The Shields Gazette is reporting today that Newcastle United fans have reacted furiously to the news yesterday that said owner Mike Ashley could be willing to sell the club for £420M.
Mike Ashley - Newcastle United owner
It’s been revealed today that Ashley has told a New York finance company his asking price when it made a shock approach to buy the club last month.
In most of the national newspaper yesterday were reports that private equity firm InterMedia Partners’ interest in buying Newcastle United, and that Ashley had even allowed the firm to see all the club’s financial documents.
But fans have reacted with anger at those reports, which is not the first time we’ve seen them.
Toon superfan Keith “Beefy” Roberts, 45, shown above with Mike, comes from Jarrow but is now unhappy with Ashley:
“He has been sitting with the fans saying he’s one of us all this time, wearing his Newcastle shirt, but this just proves he’s just a sneaky businessman.”
“We all thought he was great, but I’m stunned he would do this, it’s just pure greed.”
“I can’t believe the cheek of him. He’s certainly not the front-man we all thought he was.”
There have been rumors many times that Ashley will sell the club, but they have been denied emphatically every time they have been raised in the newspapers.
Yesterday Newcastle Managing Director Dereck Llambias said:
“These reports are absolute nonsense and we are growing increasingly tired about having to respond to stories of this nature,â€
Newcastle have denied all these reports, but they’re hardly going to admit them, if they are true.
The news reported yesterday was that the American Consortium, based out of New York, were willing to buy the club for £320M, but were surprised when Ashley asked for £100M more.
Billionaire Ashley bought Newcastle United, mostly from Freddy Shepherd and John Hall last year for £133M and took on about £80M of debts, so the club is debt free for the first time for a very long time, and Mike has pumped at least £213M into the club since last June.
The proverbial insider at the American Consortium is quoted as saying:
“The Americans specialize in investing in sport and wanted to break into the soccer market in Europe.”
“They thought Newcastle would be the ideal starting place for them.”
“But as soon as Ashley asked for £420m the deal was dead. The Americans were interested but didn’t think they could justify that level of investment.”
The Americans are realizing, at least at the business level that football (which they call soccer because of their own American Football) has become the global sport, which has a market in almost every country in the world.
That is certainly not the case for America’s biggest sports - Basball and American Football - and they tend to treat their sports as parochial, and aren’t interested in other sports played outside of the USA.
We’ve often told our American friends over here, that soccer is called football everywhere else in the world, apart from America.
But they shrug it off and don’t care one little bit, because America is the world to a lot of Americans, although that is starting to change with globalization.  That’s why they call their Championships World Championships.
And the Americans, who are aggressive and generally very good businessmen, are trying to get a piece of the action, as witnessed by the fact that Man United, Aston Villa and Liverpool are now all American owned, and believe us it will not stop there.
James Moss is head of the South Shields branch of the Newcastle United supporters’ club, and thinks that Ashley has betrayed the fans.
The 23-year-old, from Talbot Road, South Shields, said:
“He’s always come across as if he cares so much, but if he’s willing to sell after just one season, what does that say about him?”
“I started to get a bit suspicious when he wanted to slash the wage bill.”
“Why would he do that other than to make money, we’re hardly going to challenge the big boys paying lower wages than everyone else.”
We think this is a huge over-reaction from the fans, because we are not even sure the story is true.
And maybe if it is true, then Mike didn’t want to sell, which is why he asked for another £100M.
Just like each player has their price, so does each business.
But it does point to a growing misunderstanding between Mike and the fans, and we’re really surprised that Keith “Beefy” Roberts would say those things, especially when he has talked glowingly of Mike last year.
But on the other hand Newcastle fans expect Mike to be loyal to the club, and build it up, and not be thinking of selling it every 5 minutes, that’s what fans don’t like and we can fully understand that.
Maybe Mike, who doesn’t talk to the press, should at least issue a statement on his blueprint for the club, because restricted communications is never good.
People always think the very worst in those cases, because they just don’t know what’s going on.
Comments welcome, but please keep them civil.
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120 responses so far ↓
1 Spyro // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:10
both fans that gave their opinions are mugs
2 Bill F SPLASH MORE CASH ASH // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:13
Well if they are so keen to buy into NE “Soccer” they could prbably buy The Mackems for about a Million and still be getting ripped off.
Theres lots of smoke but I don’t think there is any fire, but whatever happens The Toon will endure.
3 Albert Stigys // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:19
Agreed, both those fans are mugs. If they owned NUFC, I’m sure they would bite the yanks hands off for 420 million.
Anyway, off topic, but in Ukraine a host of newspapers are apparently linking us with Dmytro Chygrynskiy, a young centre back playing for Shakhtar. From what I’ve seen in the Champions league he looks a very accomplished centre half for one so young. Not sure there is any substance to this story though.
4 Hadji // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:19
I understand the cut of the wage bill,it was higher than its suppose to be.
The best thing to do is to continue with this practise but MA should include some additional bonus clauses such as:
1-Number of goals
2-Number of appearences
3-Number of international appearances
4-Number of assists
I’m sure that with this he’ll motivate the players to give their best.
5 Matthew // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:23
It just confirms that the majority of Newcastle fans are idiots.
6 tony // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:25
its all a load of balls dont believe anything you read ,woudent surprise me if it were the daily mail who is stiring the shit
7 normski1930z // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:27
i honestly think that ma quoted them an huge sum for the club coz he does not want to sell….
8 Bren // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:29
The press can’t get juicy stories from the club, so they drag a few people out of Newcastle pubs and cobble together something like this.
9 John - Newcastle // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:29
Ashley has bought out Fat Fred, who nobody liked, sacked Allardyce, who nobody liked, brought back King Kev, who every Toon fan loves, and written off the clubs debt by pumping in 100m quid of his own money! The man deserves a sainthood not being slagged off at every rumour!!!
10 Hadji // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:30
Or maybe he quoted that price so they can reach something in between which is 330 mill.
Thats still a major profit for only 1 year.
11 Mids Mag // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:31
Why did they get quotes from 2 muppets!! I think this whole situation is like someone asking to buy my prized signed tino shirt, I would put a price of £10k, basically a F*** off i’m not selling, but if you give me £10K your mad i’ll take it, same as MA “yeah i’ll sell £420m cash” now eff off !
12 tony // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:32
well said
13 autibo // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:32
@ Albert Stygis
Bollocks mate. If already had over £2bn in the bank, I wouldn’t entertain selling, simply for the love of my club. Remember Jack Walker crying when he saw HIS club win the league?! Well thats what I’d want, not an extra few quid in my bank when i’ve already got more than i could possibly spend in a lifetime!! It’s not like he needs the money, what difference does an extra £100m make to him??
