Newcastle fans exploded on Twitter this afternoon when the news broke that Mike Ashley wants to sell the club and sell it quickly.
He has even said he will defer payments on the club to get a quick sale so this seems to indicate Mike Ashley is very keen to sell the club and before the end of the year.
It’s been 10 years he’s been in charge but we now have Rafa in place and he is building a good team with no money available.
Just think what kind of team he could build (very quickly) if he was given significant transfer funds to spend – starting in January?
Fabulous news.
Howay The Lads!!
Rafa Benitez – Newcastle manager
Rafa has totally and completely changed #NUFC, in spite of Lee Charnley and Mike Ashley. He is the greatest man I’ve ever seen.
— The Exiled Geordies (@NUFC_Podcast) October 16, 2017
He’s blighted my footballing life for 10 long years……I shall remain calm until we close the north east boarders on him #nufc
— Lee Johnson RAFA! (@Lee18_92Johnson) October 16, 2017
One, if not the only term of any sale has to be that Rafa Benitez stays and is backed by the new owner for eternity. #NUFC
— Lee Garfoot (@LeeGarfoot) October 16, 2017
Never felt as excited as an #NUFC fan since the days of KK 83-84 and his return with Entertainers. We have Rafa in place…he just needs £££
— steve wraith (@stevewraith) October 16, 2017
Imagine what Rafa Benitez could do with a competitive budget ? Getting all that excited and horny way #NUFC
— Sean Elderbrant (@SeanElderbrant) October 16, 2017
Worst kept secret in football #NUFC officially up for sale- great news get rid of this parasite get a decent investor and keep Rafa??magic
— Dennis Baldwin (@DennyBaldwin) October 16, 2017
BREAKING: Mike Ashley puts Newcastle United up for sale and wants a deal done by Christmas.
Rafa Benitez right now?#NUFC #PL pic.twitter.com/KmX7HZSiFd
— FlashScoreIN (@FlashScore_in) October 16, 2017
Seems that the storm clouds was Mike Ashley’s apocalypse- Dreaming of rich owners, Champions League football & Rafa forever#NUFC #Newcastle
— Matt Wiles (@matt_wiles1) October 16, 2017
Hope our potential new owner will have a clear vision and wants us to succeed. Great news for us #nufc fans. Need to keep Rafa as well.
— Anthony (@Anthony__N__) October 16, 2017
Dear Mr Ashley, we have not always seen eye to eye, but I must say thank you for giving #NUFC Rafa, I wish you well for the future @NUFC
— Neil Thorpe (@NeilThorpe1983) October 16, 2017
We owe so much to Rafa and these players. Our club was gone, but they’ve saved it. I appreciate them all. Time to move forward now #NUFC
— Hello, I am Nicky (@ORANGEYPURPLE) October 16, 2017
Just imagine the new owner comes in before Xmas and gives Rafa a warchest!!! #NUFC
— Paul (@TheToonReview) October 16, 2017
Imagine. It’s January…
We’re comfortably mid table. Rafa is still here. New owners are in. We sign a left back. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/VCpD2QVCon
— Adam (@AdamLittle99) October 16, 2017
I still cannot believe Rafa is the manager of Newcastle United, but without him, we’d be stumbling through another Championship season #NUFC
— The Exiled Geordies (@NUFC_Podcast) October 16, 2017
139 comments so far
jimmysmith
Oct 16, 2017 at 5:57 PM
Comment #1If the asking price is indeed 380 million, and can be paid in installments then I think its very much on, but the unresolved tax investigation can still be a major sticking point. I wouldn’t even confidently buy a used car off Ashley, so for sure you’d want to be sure of exactly what you’re getting into if you are going to spend that level of money to relieve him of his football club.
Rotonda heights
Oct 16, 2017 at 5:58 PM
Comment #2just worried as we’ve been here twice before.
