not 100% sure on the European rules will have to look it up, but I did read it somewhere.
hibbit
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:24 AM
Comment #10the rangers fans will go to war with ashley and his people no one will be safe brave hart rides again
JackButler
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:25 AM
Comment #11Growing
As I understand it he can own both clubs as long as they are not involved in the same competition.
Average_Contents
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:26 AM
Comment #12Firebug
Not to mention the merchandising arm which is now controlled by SD. Another asset stripped from us. I wonder if MASH or SD has had the rights of our club crest and badges transferred over to them or do they still reside in NUFC’S portfolio within MASH? If he’s tried it with rangers a club he doesn’t own what’s to say he hasn’t already done it with a club he does and we just haven’t found out yet.
Sickens me to think what he’s done and what he’s capable of doing in the future. Surely someone must be able to track all that’s gone on but I’m sure he’ll of covered his tracks with forensic accountants employed at his behest. Snake.
JackButler
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:27 AM
Comment #13Growing?
Sorry that should have read fielding. Damn auto correct
firebug666
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:27 AM
Comment #14If he buys Rangers I hope he takes the inept one with him, he will keep some ties with Newcastle even if he sells, he will not let go of the merchandising rights he gave to his SD company.
JackButler
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:27 AM
Comment #15Ffs I give up
firebug666
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:32 AM
Comment #16JackButler
There is the conflict of interest clause that various Football Associations use to stop that from happening.
Average_Contents
It strikes fear at the heart of every NUFC supporter, or it should.
What we should be saying is; “If he sells what is left of our club” lets face it, it will not be much.
Average_Contents
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:35 AM
Comment #17Firebug
Even if that’s the case regarding the 49% ownership with no majority voting rights, the way he’s going about it at rangers looks like he could circumnavigate his way around it.
He’s trying to oust the current big boys at ibrox thus enabling him to manoeuvre someone of his liking into a position of power on the board with him in the background as a shareholder. When in reality this person will answer only to him and call his shots, a puppet so to speak.
Wallah….he has control over rangers without seeming to really have it.
firebug666
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:35 AM
Comment #18JackButler
I hate my phone to: Iv’e been called some things in my time but this is the first time for Fielding, and Growing PMSL 😀
firebug666
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:37 AM
Comment #19Average_Contents
Fully agree mate, he want to get the King consortium supporters out, he will then have total control over the puppets he sticks in.
firebug666
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:38 AM
Comment #20Right off to Durham for some homebrew gear.
JackButler
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:40 AM
Comment #21firebug666
The competition clause does not apply in this case as both clubs are governed by different FA’s and as long as both club are not involved in the same competition, ie Europa League or Champions League he can legally own both clubs outright.
If i remember correctly if Ashley buys more than 28% of shares he has to make a formal bid to buy the club outright and no one would stop him
JackButler
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:41 AM
Comment #22firebug666
Just glad it didn’t change your name to something derogatory 😀
Ibizatoon
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:52 AM
Comment #23JB…Had that happen the other day. Was messaging someone to let them know I was around “Gary’s” and auto-correct decided to drop the r.
Very helpful tool is auto-correct 🙂
martoon
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:52 AM
Comment #24I think the 10% was an agreement with the Scotish FA but knowing Ashley he could easily go back on that agreement. I also noticed that some ot the shares have been bought directly by Ashley and some by MASH holdings – I wonder if this is a sneaky attempt for each to own 10% and claim they are still within the SFA agreed limits!
lesh
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:53 AM
Comment #25Average_Contents
Having a ‘puppet’ [director] acting on Ashley’s will on the board of Rangers would make Ashley a Shadow Director.
It’s all above board and perfectly legal of course.
mecannylad
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:56 AM
Comment #26It pains me to say this but Mike Ashley’s business record shows him to be a fearsomely successful entrpreneur. Probably Britain’s finest at the moment. Although he is ruthless, he is not in my opinion downright spiteful.(…but if there needs to be collateral damage then so be it….. and that unfortunately is the sporting ambitions of our team) Business law is the altar on which he worships…. and possession is nine-tenths of his law as well.
Damage limitation of our team’s ability to compete is as much as we can expect to achieve…. ie get after Pardew.
Ashley is a clever powerhouse who will always have the final say and will never be swayed by popular opinion alone.
JackButler
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:56 AM
Comment #27Ibiza
It’s a bloody nuisance mate
JackButler
Oct 9, 2014 at 9:58 AM
Comment #28martoon
The Scottish FA would bend over backwards to help Ashley if it meant stopping Rangers from going into administration, that 10% agreement was a token gesture, nothing more, plus Ashley knows that legally he’s free to do whatever he wants
Ibizatoon
Oct 9, 2014 at 10:05 AM
Comment #29It’s great being a Newcastle fan.
Not only do we get an in depth education on the business side of our own club, but we also get to keep up to date with all of Ashleys business dealings and now we’re up to speed with the inner workings of Rangers.
It wont be long before you get a business degree with each season ticket.
9
Oct 9, 2014 at 10:07 AM
Comment #30Canny @26, there’s a lot of truth in what you say.
