Rafa Benitez will hold his press conference tomorrow afternoon for our second last game at Cardiff City on Friday night, for what has been an extremely grueling Championship season .
The performance on Monday night at home was good against Preston, especially in second half when Newcastle started to look in compete control.
Rafa Benitez – will hold press conference tomorrow
What we need is another win on Friday to get past some of the disturbing news we have heard today.
And a win could put some pressure on Brighton who have to win one of their last two games to go up as Champions.
The Chronicle has reported tonight that Newcastle’s Managing Director Lee Charnley, who was arrested this morning by HMRC officials, has been released without any charges being filed against him..
This is the brief and inadequate statement the club finally released this afternoon:
“Newcastle United can confirm that a member of its staff has this morning been assisting HMRC with their inquiries.”
“The Club will be making no further comment at this time.”
Comments welcome.
56 comments so far
lochinvar
Apr 26, 2017 at 9:27 PM
Comment #1Yes we can win at Cardiff and need to give them a spanking.
On the other matter Sky reports that 10 clubs involved in France and four arrested
Charnley is home and not charged with anything
Jib
Apr 26, 2017 at 9:31 PM
Comment #2https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/club-statement
jimmysmith
Apr 26, 2017 at 9:38 PM
Comment #3People tend to take a free ride when they think no one is watching.
It’s not a good look when the Managing Director gets arrested and really doesn’t augur well at all. Points to a rotten club culture. Not expecting the worst, but certainly some form of penalty, most likely a financial one.
You reap what you sew Mike Ashley. Though with his financial clout, he probably would view it as little more than the cost of running a business, and simply have the unfortunate business that has been caught out be the one to pay.
jimmysmith
Apr 26, 2017 at 9:43 PM
Comment #4Not arrested or charged, albeit yet, ok though, better.
lochinvar
Apr 26, 2017 at 9:43 PM
Comment #5Jib -do we really pay Bishop money to come up with that ?
Bambams
Apr 26, 2017 at 9:44 PM
Comment #6Boro won….
Hehe
lochinvar
Apr 26, 2017 at 9:45 PM
Comment #7Maybe Charnley is an informer and West Ham will be exposed
manxpie
Apr 26, 2017 at 9:45 PM
Comment #8Quite simple to stop this kind of thing really ban agents and get rid of image rights they earn plenty enough ffs
The one thing in all of this is greed
Jib
Apr 26, 2017 at 9:49 PM
Comment #9I wouldn’t like to appear in front of a jury made up of some of the goons on here.
Some have shown themselves up with a real lynchmob mentality.
As usual the redtop papers make one long for the bygone days when a fair and impartial British free press was the envy of the world !
magscar
Apr 26, 2017 at 9:49 PM
Comment #10Not been in long from hospital visiting and it seemd after a quick trawl through blog there are still a lot of fanciful notions around based on incomplete press reporting and Ed in some cases.
We know it is HMRC and it is PAYE related so dodgy transfers seem a little wide of the mark. NUFC is the employer so club will be held to account for any liabilities not individuals unless it is more than PAYE.
Mainemagpie and Lochinvar have made some sound points from those posts which caught my eye.
As well as the image rights issue it has struck me that perhaps the loan deals involving Our French players could be involved. There are double taxation agreements between countries (but not all) and bearing in mind that France’s tax rates are far in excess of ours how the wages to say Cabella and Thauvin (because transfer deals were part of loan agreements) were dealt with and before or after transfer was triggered could be involved. Complications as to how much wages NUFC are/were paying as part of loan deal and for how long could complicate matters. It should be borne in mind that how the respective clubs agree to resolve the Tax question may not be appropriate here or in France.
Not all Tax enquiries for employers or the Self-employed and Companies end up with a Criminal Prosecution. Do not accept all that press say as gospel. I am not getting at anyone but if wasn’t Ashley as owner we might be taking this all a little differently.
If we have fallen foul of PAYE regulations and nothing else (still can’t get away from fact this was an HMRC raid not fraud squad) then there are many other businesses which have done the same.
Big difference here is a raid was carried out but if it is a large company and or electronic records involved it isn’t simply a case of sending out an advance enquiry notice and turning up some weeks later to look at wages records.
