The Mail’s Craig Hope is reporting that Newcastle’s head of scouting Steve Nickson has been taken off furlough leave ahead of the pending £300m takeover of the club.
Exclusive… NUFC scouting chief Steve Nickson taken off furlough ahead of £300m takeover & working on proviso Steve Bruce remains boss
– Players prepped for return to training end of next week
– Mike Ashley asks Sports Direct staff to take 10% pay cut https://t.co/0LBmnhXkPb— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) April 27, 2020
According to the report, Nickson is back working on a list of targets this summer with the understanding that Steve Bruce will remain in the interim.
This is some of what Hope is reporting:
Sportsmail understands that Nickson is back at work after a period where he and his entire scouting team were placed on furlough by Mike Ashley, shutting down their operation.
However, it is understood that head of recruitment Nickson is now working on a list of transfer targets on the proviso that Steve Bruce remains in charge, although budgets – as well as market economics – remain unknown.
It is the Mail’s understanding that Bruce will be kept as head coach to see out the remainder of this season. Nickson’s return could be a sign that efforts are ramping up for a return of the league.
There were reports last week that the new ownership group planned to take Newcastle staff off of furlough once they took control of the club.
Players are also currently being prepared to return to training next week, according to Hope’s piece.
Earlier today, The Mirror published comments from Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Oliver Dowden about the Governments efforts to get football back underway.
This is some of what Dowden had to say:
“I personally have been in talks with the Premier League with a view to getting football up and running as soon as possible in order to support the whole football community.”
We could see a new ownership group announced within the next few weeks, closely followed by the return of the Premier League.
80 comments so far
toon22
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:36 PM
Comment #1This is exactly what i would do if i was days away from selling the club too
Worrying stuff
simon376
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:38 PM
Comment #2As I said earlier, is it actually Ashley who has taken him off? Who knows how far down the line things are
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:40 PM
Comment #3Droppy *122 previous thread
Fully get your thinking, that’s how I was thinking a few weeks back and still am.
the Northumbrian
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:41 PM
Comment #4I wonder who is paying him asharse or our new owners?
jane
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:42 PM
Comment #5“it is understood that head of recruitment Nickson is now working on a list of transfer targets on the proviso that Steve Bruce remains in charge”
he said he wouldn’t come back otherwise so they kept Steve on.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:42 PM
Comment #6I said last week that I expect clubs will be returning to training within the next three weeks.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:42 PM
Comment #7EGB,
Your ability for selective admonishment is astounding!
The Hit Man & Her
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:44 PM
Comment #8EGB needs a chance to catch up I’m sure he has some even handed comments to disperse for our edification and enlightenment. Just have to be patient thats all.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:47 PM
Comment #9Jail/Tsunki (?)
Why thank you chaps I’m taking your comments as compliments!! 🙂
Anglo Saxon
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:48 PM
Comment #10Tatforsale Mikey, It’s just banter tsunki get more than he gives, don’t bring someone family into blog conversations.
JP...from The Rock
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:52 PM
Comment #11Simon376- to me it seems like the new owners are keeping the bare minimum and replacing the rest. The bit of Sports Direct staff asked to get a pay cut is just that Sports Direct nothing to do with NUFC.
Tatforsale Mikey
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:53 PM
Comment #12Anglo he likes to belittle people it’s not nice .But like I said maybe he gets bullied at home and has little man syndrome
On the other hand
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:54 PM
Comment #13Munster
Why do you think its finished?
Because I said so?
You arrogant prick.
No wonder your the kids.
On the other hand
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:54 PM
Comment #14No wonder your wife left with the kids.
On the other hand
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:55 PM
Comment #15Boo hoo boo hoo
You’re so nasty
Jail for Ashley
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:55 PM
Comment #16EGB,
It pretty much makes a mockery of your “I don’t like bullying” what you really mean is that you don’t mind it at all as long as you’re ok.
