These last few weeks have certainly tested the patience of Alan Shearer and the Newcastle fans, but we have to hope this current impasse is the last spanner in the works that Ashley gets to throw at the Newcastle club before he leaves Toon.
Is this guy on the same planet as Newcastle fans?
It’s hard to defend Ashley’s actions since the club was relegated, as he chose the worst possible time to bale out of the club, just one week after being relegated. That has put a block on any real business the Newcastle club can do in pre-season, and that’s lasted 5 weeks so far and unfortunately still continues.
That could ahve been solved very quickly be appointing a manager until the sale was made, and it was a good bet that Shearer was the man most consortia wanted at the club. But Mike refused to do that – why – we have no idea. But it’s costing the club big time just like some of his other dubious decisions over the last two years.
But apparently Shearer is still biding his time and thinks when a sale is made he will be able to take over the club, but it’s starting to look like Ashley will not install Shearer as manager seemingly as one last act against Shearer, the Newcastle club and the Newcastle fans.
How else can you look at Mike’s actions since we were relegated – we just don’t understand this guy – we don’t understand his actions at all – and they’re certainly not for the good of the club.
And when he bought the club we all thought that was good news. 🙁
A source close to Shearer said today:
“There are two groups talking to Seymour Pierce, maybe even three now and things are moving along, but there was never a meeting in London to decide anything on Friday.”
One question we have is why that meeting was reported just two days ago, and what will the local Evening Chronicle say today about the news they broke on Wednesday, now turning out not like they had reported.
It looks like the current saga at Newcastle will now almost certainly drag into another week and impact the plans for the return of the players after their short summer break.
We cannot believe we are still current favorites to be promoted next season, and we look at those odds getting longer as the Newcastle mess continues to deepen. Heaven knows what some of our transfer targets are thinking right now, but it will certainly not help the club recruit new players this summer – that’s for sure.
The major problem new owners are addressing is how to reduce the wage bill at the club, which was over 70% of the revenues for last year, which were said to be around £100M, and that is far too high.
With revenues being reduced by about half in the Championship, that wage bill has to come down to around £35M for next season, and that will be a huge challenge this summer.
Notice that wage bill will still be about 70% of revenues for next season. We hope for good news soon, even if it is now not expected until next week.
Comments welcome.
95 comments so far
magforlife
Jun 26, 2009 at 9:39 AM
Comment #1How did this man ever become successful in business, he must have been extremely lucky because on this evidence he has not got a clue. Crap new strip, poor season ticket sales, no manager, what a shambles.
Toon Graeme
Jun 26, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Comment #2Its gonna be interesting what the chronicle print today – either way I may log in and leave a comment or two.
They will probably print a turn around piece and come out smelling like the times or somit!
Facts speak for themselves. Favourites to get back up – your joking surely!!!!
What we do need is a sense of team and that must come from within the training pitch.
Did anyone get their copy of the toon mag yesterday in the post. Check out michael owen – every picture – face de slapped ar$e!!
Enrique’s mrs – heeelllooooo! (said in a smutty voice) Gorgeous aint the word!
WELSHMAG
Jun 26, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Comment #3I knew nothing would happen.
it makes you wonder when professional journalists can’t get a story correct but a few guys running a fan site (nufc.com) can. As they say in the media industry, never let the fact get in the way of a good storie.
tooneskimo
Jun 26, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Comment #4As the cryogenetically frozen former Prince of Pop gets put into hibernation I’m beginning to think of booking the tank next to him and getting thawed out in a couple of months…
The lack of news is doing my footing head in….
The season ticket returns must be abysmal??
woodsee
Jun 26, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Comment #5So many crazy things done by Ashley and his motley crew can only mean one thing.
He has never really forgiven the fans for the cockney bashing episode and since then has seeked to reek havoc on our club,even if this means losing millions on the way.
This is the only conclusion i can arrive at seeing after all his done ,hes still driving our club into oblivion.
tooneskimo
Jun 26, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Comment #6On a sad note, spare a thought for my boys’ goldfish Spot who died through the night following a short illness.
Shot Bru
Jun 26, 2009 at 9:53 AM
Comment #7If due dilligence at pompey isn’t gonna be completed by mid July, then we are maybe looking to the end of July as they started their process well before us. Maybe all the potential buyers don’t want shearer in charge, could be a reason we’re seeing no action regards a managerial appointment.
THE MAGPIE
Jun 26, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Comment #8Like i said yesterday-Meeting about what?-there was no logical reason for a meeting.