It may well be a lot more serious but on what scant information is actually available we need to stop escalating this into a major crisis and beyond and worrying ourselves unnecessarily.
toon kk
Apr 26, 2017 at 9:51 PM
Comment #11Mash is a very successful business man, in making his empire he’s stood on a lot of people’s toes, he’s probably done a aughful lot of dodgy dealings over the years. This is just the way he works, I’m not surprised tbh.
I just hope the FA don’t get too involved and Pss Rafa off.
Rotonda heights
Apr 26, 2017 at 9:51 PM
Comment #12welsh
no swansea are not in the clear, but our club hopefully will be.
jimmysmith
Apr 26, 2017 at 9:56 PM
Comment #13Of course the other thing to consider is a degree of incompetence or laxness. So often to be found at the root of problems.
Jib
Apr 26, 2017 at 9:56 PM
Comment #14Five games to play and 12 points adrift of 17th placed Hull City – one more loss should see the red and white shite , with their minus 33 goal difference , mathematically down.
welshgeordie9
Apr 26, 2017 at 10:03 PM
Comment #15Rotonda
Calm down Shirley.
martoon
Apr 26, 2017 at 10:13 PM
Comment #16magscar @10 – I’d be surprised if the players are on PAYE – I would have thought they would be classed as self-employed and sort out their own tax (or at least their accountants do). It appears the problems is more with the transfer fees and money paid to third parties e.g. agents etc.
Bobbybee
Apr 26, 2017 at 10:15 PM
Comment #17Watched Spurs whilst listening to the mackem game. Going to be a toxic atmosphere there on Saturday. This could be Moyes’ last job in football, he’s completely useless. Clueless tonight again. The players clearly aren’t playing for him and don’t like the tactics by all accounts. They really are a mess, makes us look like a well run club ffs – even with all these shenanigans. Far worse than we were before Rafa rode in to the rescue. If they keep Moyes next season, they could easily go down again. Loved some of the texts. ‘we sell out every home game…’ Mmm, not quite understanding the concept of selling out – unless he means the defence? 🙂
Anyway, that makes me feel happier about today. I think we were sold a dummy by the media as to the extent of what went on. Don’t think we’ll cop any sanctions now. Seems a lot of fuss over five million imo. Overkilled the overkill. Back to smiley face again – we are going up, we are going up!
yorkymag
Apr 26, 2017 at 10:17 PM
Comment #18I am sorry
But non of us know the facts
But it is a very bad show that we are implecated
I have no sympathy what so ever and if we are found guilty and,that means points deducted so be it
I have paid tax for over 30 years at 40% why should some French footbalker earning a fortune in the uk avoid it
I rest my case
Fat greedy bastard out even if if means relegation
magscar
Apr 26, 2017 at 10:18 PM
Comment #19If this is purely tax evasion then bear in mind that it comes in all forms and sizes. That guy you chat to in the bar who is Self-employed plumber or builder etc and puts personal items through as business in his accounts or puts in wife’s wages as she is at home looking after kids and can answer telephone etc is fiddling.
People who buy up homes at auction like on Homes Under the Hammer do up and sell on at profit and don’t declare it as it isn’t a business and just a hobby on the side are fiddling
Those celebrities who employ expensive accountants to find loopholes in existing legislation which is against spirit of then law but will soon be closed in an ongoing battle between tax legislators and the clever accountants often end being deemed as fiddling.
The company you work for may have a Tax enquiry involving IT VAT or PAYE. You won’t necessarily know. They may have been at fault or made innocent mistakes. Enquiries are settled more often by agreement than imposition and/or prosecution. Penalties are usually involved starting at 100% and reduced by factors such as cooperation deliberateness size and seriousness of case.The guy you pay cash to for that job may or may not declared it to HMRC – do you care?
Is tax fiddling socially acceptable? Do those who complain about benefit fraud see no similarities with those escaping their tax obligations or is HMRC fair game? Lot of double standards in society.
magscar
Apr 26, 2017 at 10:26 PM
Comment #20Martoon
Unless rules have changed Footballers are employees and it is determined by Revenue not between the club player and or agent.
Being self employed is not a matter of choice and the distinction isn’t always clear. HMRC determine your status based on the circumstances.
Thump
Apr 26, 2017 at 10:33 PM
Comment #21@magscar: I work in technical support for accounting software with my ‘specialty’ being VAT, and you’d be amazed at how many people are inadvertently engaging in fraudulent activity each and every day – perfectly innocently, of course. Just a lack of knowledge ends up landing them in hot water, and a large part of my job is trying to spot these issues before they become issues.