That said, I’m not sure i believe this story either, although I wouldnt call the lads mugs for giving their opinion on it as im not 100% sure i trust ashley…
14 anton 09 // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:34
If this is true (which i dont believe it is) i would be more concerned by the americans saying “They thought Newcastle would be the ideal starting place for them.†No way should we be a stepping stone for anyone in the game of ‘FOOTBALL’!!!
15 darren grech MALTA // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:35
why we are so slow in the transfer market ? we are one of the most teams in the premier leauge that needs to make new signings because of our small squad.there is money availeble for kevin keegan ?
i think our club’s spokesmen are ordered to playing with words about the transfers.
todays teams like portsmouth,evrton,man city,aston villa,tottenham and west ham are better than us.FIVE YEARS AGO WE WAS ALWAYS CHALLENG FOR CHAMPIONS LEAUGE PLACE.
mike ashley is a buisness man and he can make big profit from newcastle.HE DEFENETLY IS NOT THE RIGHT MAN FOR NEWCASTLE UTD.WE DESERVE BETTER
DARREN GRECH FROM MALTA.I LOVE YOU GORDIES
16 Spyro // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:36
“It’s not like he needs the money, what difference does an extra £100m make to him??”
LOL! That is naivity at its best.
17 Matthew // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:37
James Moss is head of the South Shields branch of the Newcastle United supporters’ club
…………………………………
Never heard of it, is the branch office his garden shed?
18 Hadrian // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:37
THE PROBLEM IS THEY ARE NOT RESPONDING TO STORIES OF THIS NATURE!
derek may well come out and say he’s sick of it , but untill mike ashley comes out and says something , these newspapers can pick away all summer , turn sections of the club against each other , and run out any good feeling there was to mike in the first place .
mike should come out and tell us whats going on , may seem like the papers are forcing him todo that , but so what ? it would shut them up and get us onside .
19 daiv // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:38
A businessman looking to sell settles the business debt and does not invest in expense… transfers and wages. An owner who loves the club focuses on the playing side and takes the debt in his stride. What is Ashley doing? He’s a seller and a rat.
Another thing. Are we saying that the insider from the American consortium quoting £420M is made up by the press? Of course not. Are we saying that the southern press is bored every three weeks and for the last year has been inventing stories about MA trying to sell up? This has been going on for too long even for the southern press and now there is some respectacble press publishing the story. Its now obvious that Ashley wants to sell for as big a profit as possible. I feel really sorry for KK who is as quiet as a mouse. Why? God only knows what he is thinking. He’s been had right over. Taxi for Mr Ashley asap.
20 KFroeland // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:49
There is just no way Mike is gonna sell, all the changes that have been made and money he’s pumped in is saying he’s settling in for a long relationship. Cutting the wage bill of under performing players and insisting to focus on getting younger players in also points to Ashley wanting to be a part of evolving United.
If he did mention a 420 mill. price tag, talking to these americans, I don’t believe he had any other intentions than to scare them off, because 420 mill. for Newcastle in its current state is absolutely ridiculous and he knows that.
21 autibo // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:51
SPYRO, look at the context i used that sentence. my point is that any true fan (which he professes to be) wouldn’t be bothered about a few extra quid. £100m to him is probably the equivalent of a tenner to me or you
22 Albert Stigys // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:53
KFroeland - Spot on mate. My thoughts exactly. He knows 420 million will not be paid by anyone with a business brain, and so he quotes this figure to warn potential buyers off. This time next year, and for a few years after that, Ashley and co will still be this clubs owners.
23 Taiwantoon // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:55
I am not sure if they were over reacting. I actually thought it is good to have someone questioning him and pushing him. After all, we did not spend that much last summer.
MA has convinced some ppl by his dealings, and naturally there are still many who just don’t trust him.
MA just needs to make sure some good signings are coming sooner.
24 Martin // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:56
Daiv and Hadrian you are both absaloute idiots!!!
You’re probably the fan’s bitching on about how we’re not going for Ronaldinho and Eto’o…
Newcastle was rotting from the inside - For years ’sensible’ fans have been complaining about how our club is being ran - We were paying stupidly high wages, we were buying past it has-beens who only wanted to come for one last pay off and we had O% player loyalty from a huge section of our first team sqaud…
Ashley has come in, listened to our grievances, recognised the problems himself and is on his way to fixing them…
I honestly hate ‘fan’s’ like you…the one’s who appear on Sky Sports News and talk absaloute bollocks (giving the red tops a field day) and creaiting unneccisary rifts in the club…
It is the sun…who talk absaloute SHITE day in day out!
The club HAS come out and denied it…
AND even if it was true, I’d love to see you bunch of riteous ‘through and through’ Newcastle fan’s say no to a £200m bonus!
Mike Ashley is the best thing to happen to Newcastle United in years and if you are too stupid to recognise that then please pipe down so you don’t ruin it for the rest of us!
25 mozza // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:57
journo shite at its absoloute worst “fans furious at ashley” what all two of them and what a two especially that fine representation of the geordie public “superfan” beefy, fans aren’t furious theyr’e concerned, if more quality signings such as spidey keep coming in i wonder if this pair will still be furious, no they’l be singning ashleys name and drinking his pints in the blue bamboo, fickle feckers
26 carl // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:03
well ive got to say im concerned that this is all happening when we should be signing players ready for pre-season,id like to think ma wouldnt sell.and he shouldnt, but until he comes out with a statement of his own, or officially through the website all this speculation is just going to continue
27 Mac // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:04
If you bought your house for 250,000 and someone knocked on your door and offered you 500,000 would you sell? Of course you would.
28 autibo // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:08
MAC -
to put a fair slant on that - bare in mind you’ve already got £500m in the bank and you really really love your new house….
29 normski1930z // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:08
tell ye what ive still got a sneaky suspiction that something up there with the signing of big al is in the offing, i dont know why maybe i have been drinking too many stellas last night but its just a feeling ive got…..
30 Hadrian // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:09
martin ,
keep your head up in those clouds ,
and your moms and bloody idiot aswell .
as long as there is mugs like you in the world , there will be others who will take advantage .
you dont sound like you have a clue , yet your on here bitching about people twice your age like they themselves are just out of school , not had mortgages and ran a family all their lifes .
shall we have a few home truths for you ?
mike ashley was after john halls shares for months , in that time belgravia and polydor put bids in for us that took into account the debt the club had , which was also on the clubs accounts for last year .
mike came in , said he knew nowt about the debt , says the club was gonna ‘fold like a,pack of cards’
said were not going ‘todo a leeds’
slashed the wage budget ,
shipped more players out than he’s brought in , made more from player sales than player purchases .
requested renewals for 3 years .
moved alot of people to seats they dont want to move to .
and embarresed our manager in the national press .
ohh, but mike wears a toon top ! got rid of a manager that was bad for his company ! he must be here for the long run ehh !!
head up arse and that sort of thing .
