George Caulkin of the Times has written an article chronicling his belief that Rafa Benitez is done at Newcastle.
He lays his reasons but it boils down to failed contract negotiations as Ashley is just unwilling to properly invest in, and care about, this great club.
The added concern of this article is that George reiterates his earlier contention that the Bin Zayed Group do not have an exclusivity agreement. This would mean that the takeover is not as close to being completed as previously reported.
Here are a couple of excerpts from George’s article about Rafa’s contract negotiations and the takeover:
Progress since then has been interminable and when an offer came — one year, on the same £6 million annual wage and with none of the structural improvements that Benítez had originally asked for…if they are not prepared to invest in other areas, surely his obsessive efforts to improve the team could be rewarded? Is that not the easy bit?
The complexities of Newcastle’s “takeover” are dense, but almost a month on from the Bin Zayed group’s emergence, the club remains in Ashley’s hands.
No exclusivity agreement has been signed and at least two other bidders (one of which is known to The Times), claim to be in the running, and at varying stages of progress.
Discussions are being handled by Justin Barnes, Ashley’s Sports Direct fixer.
George has responded on Twitter to the obvious concern raised by Newcastle fans with the following tweets:
To stay, he needed to be made a fuss of, in one way shape or form. That hasn’t happened. And I just think trust has gone, so if he was offered the world now I’m not sure he would take it. The takeover stuff hasn’t helped, because there’s no clarity at all.
— George Caulkin (@GeorgeCaulkin) June 21, 2019
Just reporting as I see it / what I’m told. If I was him, I’d wait and see, but I’m not and he’s royally hacked off. I would never rule anything out, but the Chinese want him now.
— George Caulkin (@GeorgeCaulkin) June 21, 2019
Hmm. I hope you’re right – truly, to the depths of my soul. But I also think that hope is all that’s left. My honest assessment, barring miracles, is that he’s gone.
— George Caulkin (@GeorgeCaulkin) June 21, 2019
George Caulkin is a highly reputable journalist and no doubt has some inside knowledge into the situation at Newcastle. His reporting may be thoroughly accurate but it still does not necessarily mean a continued existence for our club under Mike Ashley and without Rafa Benitez.
We still believe a takeover is happening even if it takes longer than we can stand.
We also believe that George is correct that Rafa will leave the club if Ashley remains as owner. However, we have to still have faith at this moment that Ashley will finally sell the club.
Then we hope that the new owners, preferably BZG, will sign Rafa as manager. That would be a dream scenario and sometimes dreams do come true.
Though there are many Newcastle supporters out there who have understandably run out of hope. The silence from the club and the seemingly endless takeover have become too much to bear.
Here are some tweets by fans who fear that George Caulkin’s report means that Rafa is gone for good:
If @GeorgeCaulkin thinks Rafa is away then he’s away ladies & gents, best local journalist by a country mile, prepare for the inevitable #NUFC
— The Insider (@theinsidernufc) June 21, 2019
It’s over isn’t it. #nufc #IfRafaGoesWeGohttps://t.co/LcjeDgWGkk
— Chris Stebbings (@realCStebbings) June 21, 2019
Seems the general consensus now is that #Rafa will walk at the end of his contract. In a long list of ultimately self-defeating, boneheaded decisions made under Ashley’s reign of terror, not supporting him will be the worst by a country mile. #NUFC
— Steven Medd (@BorisBedd) June 21, 2019
Great article @GeorgeCaulkin that deals even the most optimistic #NUFC supporter a shovel-size dose of reality. I want to believe Rafa stays and a takeover is on the horizon. Sadly, looks more like the usual chaos, confusion and sick feeling in my stomach. 9 days. NINE! https://t.co/saO0MXRSZK
— Philip Burn (@Philip_Burn) June 21, 2019
78 comments so far
Oldgit1
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:02 AM
Comment #41Repost
@ Bobbybee I was a young kid when I went to the fairs cup Rangers match, after the match our coach was attacked with bricks through the windows, my dad through himself over me to protect me from flying glass. He was a big bugger and his weight nearly killed me. But his intentions were good. Bless him.