HMRC are probably the worst offenders for creating these problems. The amount of times I’ve seen them add a few grand onto a small businesses PAYE liabilities is ridiculous (we’ve had three this financial year – keep in mind it began on 07/04) . Each time we do the same thing – verify that our software has submitted the correct figures, and walk the customer through the dispute process with HMRC
Kind of makes you wonder how many small business end up paying the extra because they don’t want to contest it, or (as often happens) they’re simply too scared to stand up to the taxman.
yorkymag
Apr 26, 2017 at 10:35 PM
Comment #22Thump
This is not a small business
This is a large organisation under the umbrella of. Massive organisation
Throw the book if found guilty
Mister Tuff
Apr 26, 2017 at 10:39 PM
Comment #23magscar – ya scallies and scumbags will play down defrauding the tax man or the nash – believing it is “fair game”.
I’ve even seen on here today a few who said the worst thing was being caught.
An opposing view from decent law abiding folk, who pay their “social dues” without question – would be in my assessment -that matters such as above are just plain old basic thieving.
magscar
Apr 26, 2017 at 10:41 PM
Comment #24Thump
i wouldn’t be amazed as that is what i was partly driving at. Trying to address a some of the moralising on here before we have any real information.
Have had some involvement in these sort of issues in past life hence my attempts to rationalise the “crisis” and get some perspective. As i acknowledge this could grow but little amount of information we yet have doesn’t warrant the hand wringing and finger pointing – on reflection a difficult maneuvre 🙂
Thump
Apr 26, 2017 at 10:43 PM
Comment #25@yorkymag: At no point did I suggest NUFC, West Ham et al. was a small business.
I’d suggest reading back through the discussion and looking for the context.
magscar
Apr 26, 2017 at 10:54 PM
Comment #26Yorks
I don’t think Thump was excusing NUFC merely elaborating on the point that i was making that on current information we are talking about tax fraud specifically PAYE/NIC and it is commonplace. Most employers of any size will receive an enquiry of varying intensity in their lifetimes.
Tuff
I of course accept that you can easily apply the harsh tag of “thieving” but i dare say you will agree that many ordinary Joe’s don’t quite see it that way. Many a blind eye is turned in my experience and i have to say even applauded by some as though HMRC are the enemy. Until it is socially unacceptable to fiddle like say drink driving has become then it will remain something people don’t feel shame in boasting about in pub or at golf club etc. I have heard them.
Mister Tuff
Apr 26, 2017 at 11:07 PM
Comment #27magscar – indeed -an obvious/everyday fiddle is paying your builder/plumber/electrician cash in hand with accompanying discount. No job ever appears thereafter on his accounts. Individually -peanut amounts – but collectively nationwide -absolutely massive.
Another one is companies who trade in the UK massively – say their head office is in the Irish Republic – therefore paying reduced Corporation Tax.
Loads of outfits doing this.
Our Tax Laws need modernising to cut out all these potential tax avoidance “scams”.
More for the Exchequer and reduced potential for folk to get themselves on the wrong side of the law.
Bobbybee
Apr 26, 2017 at 11:16 PM
Comment #28After what’s happened today, I would suggest we all wait and see. Right now we’ve been sold half a story and some of that exaggerated. We don’t even know what the investigation is about. Is it simply not paying tax and NI? Is it related to transfers? Is it freeloading agents? The story keeps evolving and frankly, nobody seems to know the full extent. I don’t think it’s as bad as first thought. Demotion and points deduction now seems unlikely. Not even the main news outlets appear to have a clue. If they’re guilty, do them. It’s just sickening greed from very wealthy people and it may well serve them right, but until we know all the details, maybe best to sit tight and see. It will come out over the next few days I imagine. When we know more details we can take a closer look, but one thing is for sure, we shouldn’t pay the price for individuals greed. If they’re guilty, let them be punished to the full extent, but they’re not NUFC. We are. Owners, players, managers come and go Willy nilly, but we don’t. We’re here for life. If you punish the club, we suffer. Punish the guilty. They’re responsible for their own actions and have no right hiding behind the club. People have done this, not the club. They’ve used the club as a method, nothing more. Lock em up for all I care, but don’t punish us. Let’s see who’s done what first though, because right now we don’t know wtf has gone on.
magscar
Apr 26, 2017 at 11:27 PM
Comment #29Tuff
Problem is many tax practitioners MP’s and businesses think we already have an overcomplicated system. Of course the drive to find legal loopholes and then for HMRC to close is ongoing and leads to more complicated law or dragged out argument as to what Legislation actually means.