31 normski1930z // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:12
howay lads at least try and be positive and stop snipin at each other……
32 Big Nez // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:13
Every club has a price and I think Mike would walk for that figure. Lets be real about this, he is a businessman, not a one of us supporters, and if he finds a good return on his investment then he would take it. That said I don’t think he will walk, yet. Why would he when we can get much bigger and command more money??
Go and have a look at the gunners and their wage bill. Only Henry was exempt from their wage ‘ceiling’, and because of that wage system they operate a lot cheaper than we do and they have some great talents in there. The key is bonuses for goals, clean sheets, and rep honors. This is a business now, well that’s how our owner is treating it, so all i can say is get used to is lads. (But some more signings would be nice like..)
33 Davy // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:16
If you look at this response you will see 98% back MA. If you go to teamtalk Newcastle yoursay same response! If a journalist has to leave his front desk-to go and ask the fans their response-then he is pretty desperate! A shopkeeper only uses door-to-door salesmen when he is pushing the goods out the door!
34 autibo // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:16
well said norm, the whole point of the blog is for people to have an OPINION, no one person is the font of all nufc knowledge. some people believe the story and don’t trust ashley, some people are undecided but optimistic, some people are undecided but pessimistic, and others trust him entirely. its that difference in opinion that make football great.
be a bit boring if the forum was like:
autibo - I think ashley will sell
spyro - so do i
normski - me too
hadrian - and me
mac - and me
carl - me aswell
mozza - aye, and me
keep it friendly lads, and try to keep the faith, and dont let shitbags like the sun get to us!!
35 Toon_Ksk // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:17
No wonder we have been constantly labeled “deluded fans”, “big club mentality”. This is because we have fans lacking in patience. I’m not sure whether they are the majority or minority, it does not matter, I’ll just keep on supporting Newcastle.
36 Leo // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:17
another bad story they are doing this on purpose
maybe the club will then announce a signing again just to kick their arse again
37 mozza // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:20
you never know normski you might be right the spidey signing came from nowhere thats maybe just a starter preparing us for the main course, a mega signing, he cant be frightened to splash the cash ie modric bid, or i could still be pissed from last neet
38 normski1930z // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:21
what do you lads of think Pavel Pogrebnyak, i think he is quick powerful good in the air and holds the ball up, could be just what we are looking for i reckon and only 24…..
39 Hadrian // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:23
yeah sorry . its easy to react when you see your name in print and snipes directed at you , shouldnt have done so .
40 normski1930z // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:25
aye mozza am in a good mood the day coz am still abit popped off last neet av got the music on and the bairn is dancing his little ass off, i just get a feeling theres something brewing….
41 Toon_Under // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:29
Martin: You won’t get through to people like that, but i hear what you are talking.
Can anybody really say they expected Mike to be spending a lot of money on this club? No. Why would he? He has paid off our debts, got us back into the positives financially (without selling off the ground) and that has cost a lot in a short timeframe, more than a few transfer windows at least. ‘Oh but he’s a billionaire so he can afford it’. Bollocks. He wouldn’t be a billionaire if he thought like that and spent money as fast as he was printing it.
Sure think about signing Ronaldinho and the like, but don’t be surprised when we sign the likes of Kevin Nolan. Mike isn’t going to dig deep into his pockets, nor is he going to put the club back in the red. And that is a big change for our club and the people used to Freddy’s transfers.
42 normski1930z // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:30
hadrain divent worry man your always ganna get these ppl who want to try and abuse you to try and be clever ….mate they aint fooling anyone there just keyboard warriors or in other words strap ons….
43 autibo // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:30
NORM - pogrebnyak is quality, better than pavlyuchenko and would’ve got in the russia team ahead of him if fit. good shout mate, i’ve mentioned him a few times but dunno what people think…
i reckon he’d cost well under £10m and wont be on big wages. while we’re there we could also have a look at denisov, anyukov and tymoschuk!!
44 Martin // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:33
Hadrian your saying I’m immature and then go with a ‘mother’ comment - wow, shining example of maturity there pal!
I think it’s worrying that if I’m young and naive you are the one’s spitting at Ashley because of a politically confused, institutionally racist rag of a newspaper has coughed up…
You throw around facts that bare very little relevance to the topic but because I’ve never brought up children I can’t understand about a football club can I?
1) I agree I think Mike would have known the extent of the debt and the ‘didn’t have a clue’ bit was purely propoganda used to win round the fans…but who gives a shit? he canceled the debt and got us on an even keel - the fact that he knew he needed to win the fan’s over to keep a steady ship means he’s done his homework on the club!
2) The fact is Mike didn’t say ANYTHING about the debts it was Chris Mort - Mike doesn’t do many public interviews - which is why Mike Ashley has personally come out to deny any rumours that he is going to sell!
3) what had the players who we’ve sold done for the club in the past season? Nout! they were useless, over-rated or injury prone, they were eating up the wage bill and doing nothing positive…you’re right, I’ve never had a mortgage but my head isn’t ’so far up my arse’ to know that if you leave a light on in the house all year round (despite it not lighting anything particularly useful) it is pointless wastage…just like Steven Carr et al…
4) He did move people around in the stadium which I agree was unfair on those people HOWEVER - he did his to make a singing section and a family enclosure which if you knew as much about our football club as you claim to were requested by the fan spokesperson at a meeting (with the minutes of the meeting posted on the nufc official website)
5) As for embarrassing our manager in the press - how did he do this? HE DIDN’T - Keegan was realistic in saying we’re not good enough to break the top 4 and anyone who wants to needs to spend mega-bucks! Ashley called a meeting with him to discuss transfer targets etc. The idiotic red tops jumped on this story and SPECULATED that it was going to be show down talks…
I might be the young one in this conversation but judging by how much you believe in the press you are definitely the more naive!
45 mozza // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:35
aye normski am ganin oot this afternoon for a few menders, still in wor lasses bad books after the other neet, when ad finished on the blog a staggered upstairs tripped on the bottom of the bed and all 16 clem landed on her, she says am at work in 3 hours you twat, i says you dont work on a saturday man, its feckin thursday you dickhead, ah the beauty of stella,
46 Sav // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:42
Beefy was bribed with pies.
Not only has he a triple chin but he’s a bit two-faced as well. How many other chairmen has stood alongside and had his gut photographed with? F-all, which is what he knaas.