Thump
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:02 PM
Comment #3@jimmy: there’d likely be a clause in the buyout pending the outcome of the HMRC investigation. What that clause would be is up in the air, but I doubt any potential owner would just accept a purchase without it.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:03 PM
Comment #4I want this club sold as well but not just at any cost…
I am not going through another Mike Ashley or something like what Blackburn, Cardiff, Coventry, QPR or Blackpool has experienced (just to name a few)
…and imagine having to go through another blog-war!
sparky55
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:06 PM
Comment #5I can assure you lads the deal will get done irrespective of any outstanding investigations or fines or wrong doings or Legal action or whatever…Ashley will have this deal done and dusted before Dec 15
toonarmydownsouth
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:06 PM
Comment #6Cans
toonarmydownsouth
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:06 PM
Comment #7Town
toonarmydownsouth
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:07 PM
Comment #8Now
Jib
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:08 PM
Comment #9The best scenario would be the inclusion of
Rafa Benitez in the selection process.
Toondog2
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:09 PM
Comment #10WOOF WOOF
sparky55
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:09 PM
Comment #11hahahaha…pmsl…cud very well be a big night out in the toon tonight!
simon376
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:10 PM
Comment #12As Sparky55 says will be sold soon. Yes we all know it was up for sale and people doing due diligence, surely this announcement means some bids have been made now and within a month or so it will officially be sold
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:10 PM
Comment #13sparky55….lets hope so! Any rumours of what we might get?
bettyswallocks
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:11 PM
Comment #14Being as Mike has considerately agreed to sell the club with a credit option surely the blog can put a consortium together to pay a deposit and agree terms with him?
My immediate thoughts regarding members of the the new board and other important appointments are as follows:-
Chairman of the board…. Jail for Ashley
Managing Director …… Tsunki
Other board members…… Toontaff, Sing in the corner, Ron Knee and Mister Tuff
Press Secretary…… B and B
PR executive and club spokesperson…… Jib
International PR and roving ambassador……Jesperfuglslang
Chief executive of Home supporters……. Bobbybee
New Chief scout….. Ketsbaia
0
bladeuser
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:12 PM
Comment #15Time to return yet again
ASH OUT
Shoulders knees
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:16 PM
Comment #16Bettyswallocks
I could put a tender in to be The tea lady
toonarmydownsouth
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:18 PM
Comment #17If you reaction to this news is anything other than OMFGYESGETINYOUMOTHERSVJDSVNMJGFFCVBNHGFDCBBJGDDJUTFCCBJDSDFGHGETIN!!!!!!!!!
Then there’s something seriously seriously wrong
catchy in norway
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:19 PM
Comment #18NO JAIL FOR ASHLEY YET,, HMMMMM , HE MUST BE SLEEPING
GeordieTwo
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:19 PM
Comment #19It’s brilliant news. Disappointed by the result on Sunday but this more than makes up for it. Toodleoo Mikey. I can’t say it’s been fun but good riddance!!
Jib
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:21 PM
Comment #20Rafa was on the South coast yesterday evening
I would think a meal somewhere dahn sarf last
night – to put Rafa in the picture – with the the
announcement the following day
GeordieTwo
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:21 PM
Comment #21After the sale is completed here’s hoping Mike and Lee get some time in her majesty’s fine prison system. Enjoy your stay lads!
JohnJ
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:23 PM
Comment #22Hmmm…… I wonder wjhere Lee Charnley sits in this situation as he seems to work well with Rafa?
cyprus
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:24 PM
Comment #23Good call re the suggested chief scout. Hope the new owners can afford his selections, because if they do I’m looking at CL games again.
toonarmydownsouth
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:24 PM
Comment #24Lee Charnley, as part of the deal, should be fired out of a novelty sized cannon straight into the stadium of light with banner reading “F**k off mike” attached to his behind
Bambams
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:25 PM
Comment #25I wonder if there are several parties interested but maybe only one or two have the money available up front and are haggling the price down knowing the others haven’t got it all or as much.
This way ash can bring more bidders into the market offering them the instalments option AND may get a larger final fee.
There must be offers on the table already and Ash is trying for a bidding war that ends in December as Sparky has stated.
lesh
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:25 PM
Comment #26It’s been featured on BBC Radio 4 news……
And
Sparky
Given Ashley’s interest in property investments, I wonder where the bit of Strawberry corner land fits into his plans? Any insight on that? It’d be nice to think he’d return it to the Club.
Reading the words “A process will now commence of identifying new ownership for the club that will be capable of delivering the sustained investment in and dedication to the club that is necessary for it to achieve its ambitions” one could be forgiven that Ashley’s proposing to assess potential buyers and select the one(s) considered best to take the Club to greater heights.