Reilly
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:55 PM
Comment #17Luke Edwards
@LukeEdwardsTele
· 21m
Steve Bruce STILL hasn’t been told what is happening with #nufc takeover. No contact with Mike Ashley, no guidance on timescale. All updates gained from media. Sums up the confusion at the club and the shoddy way this has been handled. Again. Like so much of the last 13 yrs
On the other hand
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:55 PM
Comment #18I agree.
Very selective condemnation on here.
On the other hand
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:56 PM
Comment #19Any woman with half brain would run from a lying BIGGOT like Munster in a heartbeat never mind have kids.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:57 PM
Comment #20Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. Marcus Aurelius
Anglo Saxon
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:58 PM
Comment #21Tatforsale Mikey, Who knows I don’t, you don’t. you just can’t make shit up.
droppy in Wallsend
Apr 27, 2020 at 8:58 PM
Comment #22And on that note I’m out.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:00 PM
Comment #23Jail
I must admit I was half expecting you to come out with something like that, I don’t mind, a rock in a stream mate.
Tatforsale Mikey
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:00 PM
Comment #24Ok Anglo I’ll leave it
Anglo Saxon
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:02 PM
Comment #25Mikey, good lad.
toon22
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:02 PM
Comment #26So what we have got looks very familiar
Club sale dragging on forever
PR still posting here
Staff back looking at free transfers and the usual cheapest possible options for players
Another summer of being strung along by the PR due to the enormous mess he made of things
If he dont sell us this time its utter chaos of unimaginable proportions at the club, he wont care though as he got what he wanted
Him being a human turd forgotten
AGAIN
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:04 PM
Comment #27Patience is a plaster for all sores.
toon22
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:04 PM
Comment #28What excuse do you think he will pull then ?
Im guessing he wont comment at all
Same as usual
toon22
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:05 PM
Comment #29If he hasnt sold us before the footy kicks off again he never will while he has any say whatsoever
bettyswallocks
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:07 PM
Comment #30Just for a fleeting moment I had a thought flash by then I thought nah can’t be, surely not, no , no. Could it be Tatforsale is Jesper back for revenge?
geordietom
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:10 PM
Comment #31so who brought him back from his Furlough Leave Fat Ash or the new people thoughts anyone ? …
Tatforsale Mikey
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:12 PM
Comment #32Betty sorry but no I had a few good rows with Jasper tho
the mull
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:13 PM
Comment #33Hi all normally I just read most of the posts on here today I logged in for the 1st time had been looking at my mates Facebook account good reading if you look at it he’s defending the Saudis from all the crap that’s being posted in the mail etc .l realize they are far from innocent but reading shows the other side I’ll see if I can copy and paste
Moonraker15
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:13 PM
Comment #34For all the doubters; Ashley would not bring back Nickson at this time unless asked to by Amanda’s people. He’s too bloody tight and doesn’t give a toss!
geordietom
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:14 PM
Comment #35betty’s re: fish and chip’s …
sorry mate if i made you long for fish and chip’s , wor lass cooked some fish out of the freezer homemade chips mushy pea’s , with salt and vinegar , no cup of tea i prefer coffee enjoyed every last bite of the meal , sorry again mate …
beermonkey
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:16 PM
Comment #36tom
i find it a little odd but then if you think about it sale or no sale what ever market we are in for players
the cream at the top or the dregs at the bottom of the bottle that you left out on friday and its now monday
the market has changed values
there is probably alot of info to sift through i spose
toon22
if this is another fakeover you will have to hand it to ashes pr team its a masterstroke
Anglo Saxon
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:19 PM
Comment #37beermonkey, But what has he gained, SFA and an even bigger headache for next season.
geordietom
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:23 PM
Comment #38Beer ….
and a lot of questions to ask the new owner’s i suppose , we dont know the working’s of multi billionaire’s how they do business matter’s , could be that they are waiting till the money has been moved over , who knows at this moment we are all grasping at straws…
geordietom
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:24 PM
Comment #39Anglo …
agree SFA mate …
Munster Mag
Apr 27, 2020 at 9:27 PM
Comment #40Anglo i didn’t see you admonish OP for constantly bringing up my family?