If Mike Ashley sells the club soon, then he will have missed out on a massive opportunity at Newcastle.
If only he had been willing to invest and put the best team out on the field that Newcastle could afford, Newcastle would have been in a much better position now than we are.
And the owner would have been able to get a lot more than the £350M he’s reported to be picking up from Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed al-Nahyan – if the latest takeover goes through.
We’ve reported a few times if Ashley would change his ways and invest in the team with Rafa in charge for two or three years, then the club would be worth double its current worth reasonably quickly.
But Mike Ashley is not that kind of businessman and would rather produce yearly profits and to do that you cut costs wherever you can – at least that’s what you do in the retail business that Ashley is part of.
That’s not the kind of business acumen a successful however of a football club has.
Two different owners with two different approaches – one will be successful
Ashley follows a typical business model, but that doesn’t particularly work in sports where big investment is needed.
Former Newcastle defender and BBC Radio Newcastle pundit John Anderson has talked about it in the Shields Gazette, and John makes some good points:
“I am amazed that people with money haven’t invested in Newcastle United,”
“It’s always amazed me because people know the size of the club, they know the potential, and know what could happen if the right people were here and the adulation they would get.”
“But then it’s always amazed me that Mike Ashley hasn’t seen that.”
“I know he has put them on a sound footing, but if he saw the real potential, and went and spent money to try and be successful, he could have benefitted elsewhere.”
“I have never really understood why he never saw that, but hopefully, the club can find an owner that does realize how special a club Newcastle United can be.”
If Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed al-Nahyan does take over, we hope to see some enthusiasm, ambition, and urgency coming from the new owners that will match that of Rafa Benitez.
We never got any of that from Mike Ashley, who hardly spoke to the fans and often showed disdain towards them.
If we get that from the new owners – then future success is almost assured.
Howay The Lads!!
115 comments so far
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:44 PM
Comment #116 minutes to go ?
yogz69
May 31, 2019 at 1:45 PM
Comment #2Hope this isn’t an elaborate piss take about an announcement
Optimistic Oryx
May 31, 2019 at 1:46 PM
Comment #3Elvis down the chip shop isn’t saying a word.
I think he’s in on it.
WarrenBartonCentreParting
May 31, 2019 at 1:47 PM
Comment #4I think 2.00pm will come and go..
RobLeenio
May 31, 2019 at 1:49 PM
Comment #5Repost, apologies, we’re rattling along. A whole of Sheikhin’ going on.
Ashley’s chopper is G-MAOL. I have it memorised somehow these days. Sad but true.
Anyway, it flew from Northampton (its hangar) to High Wycombe (Ashley’s house, also only an hour from Stansted) and landed just after 13.00 this afternoon.
Oh, and yes, my bad for BZD rather than BZG. Brain fart
ToonRich
May 31, 2019 at 1:50 PM
Comment #6Sure I read earlier that there was news on their website regarding recent reports…now blank?
http://www.binzayed.com/news.htm
Does the plot thicken?!
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:51 PM
Comment #79 mins
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:52 PM
Comment #88 mins
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:52 PM
Comment #97 mins in a min
ctommo
May 31, 2019 at 1:52 PM
Comment #10ToonRich, there never was any news on their website.
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:53 PM
Comment #116 minutes in a minute but actually 7 minutes at the minute
Mag :P
May 31, 2019 at 1:53 PM
Comment #12Anonymous has you all going man.
Most likely a mackem troll haha.
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:54 PM
Comment #131 minute in 5 minutes
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:54 PM
Comment #147 minutes a minute ago but 6 minutes at the minute
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:54 PM
Comment #15Did someone say 5 minutes ? Hellloooo
RobLeenio
May 31, 2019 at 1:55 PM
Comment #16I think if anyone cries foul at bang on 14:00, that would be harsh. Delays happen, for many reasons.
We have to give it until at least 14:01
😉
mickybraham
May 31, 2019 at 1:55 PM
Comment #17Said 5pm GST which is 1pm here…
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:55 PM
Comment #181 minute until we can say it’s less than 5 minutes
Budge123
May 31, 2019 at 1:55 PM
Comment #19Sorry missed bits – whats the story with 2PM?
Is that when this is all confirmed as a sham?!
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:55 PM
Comment #20Ok 5 minutes until 14.01
JP...from The Rock
May 31, 2019 at 1:56 PM
Comment #21What’s the latest news today? I read somewhere that Ashley has signed a NDA hence his silence?
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:56 PM
Comment #224 real minutes
Tramp
May 31, 2019 at 1:56 PM
Comment #23BREAKING NEWS
Mike Williamson has signed as a Director of the Newcastle Elite Academy!
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:56 PM
Comment #245 minutes at a push
Mag :P
May 31, 2019 at 1:56 PM
Comment #25BREAKING NEWS
There is no breaking news.
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:57 PM
Comment #26All in all we have 3 official minutes to wait
JohnReese
May 31, 2019 at 1:57 PM
Comment #27Just arrived back in not so bonny Scotland after a hellishly wet ride up from Newcastle. The optimist in me was hoping I’d open this up and we’d have been sold, alas not to be yet. Now to go and chuck myself in the tumble dryer for a few hours!
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:57 PM
Comment #284 unofficial minutes
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:57 PM
Comment #29John you only have 2 minutes to wait
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:58 PM
Comment #30Or 3 depending on extension allowance
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:58 PM
Comment #31Potentially 2 minutes
RUNAWAY777
May 31, 2019 at 1:58 PM
Comment #32So glade iam off on holiday sunday to get away from this mad circus at the the min dont get me wrong i hope it happen for the good of the club and for 2 pm it pie in the sky if out was going to happen sky would know belive it .
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:58 PM
Comment #33Ok let’s all party 1 minute to go ………
ToonRich
May 31, 2019 at 1:59 PM
Comment #34SSN on break…maybe big news @2pm!!
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 1:59 PM
Comment #35Wow we are 30 seconds away
Frank pingles come sock
May 31, 2019 at 2:00 PM
Comment #36Should we give it one more minute ?
Throckley Gadjee
May 31, 2019 at 2:00 PM
Comment #37And Nothing.
GeordieinOhio
May 31, 2019 at 2:01 PM
Comment #38Frank!!! is it 2pm UK or 2pm USA? ….Im just trying to figure out when to eat my HobKnob icecream cake….its melting quick
Throckley Gadjee
May 31, 2019 at 2:01 PM
Comment #39It’s going to take a little more time 🙂
RobLeenio
May 31, 2019 at 2:02 PM
Comment #40Several people saying large group of Middle Eastern businessmen are checking into Hotel du Vin in Toon
https://twitter.com/ade140/status/1134442894683705345