47 rory // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:42
http://soccerlens.com/newcastle-not-for-sale-yet/8117/
48 Hadrian // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:46
just watching the old shearer doc from sky sports when he retired .
wonder if wor al’s in the frame 
we let round out the door really easily didnt we
49 normski1930z // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:47
quality mozza, nowt better than a few liveners in the afternoon like but wor lass has banned iz from it coz the last episode gans like this 1.30 sat afternoon me to wor lass am gannin to the bar for a few pints with the lads ill back about 3.30 4ish, sadly on me way back home i got mugged by aboot 12 pints of lager and half a wrap of lily and staggered in about 8.30 f**kin blitz…. so that was the end of that…
50 normski1930z // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:49
hey thats a canny shout that hadrian never thought of that like….
51 Mavis Beacon // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:50
Yesterday the S*n says Ashley wants to sell up, today they say Martins wants to go to Arsenal. Tomorrow….(yawn)Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Who cares what this snoozepaper with its Spuds loving journalists and their anti Newcastle agenda says.
52 Northumberland Magpie // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:50
Just a thought Couldnt he had just said the Club was not for Sale and that would have stopped the Americans in their tracks.
However i do have faith that Ashley is here for the long run and hope that we strength the squad soon
53 mozza // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:54
lol normski well am signing of now pall am ganin oot with wor lass and the bairn wedding aniversary 11 years, fecking hell av seen people get less for murder, bring on the stella
54 normski1930z // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:55
laters mate have a goodun
55 Hadrian // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:56
martin, im not gonna even read that , got to all your big words in an attempt to show me your not that daft , well you shouldnt have came out with the stuff you said first and maybe id belive you this time round .
ill give mike credit when he deserves it and ill question him when i think it needs done .
EVERYTHING over these past few month could have been avoided with a few small words from mike .
56 Martin // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:58
Hadrian - you make reference to me being immature and then come out with a ‘mother’ comment - shining example of maturity that pal! And out of interest she’s got a degree in English and teaches for a living so ‘Idiot’ is a little far from the mark.
I don’t see how my age holds any relevance in this conversation at all.
I’m saying that people are being naive to believe want a pollitically-confused, institutionally racist rag of a paper spews out in order to make money…
They do it week in week out and yet people still jump to conclusions…I’m not being stupid, and I don’t have my head up my arse! Nor Normski am I a strap-on!
1) I agree that the ‘being clueless about the debt’ is untrue…If that were the case Mike Ashley (being the successful business man that he is) would know he was well within his rights to sue Shephard…I personally believe it was a propoganda stunt to win the fans over…Maybes a bit devious but who cares? We’re no longer in debt and the fact that he recognised getting the fan’s on his side would be the main hurdle to overcome shows he’s done his research on the club!
2) Having said that, Mike Ashley has never come out about any of the club debts, it was Christ Mort who’s interview you’re quoting - possibly he was just being a puppet for Ashley but like I said above, the end result was right!
3) We’ve gotten rid of more players than we’ve brought in - TRUE - but what did the players we’ve sold/let go offer to the club…NOUT…They were useless, over-rate or injury prone and therefore eating up wage bills! I may never have taken out a mortgage but I know that paying to leave a light on 24/7 365 despite it not having any functional benefits is just stupid…Also you’re implying that we won’t buy any new players to replace the one’s we’ve got - neither Ashley nor Keegan are stupid enough to do this…our squad is thin already, so they’ll bolster it without a doubt - we’re only 5 days into the transfer window and our best signings last season came on the final day - just have a bit of patience!
4) The wage budget needing slashing - despite finishing the bottom half of the table 2 seasons in a row we’ve got the 5th highest wage bill in the premiership…don’t need a mortgage or kids to work out that’s uneconomic!
5) The 3 year renewals are being requested at a number of clubs - which doesn’t make them right - I’m just saying that you can’t single Ashley out as the baddy for it
6) Moving people around the ground IS wrong, but the reason he is doing it is because the spokesperson for the fan’s requested a family enclosure and singing section during a meeting with the board (the minutes of the minute were posted on the nufc official website!)
7) He didn’t embarress our manager in the press at all…Ashley called a meeting for talks with Keegan about future targets and transfers at the same time as most other owners/chairmen were speaking to their own respective managers - the problem was Keegan had just said we wouldn’t catch the top 4 without massive investment (something which is very true) and therefore the silly red tops decided to ’speculate’ as to the reason for the meeting - Ashley as usual had said nothing to the press…it was all ‘people close to the club’ who let me remind you were evidently absent during our signing of Gutierrez…
57 normski1930z // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:58
hadrian thats the way mate divent rise to it somebody obviously nicked his crayons….
58 mozza // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:58
cheers pal
59 bailey // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:59
All you supporters including me; if you bought a house today for say £100,000.oo and in 12 months time someone offered you £1,000,000 of course you are going to say NO aren’t you???. Yes of course you are!!!!!
60 Martin // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:02
sorry didn’t mean to post it again - just didn’t come up for ages - thought there might have been a reason…
Normski - what has my age got to do with anything?
Isn’t the point of a forum to have debate?
In the 2nd post I admitted I was over the top in the way i responded, but saying that ’someone has nicked my crayons’ because I have an oppinion which rivals your own is a little bit of a cop out isn’t it?
61 Big Dave // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:05
It surprises me the many so called fans that come on here and rant and rave about MA is this and that, just because newspapers with nothing else to write about make up there own shite stories I hope they feel ashamed of themselfs when it is proved to be alot of rubbish. what do they expect them MA and co to do everytime a story comes out, come out and deny everyone if that was the case we would be sick of hearing from him then he would be abused about wanting media attention. It was the same for wise he was getting it from some of the same people about how useless he was etc etc then after 1 signing the same fans were saying for him to keep up the good work! ? but the week before he was a complete tosser? very strange people. Im sure there are loads of other teams supporters come on to this site to read a story then read the comments and think we are all a bunch of tossers and that the so called most loyal (NUFC) supporters in the world is just a myth. come on lads try to keep a bit of faith and just ignore the shite unless it turns out to be true then have a go at them but dont go on the word of a sleaze bag reporter.
62 Spyro // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:06
not sure about the argument between Martin and Hadrian because i cant be bothered to read all of the comments, but Martin puts forward some very valid points
63 simon P // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:06
He is a businessman, not a geordie. He has no real ties to the North East, so of course he would sell for a big profit.
what sticks in my craw are the constant denials of intending to sell.
The first good offer that comes in, and we can wave bye bye to MA.
If only a rich North East consortium would buy Newcastle……in my dreams !
64 normski1930z // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:07
yawn yawn…..
