In any normal organization the performance of Lee Charnley as Newcastle’s Managing Director this season would result in him losing his job – maybe even before the season ended.
His incompetence as Newcastle’s top executive has cost the club at least £100M next season, and more each season after that – until we can return to the riches of the Premier League.
His choice of John Carver as head coach followed by Steve McClaren as the lead man last June have been catastrophic and resulted in Newcastle being relegated on Wednesday, after just avoiding relegation a year ago.
Lee Charnley – out of his depth
Mike Ashley has said he will review the situation before taking any action, but then we heard on Wednesday night after we were relegated that Lee Charnley seems to be leading that investigation.
This is some of what Charnley said in a bizarre statement he released 30 minutes after we were relegated and while fans were in severe pain and despair and expecting the statement to be Lee’s resignation:
“We know that supporters want to know what the future holds and will want to hear more from us as soon as possible. The process of scrutinizing what went wrong and planning for what is to come has already begun.”
You don’t need much scrutiny for what went wrong – you hired the wrong guy and left him in the job far too long.
End of story.
And the Chronicle have already called for Lee Charnley to be sacked.
Newcastle fans are furious that we have been relegated – something that was totally avoidable but for the complete ineptitude and non-action of the Newcastle Board.
Lee is now leading the charge to persuade Rafa Benitez to stay with us – and in the local reports there are suggestions he could remain as Managing Director.
That would be ridiculous – what Newcastle need is an executive who is experienced, has done the job before and knows what he’s doing and can take tough decisions when they are needed.
And not simply dither around and do nothing and hope for the best that things will somehow magically change for the better.
Lee is said to have a good relationship with Rafa Benitez, so he should do the job and get Rafa to commit to staying on Tyneside.
But then Mike Ashley needs to get an experienced executive in to run the club with Rafa hopefully having most of the control on Tyneside.
That would work and maybe Lee can go back to what he’s good at – doing the deals for new players.
That’s what he excelled at before getting the MD job two years ago which is simply too much for him – he’s been promoted above his level.
Changes must be made to the Board otherwise fans will simply not accept it.
Accountability is necessary at Newcastle – accountability for the layoffs that will soon hit some innocent non-playing staff at the club.
The Chronicle have an open letter to Rafa and a petition for fans to sign – here’s where you can read the letter and sign the petition.
If you want to send a message to Rafa asking him to stay, here’s all the contact information for Newcastle United – here.
Here’s Rafa’s twitter account associated with his web-site.
Comments welcome.
20 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
May 13, 2016 at 10:27 AM
Comment #1Bobbybee,
I don’t believe I was speaking to you marrow.
You keep bringing up my going to games as something I should be ashamed of marrow, you’d much rather have a pop at me not going wouldn’t you marrow. ?
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
May 13, 2016 at 10:28 AM
Comment #2Penfold : “So, Mr Benitez, what can I do to persuade you to stay?”
Raffa : “You could FU€K OFF!”
Jail for Ashley
May 13, 2016 at 10:34 AM
Comment #3I wonder what public opinion would be if the people tasked with investigating the Stephen Lawrence cover up were the police officers that covered it up.
beefman13
May 13, 2016 at 10:39 AM
Comment #4Jail, its Marra not marrow! i dont want to be to pedantic marra but for future reference son.
Bobbybee
May 13, 2016 at 10:39 AM
Comment #5I seldom speak to you either, but it has never stopped you trying to find fault with my posts, even if you have to make up most of what you print. You’re a joke, who can’t even make his mind up what he wants. You change your stance now to suit your own agenda and change it back just as quickly. No wonder the real ashley out supporters mock you. Hypocrite.
Bobbybee
May 13, 2016 at 10:42 AM
Comment #6Actually jail, after some of your earlier rants against match going fans, then yes, you genuinely should be ashamed of going to games. Especially masquarading as a little girl!! 😉
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
May 13, 2016 at 10:44 AM
Comment #7Some of the arguments on here defy logic all together. All this “i am a better fan than you, naa naa na-na naa” stuff is a waste of time.