It’d be good news were he to take the sale seriously and carry out a thorough due diligence to determine interested parties’ motivation as well as liquidity. Dream on.
And if he’s prepared to offer the facility of staged payments from a buyer, that would give credence to potential Chinese buyers being involved. Wasn’t there a suggestion that such investors were only allowed to take 80% of an overseas business until approval to take 100% was granted by the Chinese Communist Party conference?
We can but wait and hope that fans can look forward to a happy Christmas and wish our current owner all the success he deserves.
Jib
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:25 PM
Comment #27R.I.P.
Sean Hughes
stunned
Christopher Asprilla
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:25 PM
Comment #28Well , well , well three holes in the ground. This has to be a good thing and has us the supporters dreaming of new owners by Christmas. The man must be desperate but the piece in the Guardian says no offers have been turned down and this could be a play to entice the non disclosures signers from waiting till the end of the season. I must admit he’s trying to make it as simple as possible by deferring payments and from the outside all looks well . Benitez will get his way if he’s patient but I can’t help thinking (we are Newcastle supporters) that it’s this or bust for Ashley. Is this a case of I can’t spend anything in January but Benitez will walk otherwise so defer payments now to get the club off his back. A week ago I said it was takeover or bust. Well now that phrase has never been more true. The fact is though that the fat lad definitely wants out and all the rumours of him just messing around to not spend we’re false. Keep Benitez and get through the Chinese congress and I think it’ll happen. You never know Ms Staveley may of reconsidered now and choose Newcastle over Liverpool. The next step is the announcement if and hopefully when it happens. HWTL!
Jail for Ashley
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:25 PM
Comment #29Aye Jesper,
Gawd forbid you’d have to go through boycotting our games on dodgy streams again and buying your shirts from fake Chinese websites.
Anyone can pick out the worst new ownership deals of the last ten years and say that’s what could happen, there are a lot more successes. Even if we did end up with a Venky they’d be hard pushed to worse Ashleys time at the club in his ten years. Not to mention that we have all round footballing maestro, genius and living legend Rafa Benitez in the chair to put any new owner on the right track.
cyprus
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:26 PM
Comment #30And the home supporters’ position is good too.
Have no idea how the others would cope, but it looks a solid team overall.
Munster Mag
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:27 PM
Comment #31Bettyswallocks, I want a job aswell!! Can I be Irish Ambassador to NUFC ? Please confirm.
Munster Mag
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:29 PM
Comment #32Jail, please don’t mention the Venkys. i’ll be ill. Cant imagine Ashley was worse than them. In fact, the fact that he got Rafa redeems him , a little.
Munster Mag
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:30 PM
Comment #33Jib, terrible news re Sean Hughes. End of Hurricane Ophelia over here today. Its been crazy, and then the ashley bombshell
Jail for Ashley
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:31 PM
Comment #34Munster,
Rafa got us not the other way round, Ashley lies and deceit may well have lost him this summer.
Jib
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:31 PM
Comment #35Munster Mag
Texted that from his storm cellar
bettyswallocks
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:32 PM
Comment #36Munster…… Sounds good to me but the board will need to vote you in.
From last thread , an additional suggestion to the new administration :- Political correspondent…… Lesh!
GeordieTwo
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:34 PM
Comment #37I wonder if Lejeune has lost his starting spot as soon as he got it based on that one horrendous gaff yesterday? It showed such poor judgement. Yet he looks to have promise. Tough one for Rafa. We will need reinforcements from the new owners. A striker and a number 10 first please.
Jib
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:35 PM
Comment #38Munster
I saw Sean at the Edinburgh festival about 25 years ago
and talked to him in the “Cottars Howf” afterwards
Comic genius and genuine nice guy
toonarmydownsouth
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:35 PM
Comment #39Imagine if we had an owner who actually invested, who actually wanted to take us up a gear!
We’d be the most hated team in the league
It’s beautiful
lesh
Oct 16, 2017 at 6:35 PM
Comment #40cyprus
The Club’d need to negotiate special terms at the Gateshead Hilton or better still the Jesmond Dene Hotel to accommodate all Kets’s signings!
It’s likely that some owld time posters’ll come to the surface now there’s board jobs in the offing. Bettys’ll need to get a recruitment specialist on the case to make sure candidates are up to the job. We don’t need any Walter Mittys running the Club.