Businesses see it all as being tax efficient and are not going to become moral payers in the main.
Interestingly new legislation may be coming out later in year which will make it a Criminal offence if a business fails to prevent its employees from facilitating tax evasion. Perhaps depending on outcome of this investigation it is fortunate for those involved it is taking place now and not later. Not sure of it could be retrospective?
Getting to be too much of a mind numbing subject for Late night discussion so will leave it at that 🙂
Night all
jimmysmith
Apr 26, 2017 at 11:29 PM
Comment #30We do know that the club was raided, computers and mobiles seized and the MD taken away, so I wouldn’t be prepared to say at all that there won’t be significant consequences. If tax has been avoided and illegal inducements offered that must be considered a form of cheating which can have had unfair impact on results, at the expense of opponents. It’s hard to see the club getting off unscathed, even if primarily we are talking about the greed and corruption of individuals.
jane
Apr 26, 2017 at 11:31 PM
Comment #31“I would suggest we all wait and see.”
wise
Mister Tuff
Apr 26, 2017 at 11:33 PM
Comment #32magscar – final point -the pages making up the UK tax codes amounted to 17,000 two years ago.
In comparison in Hong Kong – their tax code pages only totaled 276.
Far too complicated -needs reducing/simplifying.
jane
Apr 26, 2017 at 11:34 PM
Comment #33“wise”
wise
magscar
Apr 26, 2017 at 11:35 PM
Comment #34Bobbybee
Just as I go I’ve been banging that drum all day to no avail with some. The rush to judgment still prevails it is going to be a long few weeks/months until something concrete emerges (if at all) 🙁
magscar
Apr 26, 2017 at 11:38 PM
Comment #35Tuff
Good point but does “modernising” as you put it earlier lead to less – glad I’m not involved!
lesh
Apr 26, 2017 at 11:58 PM
Comment #36C’mon Ed, you’re angry and it’s showing in your posts. But how can we expect otherwise – all fans of the Club are too.
The statement from the Club’s not far off the lines of the West Ham one. It’s been drafted by a legal to be unprejudicial if any action is taken against it.
Did I read that the players involved included the famous five French players signed on Llambias’s watch? If so, that might just take the heat off Charnley.
And if Ashley could prove he was unaware of whatever’s gone on along with some others at the Club, then any hearing could deduce that the act was carried out by Llambias alone, or maybe with Carr’s guidance and absolve it of any corporate liability. No corporate liability, no punishment. Simples.
Mister Tuff
Apr 27, 2017 at 12:57 AM
Comment #37Well it would appear that arch/master villain Graham Carr was not nicked today – but it appears he was available to give a few quotes to the Mirror.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/newcastle-united-owner-mike-ashley-10303566
Does not look like HMRC have an interest in him or even want to invite him to pop into their pad for a chat. Must be innocent.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 27, 2017 at 5:47 AM
Comment #38“But he would probably leave Lee Charnley to run the club which he’s done very well. It’s a sad day for Newcastle, a real bolt out of the blue. It’s a bit of a shocker.”
We musn’t have been relegated afterall, those trips I made to Barnsley, Sheff Wed, Brentford and Blackburn must have been in my dreams???
Jail for Ashley
Apr 27, 2017 at 6:11 AM
Comment #39How anyone can accuse Lee Charnley of running the club well is beyond me. (Disclaimer, not excusing Mike Ashleys involvement in anyway)
His decision to put Carver in charge while he waited for “the perfect man for Nufc” was not only idiotic but almost disastrous worsened with the decision to sell one of our only fit defenders. Allowing an elderly scout carte blanche to choose the players for the latest incumbent , allowing the wally to carry on for so long even after that humiliating Chelsea defeat showed a complete lack of leadership. Standing by and watching as our U23’s and 18’s got humped week in week out showed a complete lack of footballing nous, rumours are that even Benitez approached us. Well run meh!
Jail for Ashley
Apr 27, 2017 at 6:18 AM
Comment #40What would have happened if Rafa hadn’t of come along, would Ashley honestly have left Charnley in charge of recruitment of players and manager to get us back up again after his calamitous job of the last two years, it’s bloody frightening.