Bobbybee
May 13, 2016 at 10:45 AM
Comment #8YCMIU. 😉 😉
Bobbybee
May 13, 2016 at 10:47 AM
Comment #9YCMIU wrong argument mate. 😉 just trying to figure out wtf jail is saying.
Jail for Ashley
May 13, 2016 at 10:48 AM
Comment #10Bobbybee,
You need to get your facts straight marrow. I’ve never slated fans for going ask Charlie in the Gallowgate or hibbitt, I posted proof from two years ago that I’d said I’d not go back until there was a change, you can’t come up with anything that said I’d never go back, I’m sure Jib spent hours looking for it. Even if I had said it, does changing your mind make someone a hypocrite. And I haven’t been going this season on my mates ticket I’ve been sitting in the Milburn stand with the Chinese students that Mike Ashley has replaced for long suffering Mewcastle fans.
Jail for Ashley
May 13, 2016 at 10:50 AM
Comment #11beefman13,
No worries marrow, I knew that.
Real Ashley out supporters mocking me marrow?
Jail for Ashley
May 13, 2016 at 10:50 AM
Comment #12*Newcastle
Average_Contents
May 13, 2016 at 10:53 AM
Comment #13So, just to be crystal clear, we’ve got the man who’s job it (supposedly) is to run the football club looking into the reasons why it went wrong at the football club.
Sounds good.
May I suggest looking up. It begins with A and ends in shley.
Another bit of advice, look in the fcuking mirror too you spineless cretin.
A roll-on deodorant with glasses.
Laughed my tits off at that Mark.
Bobbybee
May 13, 2016 at 10:54 AM
Comment #14Little girl. You told giimps he could use his bairns ticket to take his mate because ‘i’ve been using my mates daughters ticket and nobody has checked.’ No mention of chinese students. If you want to be a good liar, you need to have a good memory. Deny that, hypocrite.
Jail for Ashley
May 13, 2016 at 10:55 AM
Comment #15Bobby,
You simply can’t say I’ve had rants against match going fans without proof then prance about like you’ve dished out a hiding.
magscar
May 13, 2016 at 10:57 AM
Comment #16WWRSBD
In what way would a simple 2 word statement be diluted by the group making themselves known?
Tsunki amongst some others feature the phrase ad nauseum to no apparent effect.
Jail
I have no argument with any fans starting an out campaign just, as Jib points out, doubt their effectiveness when they shoot themselves in the foot with anonymity.
BTW we are as one on why would you want him out if he made us successful. I have long held the view that they are not mutually exclusive. However for it to happen he needs as a minimum a football man in the hierarchy who reports to him not a PR man,Casino manager, Secretary or dinosaur out of his depth former manager.
Without that whatever else he tries will be a success by luck rather than judgement. Perhaps he will give up making his own luck and make sensible appointments with the necessary level of expertise at all levels.Staring with Rafa.
JP...from The Rock
May 13, 2016 at 11:02 AM
Comment #17Signed. Lets hope it makes a difference.
sickandtired
May 13, 2016 at 11:46 AM
Comment #18Charnley, if kept, should revert back to his original position. That was as a club administrator and not as someone who had dealings in Manager or player signings, transfers or sales. Even Freddie says he was good at it.
His shockingly slow approach (and judgement) is evidence of his inability to remain involved in that side of the club business.
While at it, Carr has to be sent out to pasture too. Unless Ashley actually does either or both of these things then nowt is going to change.
job
May 13, 2016 at 12:23 PM
Comment #19another of Ashley’s inspired choices
a sackless tw@t
emphraser
May 13, 2016 at 8:10 PM
Comment #20Mind you if Rafa acquires full control and Charnley chooses to remain, the dynamic is clear from the get go – there’ll be no confusion regarding who to be subjugated and Rafa’s pencils aren’t going to sharpen themselves.