Hughton+the fitness bloke will take pre-season training and pre-season games until the new owner takes over.
Hopefully this will happen on 30th June/1st July which is the most likely date.
lesh
Jun 26, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Comment #9Is it really the caee that Ashely won’t employ Shearer as an interim with no mandate to buy and sell?
Or, might it be the case that Shearer’s absence is the result of him not wishingto take on the role under those circumstances?
One thing’s for sure though, Hughton’ll be taking training on July 1 and will deliver a Churchill-like address that’ll fire the players up to fight the fight……….. not!
I’m sure he’s a lovely lad and a good trainer but his lack of charisma won’t motivate the players one iota. I genuinly feel sorry for the bloke.
What a debacle, what a shame.
RichY
Jun 26, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Comment #10can’t the FA do something???
lesh
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Comment #11NIce one TE…. sorry to hear about spot. You must be devastated.
Would cut-price ticket for the Jackson Four lift that gloom?
Ericles
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Comment #12Sorry about Spot. Condolences. I am still forming the view that Ashley is deliberately sabotaging NUFC. This petulant overgrown schoolboy is actually breaking up his own toys rather than let the neighbours kids play with them too. It looks like Stoke want Oba for 5m and Edgar is on a free to Burnley. Who do Stoke think they are? With all the best will in the world they cannot match NUFC and we are a division below them!
Toon Graeme
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Comment #13Maybe no one has got the first clue as to what is going on and all these insider quotes are all made up bollox!!
I wonder if the potential owners actually realise how much revenue is being lost prior to any potential puchase due to the lack of current administrations management.
One thing is for sure if this goes t*ts up and doesnt get sold then MA will be foolish to sit back in that directors box – Llambiarse too.
I do feel that the SJP faithful wont be as welcoming and will let them know how we feel by united voice – non of that bed sheet sh*t though.
stk85
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Comment #14the only way the FA can intervene is by making a charter that all owners do their utmost for their club at all times.
but this is seriously starting to reek of pure malice towards the plaything by ashley. what a joke. if they were doing anything, surely they could tell us about it.
there is something we can do…..PROTEST!
Prince Bassong
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Comment #15These delays have cost the club £7m in wages thus far.
Yet they still seem to expect players to return on Wednesday (with internationals given exception), season tickets to be renewed by then and us to buy that god awful away kit.
He probably did object to the promo of Russell Brand’s live show on Channel 4 (that is objecting to being called thick thereby acknowledging that he is thick).
There’ll undoubtedly be another club taken over on the sly, and then Pompey and Southampton before Ashley finally gets out of Toon and waiting is absolute agony.
Entertainers
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Comment #16What’s the betting that at the end of all this (if there ever is an end to it!!!) Ashley and Whelan are seen together in some “Gentleman’s” Club toilets with Ashley sticking his hand out and saying to Whelan “See, I told you I could take a big club and destroy it”, Whelan replies “Yeah I suppose you win Mike, here’s your quid”. Just like the film Trading Places!! or could it be that the total crap going on at the moment is just making me paranoid????
beyethegreat
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Comment #17eskimo
sorry to hear about spot
Ericles
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Comment #18At least on Wednesday next week Michael Owen can grab his chopper and shoot off into the wide blue yonder – and perhaps get on down near either Stoke or Hull. Another way to cut the wage bill is to sell asap – Llambias must cost a pretty penny too, not to mention Harris.
batty
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Comment #19tooneskimo // Jun 26, 2009 at 9:52 AM
On a sad note, spare a thought for my boys’ goldfish Spot who died through the night following a short illness.
<<< RIP spot
Toon Graeme
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Comment #20Ericles – Stoke are still in the prem though friend and showed what we didnt and stayed up as a result of it.
I see what you mean though about the comparison of club.
batty
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Comment #21lesh // Jun 26, 2009 at 10:00 AM
NIce one TE…. sorry to hear about spot. You must be devastated.
Would cut-price ticket for the Jackson Four lift that gloom?
<<<lol
WELSHMAG
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Comment #22lets all keep a cool head.
it’s not mike Ashley that’s causing all this greif it’s the media, they do it every season… we’re signing this players, this player is leaving, they wind us up a treat and when nothing happens we all get mad! I agree Ashley doesn’t communicate very well but you can’t expect him to keep us up-to-date with everything! especially when half of it’s made up by the journalists.