There can’t be any realistic doubt our owner will soon buy Rangers and sell us. He’ll get Rangers for a pittance as they’re virtually bankrupt. He’ll have a lot happier time there, as his ownership of NUFC has seen him make a lot of amateurish mistakes, as we all know, and he’s way too smart a cookie not to have learned from them.
Average_Contents
Oct 9, 2014 at 10:13 AM
Comment #31Would it be legal though? I highly doubt it if Scottish Law prevents him owning more than 10% because he owns another club. He’d make it not so transparent enough for them to see through it but without official ties or documentation to support this they couldn’t do a thing about it. If it was above board why have this stipulation where he can’t be official director but a shadow one in the first place?
My point being if it was legal he would of done it already. My feeling is he’s doing it this way to be seen as staying within the parameters of their laws and avoid being seen as a decision maker and just as another shareholder.
Laurent Robert 32
Oct 9, 2014 at 10:16 AM
Comment #32Has fatty got the Pardew PR circus rolling in order to ride out the storm until he can take full control of Rangers and sell us?
I really hope he doesn’t just straddle us and and Rangers at the same time.
Meanwhile in loserville, we are joint bottom of the league with two newly promoted teams.
Nice one, Alan.
What was that?
“I’ve nothing to moan about now in terms of what’s happened this summer.
“We have a strong squad, perhaps the biggest and best I’ve ever had in terms of options so we’re in a great position.” – sackpardew.com
Rrrrrright…
Average_Contents
Oct 9, 2014 at 10:21 AM
Comment #33Martoon
Yeah I’ve read that somewhere aswell regarding him personally buying shares and MASH holdings buying them too, perhaps you are correct in that he can do this and it’s his way around it. What’s to stop him setting up shell companies to buy 10% for each one until he owns it outright so to speak.
Scary thought. The ultimate bastard.
Graeme
Oct 9, 2014 at 10:25 AM
Comment #34Ibiza @ 29 – It only helps us mere fans to understand how wonderful our accounts are and allows us to bask in their healthy glow!!!
Ibizatoon
Oct 9, 2014 at 10:27 AM
Comment #35Graeme…”only”? What more is it you want?
Honestly, some folk will never be pleased.
mecannylad
Oct 9, 2014 at 10:31 AM
Comment #36Ibizatoon,
When I was a lad in the 50’s all I was interested in was my beloved team scoring a goal … and the media of the time offered me nothing more than results and tables and if I was lucky; a brief, very brief, account of our game. …. the next day !!
Now …… well….. I am told of the far end of a fart as it hapens on everything from tactics, formations, business accounts, aquisitions …. and even the gambling debts of our manager.
Certainly, at least an MBA would help any modern day NUFC fan better understand their passion !
Graeme
Oct 9, 2014 at 10:31 AM
Comment #37Ibiza – Mate, I have been basking in the glow for a while now and it is a wonderful feeling.
It sure does make up for not attending SJP, compensates for the dire performances on the pitch this year shown via interweb.
The team may not be performing, but those accounts are just soooo gooood
martoon
Oct 9, 2014 at 10:36 AM
Comment #38Average_Contents @33 – That’s a good point he could just set up dummy companies owning 10% each. Also I believe disregarding SFA rules he can own 2 clubs as long as they are not in the same competition. Practically this would only happen if we somehow squeezed into the EL and they dropped out the CL into the EL but that is obviously a few years away yet!
Hector Riva
Oct 9, 2014 at 10:38 AM
Comment #39Ed, the statement by MA last month saying if the advertising for SD at SJP was good for the shareholders and business of SD then it is ok by me, was quite sickening in my opinion.
A massive freebie with a nudge nudge wink wink kind of style to his pals at SD,we`ve got a nice little earner here lads no worries says Mike, this is taking away millions in potential sponsorship from our great club.
Of course i do like many others believe that he courts controversy on purpose, the publicity factor is just what he wants for SD be it good or bad.
I will hold my hand up and say i had tolkd many friends and family all the SD jargen has to be paid for around the ground as it was a separate business from our own so they just had to pay for it (“didn’t they”
When it was revealed that MA seen the free advertising as a nice gratis for his buddies at SD for his loan to the club i was genuinely shocked and disgusted by it.
My god, the monstrosity on the roof of the Gallowgate end was bad enough but the changing the name was an act of soccer terrorism, he should still be in the stocks at Greys Monument now, trouble is there would still be a Que from here down to the smoke to have a go at him wouldn’t here be.
Yea Mike you put the big loan in to SJP not for the fans but to save yourself after your none due diligence on the matter, everything is about you and your ocean deep pockets, you saved yourself fortunes in interest because you could, you did not do it for us fans, simple as.
mindshaft
Oct 9, 2014 at 10:45 AM
Comment #40Nobody will pay £200 plus million for the toon – that’s why he still owns it !
You can buy villa for 70 million and they are struggling to find a buyer
We may have a large and loyal fan base in the north east but we aren’t a global brand, the fact that nufc have been dragged into the gutter by Ashley and his minions also means we are unlikely to be seen as a premium brand that anyone with any sense would want to associate their company / products with!