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:02 AM
Comment #42Trusted reporter
Obvious rubbish
Some random anonymous poster on a blog
God like info thats 100% legit
Give it a rest KBA
kev1664
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:03 AM
Comment #43Tony,
There was a no clause deal on the table from Staverly, he never responded to it. By all accounts one of Staverly’s deals was all agreed before the goalposts were moved by Ashley.
Plus you’re also forgetting that Ashley wants a piece of future revenues in any deal. It’s got to work both ways if the buyer is expected to agree to that.
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:05 AM
Comment #44Whilst he is the closest thing out there to a decent journalist it’s still only Caulkin’s opinion. His information is second hand at best.
It’s almost like he believes that by repeating his take on things it will become correct, it’s like subliminal messaging, if I tell you enough times you will all believe it.
Personally I’m happy to take the blanket silence as a good sign. Rafa has too much integrity to just walk away without a goodbye to fans.
BZG are too credible to be used as pawns by the tapeworm.
The price being talked about will never be this good again.
No claims of tyre kicking etc have been made.
It’s repetitive and frustrating but all we can do is wait.
Tony Baloney
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:06 AM
Comment #45Froggy: the person this article is about, George Caulkin, believed at least one of the previous bidders was serious. If Ashley played them that is a second issue to whether they were lowballing an offer based on possible relegation and then asking Ashley to cover them if NUFC were relegated under their control. He had every right to call them chancers even if he had no intension of selling.
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:06 AM
Comment #46Its not like he hasnt evr had any intention of selling us all of those times and just pretended top sell as part of some rouse to quell the fans anger and mistrust of him,to string us along as were all idiots
Like when he couldnt sell us to the Mansours and m,and managed to insult them along the way
You think they might have met the current bollix requirements he claims to want from the pretend buyers ?
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:07 AM
Comment #47Tony Baloney
Any fan would obviously always take the view point from MAs side wouldnt they
Give it a rest KBA
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:08 AM
Comment #48You think the accounts are totally legit too ?
Im guessing you also think MA has been a godsend to our club,were so lucky he saved us
Or maybe something about a 5 year plan and the like
kev1664
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:09 AM
Comment #49David Kelly,
If you completely discount what Elmanio said and only base it on BZG statements and emails, couple it with the silence, add it to the fact all the journalists were surprised of what BZG said and didn’t know they existed until Justin Allen broke the story.
Its pretty apparent that Caulkin info is coming from buyer 2.
We’ve got no reason not to believe the BZG statements.
Tony Baloney
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:09 AM
Comment #50Kev: are you sure about Ashley wanting future revenues? Please clarify. Do you mean merchandise sales. Free advertising at SJP?
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:09 AM
Comment #51He had every right to call them chancers even if he had no intension of selling
A man calling people chancers while stringing them along for his PR people to defend him with
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:10 AM
Comment #52Sounding a bit like NY mag mate
😉
DavidKelly9
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:11 AM
Comment #53Kev your going to be upset next week my friend
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:11 AM
Comment #54Tony Baloney
Im sure your mate Mikey has the best interests of the club at heart
LMFAO
Tony Baloney
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:11 AM
Comment #55The Stavely deal was a long time ago so I don’t remember all of the details but I do know she wanted a relegation clause.
DavidKelly9
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:13 AM
Comment #56Of caulkin says rafa is gone he will be gone
kev1664
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:13 AM
Comment #57Tony,
I’ve heard it a few times from some of the journalists, Elmanio’s mentioned it in his info too.
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:14 AM
Comment #58You think MA would pay for people to defend his ownership of the toon while hes supposedly sold us ?
Again
Were that stupid
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:15 AM
Comment #59Caulkins source is one of these ‘other’ bidders they wouldn’t give him duff info to throw doubt in now would they?
Toon22
Can you explain who all of these pro MA posters you keep waffling in about are?
You are the only person who I’ve seen tell us ad nauseum that it’s never MA’s fault. I get that it’s put across as sarcastic I haven’t seen a whole lot else that’s been close to pro MA
Tony Baloney
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:15 AM
Comment #60Frog: I believe that Ashley and Stavely were both trying to get one over on each other at various points in their negotiations. I wouldn’t trust either of them. And yes, I do know that NUFC play accounting tricks.