The clubs up for sale, there’s people doing due dilligence, that’s all we know and all the media know so lets keep our heads down, there’s some good news on the horizon.
ELFER
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Comment #23ED, I think MA has neve intended to appoint and shearer and put another 2.5 m £ (+ transfer budget) into the club!!
So this is all “normal” business until the club will be sold – which for my understanding is on the end of this month!
The pre-season starts on 1st of july, so this all makes sense. The transfermarket was very quit until yet, so I think things will only kick off on 1st of july – but make no mistakes, if we do not have shearer in place until then we will be in real big troubles!
But the positive feeling overweights, so I think we could here good news at the beginning of next week.
vivadavidkelly
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Comment #24i am just as upset, angry, frustrated as everyone elase, but suprised? certainly not. i knew this was gonna happen and like i have said before it wouldnt suprise me if there were no offers on the table. if we were losing ground 3 weeks ago we are climbing a huge mountain now. dont be suprised if fat boy is still in charge when the season kicks off and then what……… im not being funny but administration would not be out the question. the only hope to cling onto is the fact that shearer has stayed tight lipped and is still waiting. this says to me that he has been told something – he has far too much self respect to be hanging around like a lapdog for something that may or may not happen
batty
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Comment #25micheal jackson didnt die of a heart attack he died in the childrens ward avin a stroke ,apparently he,s not gettin cremated he,s gettin recycled as he,s 80% plastic
komfort
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Comment #26ticket tout @ 11 i’ll have 2 please..
aye and soz to hear aboot poor spot the fish like.
RyanToon
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Comment #27when will this end
shear-class
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Comment #28Woodsee – I totally agree ashley is out to ruin us the evidence is all there to see wouldnt surprise me if he says he cant sell club again and ploughs us into administration watching Bassong and co leaving for peanuts
ELFER
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Comment #29ryan toon: on july 1st!
RyanToon
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Comment #30RIP
SPOT
belfast toon
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Comment #31PROTEST!!! lads if this was Belfast the roads would of been blocked a long time ago lol ….. I will be very pissed off if their is no news today
RyanToon
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Comment #32if hughton is in charge i will cry
sahota
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Comment #33Everyone is upset by all this. I never ever thought I would say this, but now if there is demonstration against Mike I will go and participate. Why can’t he understand our emotions and just run away and sell us quickly. Or atleast give us a date publicly and say that this is date we will be sold definitively. Or atleast exact week when we will be sold. He is total crap.
batty
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Comment #34whts the difference between michael jackson and alex fergoson alex will be playing giggs this summer
Rangerman
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Comment #35Perhaps you should do an article Ed saying that whoever is buying the club should pull their fcuking finger out and get the deal done.
batty
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Comment #36Rangerman // Jun 26, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Perhaps you should do an article Ed saying that whoever is buying the club should pull their fcuking finger out and get the deal done.
<<<<lol
RyanToon
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Comment #37batts ive been sent loads of jokes mate
WELSHMAG
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Comment #38ahhhh yeah, thousands of people protesting is gonna do the sale of the club some good isn’t it?
we’d look very attractive to a buyer protesting every time something went wrong! Sit tight the club is being sold and the only reason we’re all angry is because our hopes were up ’cause of people in the journal making crap up!
Mike is selling the club, buyers are looking through the books, you can’t speed this thing up!! it takes time.
Whumpie
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Comment #39I’m with Welshmag and Lesh on this.
Protest? At what? Lousy journalism??
This story has nowt to do with Ashley’s Muppets – it’s the Chronical letting us all down by not checking their sources. And what do the fans do? Throw another wobbler at Ashley as if anything’s changed.
There is no news. Again. Llamearse has issued another fabricated statement just to get people off his back. Again.
Whumpie
Jun 26, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Comment #40And Ed – really, I say it with love (as y’all say out there), but it’s rant time:
1. The headline of this article is ridiculous. You have no idea what is going on at the club – this is an article about an article, no more. To use it as another excuse to re-cycle the same anti-Ashley stuff (no matter how true) is just a bit sad, and you should stick to the story, which is ‘press in publishing fiction shocker’.
2. Yet again, you have assumed – based on no evidence and against logic – that the reason Shearer and Ashley don’t have a contract between them is down to Ashley and his stupidity/spite/slowness.
Surely it’s because Shearer isn’t an idiot? Why the hell would he sign anything with Ashley??
Please, Ed – I know it’s a horrible time with all the silence, but don’t drop to the level of the bedsheet brigade!