65 Martin // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:09
Simon P - everything you’re saying is true and I’d be gutted if he sold up…
But like you said he’s a business man, and let’s face it if anyone was willing to pay £420 for us how could he turn it down…The fact that he is buying for the future though implies he is here for the long term and even if he does sell, at least we’re beginging to lay down decent foundations!
66 Martin // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:11
normski1930z // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:07
yawn yawn…..
I thought I was supposed to be the immature one?
wud it elp if I torked like dis so u cd f33l justeyed in corlin me a kid innit blud?
67 chuck // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:12
Whats the fuss about who owns the club ?
Who is Mike Ashley ? does anyone really care, He`s a businessman and an astute one at that.
“Proffessional athletics”this is big business, its a million miles from old style local ownership of clubs where Stan Seymour could be chairman for years on end
Take a look at the successfull teams, Man. U.
L`pool, Chelsea, Arsenal, even Villa, who are the owners?, all except chelsea have huge U,S. investment, in which case why not Newcastle.
As long as the team is run successfully does anyone really care ?
I dont understand this sense of betrayal and naivity expressed by certain fans, what is it based on ?
Is it about being lied to, the official club denial
about an approach to sell.
Grow up what did you expect, “sure we are looking to dump the club at the right price”
68 normski1930z // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:14
hehehehe funny guy ….. or maybe just a spotty little herbert either way i couldnt careless
69 To Mackem Matthew // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:16
@Matthew.
Your a dick!!
“MOST of Newcastle fans are idiots……..”
Mmmmm and you Mackem lot are all hyper intelligent, I mean you support Sun DER land dont you’s….VERY F*****n intelligent!!
Noe bog off back to your own message board where you will be worshipped because you can spell and string a sentence together.
Ravvi Shanker!!
70 normski1930z // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:18
aye chuck all i want is nufc to be successful not really bothered who bank rolls it mate apart from maybe thaksin coz that guy is an absolute crook…..
71 Hadrian // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:19
so who’s in the wrong ? the fans wondering what the hells going on with their club?
or the fan’s having a go at anyone with doubts ?
72 Martin // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:21
I did have fairly bad acne as a young teen you’re right, got some really good medication for it from my GP and it’s cleared right up now…
If you couldn’t care less then this whole conversation is completely pointless and best off being forgotten about.
Though I will say this - just because I’m young doesn’t mean I can’t have a valid oppinion or should automatically respect every word my elders say - Freddy Shephard is a lot older than me and he called Shearer Mary Poppins and called all Northern women slags…
73 Martin // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:29
Hadrian - Obviously I over-reacted, but it’s only because the fan’s who are wondering what the hell is going on are doing it on the back of what the sun has said…
We ALL know the Sun publish bollocks - whenever there is an article that they write about Newcastle - read what is written carefully…
If they use the words ’someone close to the club’, or an ‘inside source’ then it’s bollocks…If they say stuff like “Newcastle United are interested in such and such player” its bollocks, and unless they get a quote from a specific person i.e. Keegan etc. the majority of it is just speculation…
No-one is in the wrong for having an interest in the club - but I think those fans coming out and saying Ashley has betrayed them over a nothing story are just being stupid
74 Hadrian // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:32
martin , im not basing any of my thoughts off one sun article . been pretty blatant to me for months the press are going to pick and pick untill they get what they want , staying quiet with the press is a good thing , with your fan’s .. not so much .
cant stay in silence and let the press have their way .
75 Martin // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:43
When you question our silence though - who are you directing that at?
Mike Ashley or the club - because Mike Ashley has ALWAYS been silent with regards to both his business and his private life…Remember when he first came - I was watching sky sports news and they had an investment fella on to talk about Ashley’s character; he said that we (newcastle fan’s) wouldn’t see him at all, as he was a recluse…This method seems to have worked well for him with regards to his business and so trying out with us is worth a punt - I was loving the fact that after all the transfer speculation from the red tops not 1 of them predicted us getting Gutierrez.
The club did issue a statement which to me sounded much like the response of a lot of the fans “oh god not this again” like last season when we were going to sell Michael Owen - he got so sick of denying the rumours and commiting his future to us he just stopped commenting at all.
76 tam toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:45
Martin and Hadrian the sad thing is you both have points that are true. We don’t really know what is going on its just the s–t stirring sun.
77 daiv // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:49
Martin
MA only has to say personally that he or anybody connected with him has not spoken to this USA company and no mention has been made of £420M and that he will not sell the club and it will kill the story dead. He has not done so because it is true.
Iwill continue to be civil to you. What I wrote earlier is my honest belief and opnion. You have a different one but my honestly held opinion does not justify abuse. I am a season ticket holder of 45 years now living in London. A fairly solid fan on the pitch then. I bitch on this blog to get 45 years of frustration off my chest. i do not criticize pitchside. have a nice day.
78 Flan // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:57
most people in ireland call it soccer as well. football is used for gaelic football.
79 Martin // Jul 5, 2008 at 13:59
daiv - aye fair enough mate, I’ve said a few times that I over-reacted but I’m just sick of this whole issue. Never the less it was wrong, so sorry again.
I don’t think Ashley CAN come out in the press and say that he won’t sell us because like Robson said - every man has his price…If someone offered to double his investment he’d be a pretty shoddy business man if he didn’t at least listen to what he had to say - which is all that was reported - 1 of his representatives heard the offer from the Americans, added an unreasonable 100m to the price tag…If he wanted to just get rid of us, the £320m would have already given him enough of a profit to justify sales, the fact that he didn’t sell shows he has at least some staying power.
Also I don’t think it’s his perogative to sell; otherwise why would he be putting down a long term plan?
AND even if he did come out in the press now - the sun regurgatate their articles on a 3/4 month basis anyway - so he’d be selling us on by christmas again! They’re doing it with Martins now, you watch, Owen’s contract talks will be in turmoil with Manure and Arsenal ‘interested in the ex-Real Madrid man’
80 iain // Jul 5, 2008 at 14:31
arnt people looking at this the wrong way round ???
the comments sound like it was the yanks who sounded out MA not the other way around, lol the same papers who say MA doesnt deal with city people is now activly working with them to sell nufc ??? yeah right.
i see it as yanks ask about cost of nufc MA qoutes price he one day thnks club will be worth (but not now) why sell for less now when hes confident thats what the club will be worth should he get it right, yanks whos economy is toasted run away in fear after hearing price.