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:15 AM
Comment #61Ok why dont i make some stuff up
Ive heard from a guy called “earplugs”
He works in accounts at the toon and he saw MA with a massive case full of cash
The clubs been sold news to follow at some random point in the future we will never arrive at
Honest
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:17 AM
Comment #62Im betting you think the accounts at the toon are totally legit
LOL
toon22
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:18 AM
Comment #63Maybe if i googled some random poster from ages ago on the blog
Spoofed the account
And posted the exact same stuff it would make that credible ?
For the 8th time in a row ?
Nicky the ball tosser
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:18 AM
Comment #64A relegation clause was surely reasonable at the time. We really didn’t have a squad that you’d confidently back to stay up. If not for Rafa we most likely wouldn’t have.
Did Caulkin get it wrong about Staveley? I’m not at all sure he did. I think the bid was legit, although I’d have my concerns about her as a suitable owner
NY Mag
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:19 AM
Comment #65Toon22,
I see your back with a vengeance tonight 🙂
Good luck my friend….
kev1664
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:20 AM
Comment #66David Kelly,
Caulkin is saying Rafa will be gone if there’s no takeover, I also believe that, and I’m assuming everyone and their dog believes that, it’s still opinion. However that story is coming from his sources, the second bidder. That’s why his outlook on BZG isn’t good, because he knows nothing of them and it doesn’t tie with his sources info. But again we’re back to Mike Ashley possibly strining them(or BZG) along.
I also don’t rule out that Ashley could pull the deal.
I’ve already resigned to jacking it in if both of the above scenarios happen. Willing to stay on if either of the above doesn’t happen.
Ideal scenario is both don’t happen and we have Rafa and new owners.
IrishRob
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:24 AM
Comment #67Does anyone even read Toon22’s posts anymore?? I don’t! I just skip over them. Haha!
Nicky the ball tosser
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:24 AM
Comment #68George thinks Rafa very likely won’t sign the deal on offer, but of course there’s still plenty of time for Ashley to blink, and for Rafa to compromise, unless of course Rafa has indeed already gone.
kev1664
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:25 AM
Comment #69Droppy @59
Exactly, Caulkins sources would want the BZG bid to fail especially if they’ve invested cash into trying to put a deal in place.
Remember last week Luke Edward’s told us of a 3rd bidder who dropped out ‘for now’. They’ve obviously felt they were being strung along and realise they’re at the back of the queue and don’t want to throw good money after bad at trying to get a deal through.
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:26 AM
Comment #70Toon22
Maybe if you could the previous 7 buyers you rattle on about
or
Not insist that anyone who has any hope or positivity is KBA or pro MA
or
Engage in some actual conversation you might persuade more of us to accept your viewpoint.
As I said I’ve read this blog for a few years now, not seen a whole lot of pro MA stuff, some will play devils advocate or are clearly on the wind up.
You always tell us it’s not MA’s fault.
I understand this crusade that you feel that you are on but you really don’t help yourself at all.
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:27 AM
Comment #71Name the 7 previous buyers.
Tony Baloney
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:28 AM
Comment #72So the Frog’s theory is that Ashley intentionally invites bids and goes through months of negotiations just to cover his tracks on not spending in the transfer market. Whilst at the same time contending that Ashley doesn’t give a sh!t what people think anyway and that the brilliant KBA are there to dupe us all in any case.
Pretty convoluted and expensive way to not spend on transfers.
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:30 AM
Comment #73Irishrob
I still read them, he’s got an opinion and it’s as valid as any.
Bloody tedious but valid.
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:31 AM
Comment #74Tony Baloney
But you’re Mikes mate apparently surely you knew this? Lol
Tony Baloney
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:32 AM
Comment #75You can’t have it both ways. You can’t say Ashley doesn’t care what the fans think and then say he goes through these convoluted sales schemes to cover his tracks because of what the fans may think.
Online Guy
Jun 22, 2019 at 12:57 AM
Comment #76Looks like Sir John Hall has sold all our souls to the Devil .
Online Guy
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:03 AM
Comment #77Robleenio
I was just looking through one of my current Radio log books on my desk and noticed this,
Site:nufcblog.com intext:”Jib”
Or any blog name you want to look back on in the quote signs .
No offence Jib ..was short and just an example .
Think that’s it Rob but not sure if the word intext is bolted on to com.
Online Guy
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:08 AM
Comment #78Notice the colon after the word intext: and also after the word… site: