Back in April, there were reports that Newcastle were lining up local lad Mark Gillespie as a free agent this summer.
The 28-year-old had become a free agent are leaving Scottish Premiership side Motherwell. He joined them as a free agent from Walsall in 2018.
Gillespie is a Carlisle Academy product but was born in Newcastle. His move to his hometown club had been in the works before the coronavirus and Newcastle’s takeover threw it into doubt.
However, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie is reporting that the goalkeeper has agreed to join Newcastle on a three-year deal. He will replace Rob Elliot, who will depart Newcastle after nine years at the club on June 30th.
Goalkeeper Mark Gillespie has agreed a three-year deal with boyhood club, Newcastle. He’s a free agent after leaving Motherwell. Gillespie will be a replacement for Rob Elliot and will compete with Martin Dubravka & Karl Darlow ? #NUFC
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) June 27, 2020
This has to be a dream move for Mark. Though he will find it a challenge to get much playing time with Martin Dubravka the clear number one at the moment.
However, if this report is accurate, then we are thrilled that Newcastle have added another Geordie to the ranks.
493 comments so far
Kevin Vegan
Jun 27, 2020 at 3:52 PM
Comment #1Gillespie on a free transfer? This is the marquee signing the Saudis have been waiting for before they make the announcement.
Erm so yeah… Fakeover anyone?
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jun 27, 2020 at 3:52 PM
Comment #2Another homegrown player, planning for the CL already i like it.
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jun 27, 2020 at 3:53 PM
Comment #3KV
Who said the Saudis would make a marquee signing? Proof please, not a quote from a reporter as we know they tell lies… 🙂
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jun 27, 2020 at 3:54 PM
Comment #4KV
Im just playing dont worry 🙂
Darnik
Jun 27, 2020 at 3:57 PM
Comment #5Harrogate
Was just me and the wife so never got out of the pubs, Her fault of course 😉
jane
Jun 27, 2020 at 3:58 PM
Comment #6Who said the Saudis are buying us? Proof please, not a quote from a reporter as we know they tell lies…
Kevin Vegan
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:00 PM
Comment #7GP
Your first contribution gave that away 😉 dead in the water now if this is true. This signing has Mike Ashley’s signature written all over it, in orange crayon, and with a crudely drawn wanger and 2 hairy balls underneath.
Harrogate mag
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:01 PM
Comment #8Of course mate..did you ever go in oasis bar
Kevin Vegan
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:02 PM
Comment #9Nice to see the club is building for the future, though. Always smart to be prepared.
Shame that “building for the future” in this case means “bringing in players who won’t jump ship if we get relegated”.
jane
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:03 PM
Comment #10“However, if this report is accurate, then we are thrilled that Newcastle have added another Geordie to the ranks.”
totally agree Neil
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:04 PM
Comment #11KV
Not at all, no reason this has anything to do with the takeover, its a 3rd choice keeper for squad depth who realistically wont even play a game for us, hardly a decision the new owners would really care about.
It is technically an Ashley signing though so maybe the Saudi’s marquee one is just waiting in the wings…
Novocastrian66
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:12 PM
Comment #12Pardon me for not being thrilled with this signing. Another indicator that the deal has been scuttled.
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:14 PM
Comment #13Novo
which keeper, who would be happy to be third choice in the squad and realistically wont get any game time, would you have preferred us to bring in?
Takeover or not, we need 3 senior keepers at the club.
Kevin Vegan
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:17 PM
Comment #14Novo,
He is a geordie though. Maybe the Saudis just want to play on that sense of local pride. Get 11 geordies out there and see what happens.
I wonder if Ant and Dec need any work. They’ve built a pretty solid partnership over the years, could make a handy pairing in midfield with the way they play off each other?
jane
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:19 PM
Comment #153rd choice? he played every game for Motherwell this season who finished 3rd behind Celtic and Rangers.
giimps
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:21 PM
Comment #16Im sorry but this is like groundhog day starring Boris Johnson, get taken over….do t get taken over , its definitely on…its definitely off, were in for this player and that player, we cant make any signings. The human rights issues will stop the takeover…. the human rights cant affect the takeover, the Saudis have nailed the piracy since the wto report, …the saudis started closing things down in August…….no information is coming out of the club, the prem or the buyers….nobody knows anything unless its reported directly( which it hasn’t) so until it has been announced it is bot happening and not happening, neither answer is correct or incorrect….IMHO
TomaKaThor
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:23 PM
Comment #17More people getting their panties in a twist, this was lined up a while back no doubt.. Elliot out and Gillespie in.
Kevin Vegan
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:24 PM
Comment #18GP
I see what you’re saying about him being a third choice etc but if we’re about to be taken over, why is anyone concerned about that? It should be so far down the list of priorities that I just can’t see the club making a move at this point. Who’s decided to put club time and money into this when there are probably a hundred other bang average keepers out of contract this summer and plenty of this standard for £1m or less anyway? I can’t see this as anything other than a statement that we are stuck with MA for now.
jane
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:27 PM
Comment #19Boro 2 up. didn’t take long for Neil Warnock to work his magic
Kevin Vegan
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:28 PM
Comment #20Jane
That’s still probably a lower standard than Freddie Woodman’s been playing at with Swansea. Scottish football is a two horse race and both those horses have one eye and three legs.
Jib
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:29 PM
Comment #21Gillespie is exactly the sort of signing you would expect
in the limbo we are in at the moment.
A 28 year old quite experience free-agent who has one of the better records
in the Scottish Premiership.
Cracking piece of business
Well done Steve Nickson
Munster Mag
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:30 PM
Comment #22No news is good news, if it takes loads more time, I’ll wait.
jane
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:31 PM
Comment #23i can’t argue with that 😐
Mund
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:31 PM
Comment #24Why don’t anyone understand that the would be owners do not have the keys to the building and even tho they are confident of that happening there is the possibility it won’t so end of the day right now it’s business as usual.
If the clubs were to sign someone outright with a fee then that would be more concerning but as of right now Ashley is our owner
toon22
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:31 PM
Comment #25Couple of free transfers and the 2nd worst manager in Prem history
Just think of all that cash the turds going to rob from our club
#cans
Mag52
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:32 PM
Comment #26K.Vegan.
There’s no way the Saudis would want to make a marquee signing of a goalkeeper.
We already have one of the top goalies in the PL in Dubravka, and a pretty good back up in Darlow.
If they do complete the takeover, I imagine there might be a marquee or two coming in, but it won’t be in the goalkeeping department.
Munster Mag
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:32 PM
Comment #27I deffo trust nickson Jib, hope we keep him after the takeover
Mund
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:33 PM
Comment #28counts as HG as well what don’t people get he will be 3rd choice
toon22
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:33 PM
Comment #29Mund
They have agreed a fee and paid a deposit
Apparently
Any liability,even wages,would have to be ok’d by the buyer
Or why would they bother even looking at the accounts ?
Mund
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:34 PM
Comment #30If the club were to sign someone tomorrow for 5 mill then i’d be worried
Tackle from behind
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:35 PM
Comment #31and he’s a Geordie, probably more than happy to settle back down in his homeland.
Mund
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:36 PM
Comment #3222
they don’t have the keys mate they as of right now have no say.
toon22
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:36 PM
Comment #33So they are buying us but want to wait till the turds signed a few players ?
Exactly what I’d do if I was buying the club
Sit back n watch while he saddles the club with players you’ve had no say in
It’s utter nonsense
Kevin Vegan
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:36 PM
Comment #34Jib
I agree, he’ll be a really useful signing once we’re back at his level in the championship in 2021, and Dubs has gone to Leicester. Can’t wait to see what he can do for us there after a year out of the game. I’m so glad this is the level of player we’re looking at, too. Who said we weren’t a big club? Look out Liverpool, we’re coming for your title (the title of “bin dippers”, not “PL champions”).
jane
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:37 PM
Comment #35” there is the possibility it won’t”
what so the takeover might not happen?!
Tackle from behind
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:37 PM
Comment #36Toon 22
a keeper leaves a new keeper joins, hardly a change in the accounts status
Just housekeeping by the club.
They probably didn’t even have to ask Jabba
Mund
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:37 PM
Comment #37This transfer has been lined up for a while it isn’t something out the bag.
like i said mate if they go out and pay a fee in the millions then i’d be concerned but not deals like this
toon22
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:38 PM
Comment #38Mund
They had their accounts looked at agreed a price
Paid a deposit
If it were true he would be contractually unable to do any of it
It’s not even debatable
Kevin Vegan
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:39 PM
Comment #39Mag52
Don’t worry mate, I know. Sense of humour seems to be failing me today but I was joking 🙂
Mund
Jun 27, 2020 at 4:39 PM
Comment #40Vegan
drop your expectations what’s wrong with ya you don’t even believe in takeover so this is just a normal Ashley signing you’ll have to get use to it because you think we are stuck with him