and where do they get these supports clubs members from half the time they never seem to exist unless its quating themseleves in the sun etc
81 craig chisholm // Jul 5, 2008 at 14:51
the bottom line is that we all know that mike ashley WILL sell the club, either now if he gets the money he wants, he said 420, but he’s take 380 - 400 for sure. If he dont sell now it will be within the next 18 months or so for a reduced rate of around 350 but bythen it wont matter cos he will have made some very good profit out of us in them 18 months. You have to remember, he is a business man and not a football man, he is as hard as they come in that respect. He is also not a newcastle fan either. MA has 2 billion quid in hard cash and its growing every day - if he is prepared to sell our club for a profit (although big) that will not help his life in one single way then you know he does not care for the club for any other reason than the bottom line. You were all jumping up and down about spiderman without seeing between the lines - a cheap player (unless we loose in court) and within a few days of that being anounced its on again for milner moving on - so one million player in, 6 million player out - its all nothing more than a cost cutting excercise lads. i give up saying it, saying what is blatantly obvious. Somethng else thats a very distinct possiblility, they can not sell smith - they have tried, no-one is biting - whats the next best thing to selling him?? Using him of course - martins will go and smith will become an out and out striker, plus also cutting the wage bill and giving ashley another tidy lump sum profit on martins.
82 Martin // Jul 5, 2008 at 15:09
craig chisholm - Not a chance that we will replace Martins with Smith…Keegan and Ashley know how the fan’s will react to that…
Perhaps you’re right, perhaps he is just preening the club for his own personal gain, but are we now any worse off than we were 12 months ago under Shephard?
No not at all, we have no debt, we have fewer dead-wood players, we have more youth and therefore more future potential…
If he were to leave now, I’d be gutted, but he’s done good things for the club (whether he meant to or not) and therefore I couldn’t hold a grudge against him…AND anyone who is rich enough to buy the club will obviously have money enough to invest into it further!
I think the man deserves time, purely on the basis of what he has done already - he’s sold the deadwood, give him the transfer window to replace them and Keegan the season to work with them, This is the first real chance the 2 of them have had to work together in the transfer window and therefore they should be afforded a bit of patience!
83 michael owen really!!! // Jul 5, 2008 at 15:26
Whats going on you guys newcastle will be a laughing stock if you continue to believe such drivel. the tabloids are full of s!$t you know that as well as I look at our first signing who saw that one coming!. I love this site its usually the first one I look at when constantly viewing the internet for sources on incoming transfers but! I hope mike ashley doesnt look at it because all of you naysayers are beginning to pi$$ me off! he has done nothing wrong and lets be honest if you were as bright as him wouldnt you all be billionaires! shut up and howay the toon!!!!.
84 bob // Jul 5, 2008 at 15:27
has any1 else seen that aimar’s agent has said that newcastle have made an approach altho have not made a fim offer just yet would love to see him in a black and white shirt
85 Clive // Jul 5, 2008 at 15:35
Ed you should change that headline to “Newcastle morons who love to spout off to journalists and SkySports News and cringingly embarass the rest of us with their witless comments, are angry at Mike Ashley”. Why are these idiots willingly helping the press slag off our club?
86 ScottyT // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:04
this is all abowt ambition..
if our owner is even thinking about selling so soon then the ambition isnt there.
87 michael owen really!!! // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:08
hey guys i bought a ford fiesta for 50 quid and some american firm has offered me 200 for it am i a mug for taking it or a mug for believing that some idiot will pay me that for it!
88 daiv // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:33
Nobody really believes that MA will still be here in 5 years. He will cut and run when the time is right. His interests are his pocket and not the long term future of NUFC. What is annoying is that he is still deceiving the fans just as he has had Kevin over. A blatant liar who insinuates by his silence that the pess is inventing everything whilst he wants to make NUFC great again. He wants to sell. When he buys quality players for large sums then I will take his side. I doubt it will happen. He is selling lots of rubbish (admittedly) but buying on the cheap and some fans on this blog think that buying on the cheap for a great club is good business.??? making players pay for their club suits is good business? It sends out the wrong message to any quality, ambitious player. What is going on with my great club? We are fretting and Ashley says nothing to dispel our worries about what he is planning. That is blatant arrogance form him because he either cannot tell a public lie ( I don’t want to sell) or because he does not give a monkeys about the supporters. Probably both. The fans in the Toon know the score and thats why they are angry. Many people on this blog (myself included although I am a season ticket hoder) are not living in Newcastle and have not got their finger on the pulse. They smell a rat who wants out for as much money as possible.
89 daiv // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:44
Another thing lads,
MA is angry because he was had over by Big Fat Freddie. He did not realize the club was in such debt. well whose fault is that? Ashleys. And we are being made to pay. He won’t pay for players because he thinks he has already ploughed enough in so he wants to sell asap for a big profit. Surely that is obvious. When has any owner of NUFC put the club first before their pocket? Why shouls a southerner who supports Spurs be any different? please lads wake up to reality and do not put your blind faith in this gut because he wears a NUFC top. He is a clever businessman who will play the game with us for a year or two for £200M profit. Even I would go to Spurs for a couple of years for £200M!!!
90 CRAIGG // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:11
He gives me mixed messages one week he’s dancing on the box when we beat Spurs 4-1 in their back yard.
Then he’s calling the great man doon to London to give him a bollocking for talking down next season.
KK is right we cannot compete with those teams unless we spend big, So what is Staypuffed moaning about, If he wants us to compete in the near future then he shouldnt be letting Spurs nick the one top class player we may have got.
He talks a good game though saying big things like: “I want us to attack Man Utd”
Well Mike me lad you wait for the first game of the season with our squad attacking Man Utd we risk giving them a chance to break their own record of 9-0 against Ipswich.
91 Martin // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:28
Howway man, this is just going over the same points again…
The thing to remember is when you quote these events is who you are quoting - Journalists from the Sun!
We don’t know that Ashley was bollocking Keegan - I’d say 99% of the managers in the English Leagues were meeting with their owners/chairmen at that time! The fact that the sun used it to have a dig at Newcastle is not a surprise!
Daiv it IS good business to make the players buy their own suits - other wise do you know who’s paying for them? Us! The season ticket holders! The club members! The replica shirt buyers! The general frigging public!
Why should we pay for players who earn more in a week than most of us earn in a year to wear a nice fancy suit? We shouldn’t!!!
You said you want Ashley to buy expensive players? WHY??? Would you not rather buy a cheap player who can develop into an expensive player?
Would Real Madrid not wish they got Ronaldo when he was 17? Would Manure not wish they got Rio Ferdinand before he cost £30m? Would Liverpool not wish they added Fernando Torres to their youth team?
OF COURSE THEY DO!!!
Buying young and investing for the future is, in my oppinion, the opitomy of good business! You’ve been a season ticket holder for 45 years, a very admirable achievement, but then surely you yourself will know that throwing money about for the craic gets you nowhere…
92 Bucks_mag // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:52
this could be good. Though it is only two fans who are unhappy from this, hopefully MA will try and curb the ill feeling by investing a lot in players
93 Matthew // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:53
The American company say it was Ashley who approached them.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7489444.stm
94 Dave // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:58
The story come from the Sun, what more can I say, they are always trying to shoot us down, lasy year if people can remember it was Michael Own was going to walk away from the Club, this year it was MA.
People want to think back a couple of weeks it was Ashley who stepped in to get Taylors conract sorted, doesnt sound like someone who wants away from the club.
And all these who are shouting we should spend big money and big wages on players, we have been there, got the tshirt and it didnt work. let this new system run for awhile and see if it works.
95 daiv // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:59
Can anyone tell me why the American company should go public that MA approached them to sell? I bet MA is not happy. The company went public to embarrass him after he quoted them a silly price. or are we saying that the Sun has made it up again? I am not a Sun reader by the way but they cannot make everything up. Sometimes it could be the truth.
96 daiv // Jul 5, 2008 at 18:08
Nearly all of us have got this story wrong. The Sun has not made it up. It is reporting what the American company has made public. MA approached the Americans to buy NUFC. End of.
97 geoffo // Jul 5, 2008 at 18:47
A comprehensive statement from the club needs to be made and quick. Any player worth their salt wants to come to a club that is stable, forward thinking and with a PLAN! Be it a short term or lomg term plan, but all this speculation once again, puts us in the spotlighjt for all the wrong reasons. I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if all of the ‘getting down with the fans’ from Ashley hasn’t been one giant PR stunt. Unrest and uncertainty at boradroom level does nothing more than undermine the work being done by those at the coal face, ie Keegan, Wise etcetera. Show us your hand Ashley and quick!!
98 The Entertainers // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:10
I CANT BELIEVE THAT SWINE ASHLEY, HOW DARE HE?
DOES HE NOT KNOW WHAT HES GOT?
HE SHOULD RESPECT THE FANS!
Oh wait a minute, hes done nowt but change the club for the better.
Look lads, if you think the old days were better, give it a few months and go support Mallorca. By that time FAT FREDDY should be ruining that club by then.
Judge him him on his actions, not bloody rumours from THE SUN!!!
99 Carter // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:19
Can’t he love the club and run it as a profitable venture at the same time? He’s done nothing but good for the club, and had a great time by the looks of things. If he can sell up for triple what he paid a year later, I’m sure all of us would consider that under his circumstances. This is the real world and his other businesses have apparently slumped a bit.
100 Nathan // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:32
I’m starting to regain my hatred of the average Newcastle fan
101 Taiwantoon // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:41
It seems someone is telling a lie.
102 Slam Dunc // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:47
Millionaire buys business, dresses it up a bit then sells it on to make a few more million.
Whats the big deal ??
Maybe it’s because Newcastle United is not really a business, it’s a cathedral of pride to the Geordie Nation.
What the f*ck is going on with our football club.
Will someone please tell us !!!
103 JoeToon // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:04
There have been some very interesting and valid points been made, but some of the abuse aimed at MA and each other is a disgrace.
We are great because we support each other when we support the team crest.
Not one of us knows what has really been said or done apart from the fact there has been no sale and the club have denied wanting to sell.
If i bought a club in the south say spurms and as a newcastle united supporter i firstly wouldn’t go into a crowd with a spurs shirt on, full of die hard fans and cheer on the team, even more so if i was a recluse. Unless i wanted to be a part of a great club, a club i could be proud of and be adored by 52 thousand fans and for it to financially benefit my other businesses, think replica shirt sales, then it makes sense.
If MA was to sell NUFC for 420mil (if this figure is true) and make over 100mil profit then if you say even with a billion in the bank which i doubt as most will be tied up in assets of some description, and no i don’t have any proof so i can publish it, i would sell and personally if i didn’t i would be letting my family down if i didn’t. Being born and bred in newcastle and love the toon I couldn’t honestly say whether i would sell or not if i was the billlionaire buying newcastle, although i would like to say No i wouldn’t and couldn’t honestly answer as i’m not and will never be in that position.
£100m is a hell of a lot of money more than probably all of us together could save in a lifetime and i’m on a good wage. And to say its like a fiver or whatever to MA that is just silly, because believe me if MA lost £100m he would be upset. Which if i’m not mistaken didn’t he lose most of his fortune according to the press in shares.
Do i trust MA? well firstly i don’t know him his family or his dog so i can’t say yes or no to that but i do think he deserves a chance and at least this season with our full support to see what he can do, it can’t be any worse than our previous board or structure.
Do i believe the press? Lets take a minute to think about this, fukc that! we all know that the press like all of the main media companies in this country are based in London and are run and have senior management that support spurs man u, chelskie or arsenal. Newcastle is whatever they think, a club with heritage which they can’t stand because at the end of the day we’re just northerners, some of these really do think that we’re still living like one of them cookson drama’s.
So you decide who to believe a man who has taken our club out of a shit slide invested a small fortune into it and has given it a structure which hopefully will work, by buying unknown talent or even talent that has lost their way for KK to re-invent. To structure a youth academy and start to fill with what i see to be the future of NUFC ala man u ’90s. To reduce the wage bill so we can have a bigger squad to help with cup games and hopefully after next season europe.
I am like probably every other toon supporter in respect to being impatient over signings but lets face it i would rather not hear anything until we have signed a quality newcastle player, someone who plays for the team and has skills in their position, Beye anyone, than spend good money on the likes of over the hill hasbeens i don’t like to name names but lets face it we all know who they were/are, or the promising no shows such as A Luque who i thought did have promise and maybe KK could have brought it out of him.
OR
Do you believe the toilet rags who have an agenda to spread shite about our beloved Newcastle United FC so they can unsettle the supporters and if they can put doubt in our heads the people who love this great club what damage do you think its doing to potential signings, i would imagine with the people we now have they have the respect to at least cushion the damage but who knows the reasoning behind the failed Modric signing? Was it because he was told NUFC was in turmoil, just a thought.
So what i say as a Newcastle UNITED fan is f the press and lets get behind Mr Ashley for next season and if he turns out to be a liar then we can take action whatever is appropriate at the time. If the place got turned upside down like some of these foreign clubs you see when the supporters get p*sses off, find it hard to sell rubble, or no-one turns up to a few home as well as away games which would be more sensible, what i’m saying is give the man a chance to at least show us what he’s about.
Lets face it if he’s only after the money then surely it’s better to be sold to someone with more ambition, but if he is what i hope/believe to be the genuine article then lets not frighten him away, for goodness sake we gave the other motely crew of ffs and ufdh (useless doug h) more than one chance and they publicly did more damage to NUFC and newcastle than Hitler did for the euopean community.
Its time to pick a side NUFC or the press.
We can have differing opinions but lets not hang the man just yet especially as we don’t have all the true facts.
Keep the Toon United
104 Slam Dunc // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:04
oh, and Allardyce is pleading with Newcastle not to sack Barton.
Allardyce spent a lot of our money on someone he admits he knew had a drink problem:
http://www.trophy4toon.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=278.0
105 ian // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:12
Hadrian is correct, the whole point is as he says the club doesnt respond properly to these reports.
If Mike Ashley doesnt want to face the cameras there should be an official spokesperson appointed and they should give an official televised announcement that kills the story dead once and for all.
How do we not know that the denial is a fake and not the sale??
Who has seen anything official anywhere?
Can you give me the official link?
106 Rodney Trotter // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:08
I have full faith in MA.Tabloid shit and deluded geordies are giving the media what they want.One minute ur all saying its tabloid crap,the next ur all believing it.Thickle or what.Ashleys tight cutting the wage bill blah blah blah.Everyone whos gone didnt deserve there wages anyway.But bidding at least 8 million for woodgate and 16m for Modric is tight?Ashley will spend but on the right players.Surely thats what we all want?No trophy signings.
107 JJ // Jul 6, 2008 at 0:21
No one ask my me for my view (seems the sun is aware of all toon feelings on the subject) so here mine.
MA best thing that has happened to Newcastle.
I know he buys the pints but if I ever see him I’ll buy him one.
This is just Tabloid shyte as per usual.
whenever you here someone (ie. the papers) tying on the psychology they are the ones who are frightened at what might be.
keep the faith.
we going in the right direction.
108 ian // Jul 6, 2008 at 12:05
Hang on the American investors have confirmed that they have been APPROACHED.
They have done so to a few sources and I do not think the Sun is one of them.
Dont start getting at Newcastle fans who pay their money, support the club and are concerned about what is happening.
I like everyone else am waiting for some developments, existing quality players secured and some clever transfers in, which to me would all be signs of a relatively new owner taking control and managing a club going forward, at the moment a cheap defender has been contracted (Taylor) which is good but not expensive and a player we hardly know who doesnt have a brilliant scoring record has been signed.
I am still waiting for the big signal that this has been bought to keep and move forward.
I hope that it it all happens next week, but time is ticking away.
109 ian // Jul 6, 2008 at 12:23
Latest confirmation through BBC sport, part of the Sun group???
Some fans are so loyal they are blind.
110 Matthew // Jul 6, 2008 at 14:25
But the Yank’s don’t say who approached them do they.
I personally think a fund manager or advisor somewhere has tried to make a quick buck by selling NUFC without the agreement of the club.
All they do is sniff out a buyer and seller, see what their interest is and pocket the difference- it happens a lot.
111 Martin // Jul 6, 2008 at 15:29
JJ and JoeToon I agree entirely!
Ian - in the same articles on the BBC website you keep quoting the club HAVE responded by sayin they are getting tired on denying these reports - It sells papers, and that’s whats important to these people, not our club, remember that!
112 Len // Jul 6, 2008 at 16:36
For Gods sake this is just a media wind up. We shouldnt be repeating this tripe.
113 Keith // Jul 6, 2008 at 16:54
Martin - your first post was spot on - you had no need to apologise in later ones. Every word of your subsequent posts was wasted - if people are not intelligent, have no ability to link information and actions together to see the bigger picture their opinion counts for nothing.
They are basically donkeys following carrots i.e. the next anti Ahsley headline - you will never convince them and they will never understand - its even worse when those with that poorly thought out tosh then push it out as an opinion of note.
I think you just have to dismis them with the contempt they deserve ( I am not convinced many are Newcastle fans anyway)
114 ian // Jul 6, 2008 at 17:19
So apart from a tiny few, everyone believes that Ashley has the clubs interest at heart and is about to put a plan in place over the next few weeks which will see us move quickly up the premiership?
It is all cut and dried and will drop in to place like a military operation?
People like me, who think that the fans should have more information through regular TV bulletins, announcements etc and think that these regular leaks linking the selling of the club from overseas investors, the continued link between Arsenal and Martins, the lack of the owen contract etc, are wondering what is going on and why they keep coming out, are just reading the Sun, swallowing all of the newspaper crap and arent Newcastle united supporters anyhow???
Martin you got it the wrong way round, there was a newspaper rumour that the there was a sale offer to the Americans, the club denied it officially so we were all ok, the BBC then spoke to the American investors and they confirmed and an approach had been made. So someone is lying, I do not know who, but someone isnt telling the truth.
I just wonder why with keegan back there arent regular anouncements from the club which would mean that most people would know the score and these rumours couldnt start up in the first place.
115 Matthew // Jul 6, 2008 at 18:06
Read post 110, it’s possible that neither are lying.
The club has also said they won’t be coming out and commenting on every rumour in the paper.
116 Ian // Jul 6, 2008 at 20:12
I read that, really I do not know and do not pretend to know, however all of this isnt what we want to hear in the media, no matter where it comes from, the club needs to take the media bull by the horns and get some sort of control, drown out the negative remarks with positives, presuming there are plenty!!
117 bailey // Jul 7, 2008 at 0:10
Apparantly Ashley has recently lost £200 million “paper” money on shares in Hsbo (?) which could account for rumours about his selling NUFC.
118 Ian // Jul 7, 2008 at 8:40
This pretty much sums it all up:
http://www.soccernews.com/there-may-be-trouble-ahead-for-newcastle-united/3834/
All this would take to go away is regular media talks, if he is going forward with the club then there is nothing to lose by doing this, just dont give away targets etc, they should either use an existing club person to head these regular talks or emloy someone to handle the media, it is a multi million pound business they can afford to spend a little in this area and get it right.
119 il capitano // Jul 7, 2008 at 8:51
Interesting subject, i really hope MA wants to stay, he have done much good for this fantastic fotball clib, and i think in a couple of seasons we can be in the top(where we belongs). But we still need heavily investing in new players, many of the players we have are not good enough. I hope Keegan can sort this out.
I think you shared some good toughts with us Ed, nice article. Very good article by JoeToon to. Let`s hope this is bullshit.
120 daiv // Jul 7, 2008 at 23:43
Ed,
Why have I been blocked from this blog? Because I am having a go at MA presumably. You might at least have the courtesy to tell me. Is this Stalinist Russia on your blog. Having a go at the guy does not mean assaulting him but letting him know I am really disappointed with him. I am not the guy’s dad unlike some on this fawning blog.
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