BottledDog

Today will be a good day.

Crikey. The book value of that loan was around £50-60m at the time of the takeover, the break fees on the loan must have been horrific. That's why you do due diligence, boys! Also, last time I checked a 'cash advance' is a loan. I don't mind the board running the club as they see fit, but their obfuscation around financial issues drives me up the wall. What they are say here is "Mike doesn't want his loan back, apart from the bit he did. Which we've paid him". I think this particular "advance" was identified and disclosed in last year's accounts as being specifically for short term purposes and to be repaid shortly after it was received. I can see what you mean but I suppose the point is that the major chunk of Ashley's loan hasn't been reduced and is now arguably pretty much an intrinsic part of the capital structure of the club. Yup, seems to me out of the remaining loan we have £17m that needs to be paid back over the next couple of seasons, and then hopefully we'll be effectively debt free. The rest will only ever be an issue if we were to be sold as it has no ongoing cost to the club.

Yup, about the size of a small bucket, so wouldn't be the least substantial trophy out there to be fair.

Interviewer - "Has there been an apology?" Martinez - "Well... z... z... I think we have been going on too much about it... It was a football incident... We lost Ryo Miachi..." I'll take that as a no then.

We have paid back a bit of one of the more recent loans Ashley has made to the club (and the interest free loan will just sit there as a club debt) - United also re-imbursed owner Mike Ashley £11million of a cash advance he supplied to the club during the relegation season to bolster the squad and restructure. His interest-free loan to the club remains untouched – he does not want it to be paid back – but the accounts emphasise that their desire to make the club self-sustainable is moving closer to reality. “Mike isn’t having to put money in either,” he said. “We had to have a clean piece of paper at first, and there were huge amounts of securitised loan. That was £105million, which had to be cleared. When we were relegated, we out to borrow £28million to get us back into the Premier League and to reshape ourselves and push forward. “When we out in the market place the fees were horrendous - 10 to 15%. So Mike said he would advance it to us and you pay me back when the club can afford it, which we’ve done. “In these accounts, you’ll see there’s £11million paid back to Mike. But we saved £4million in fees which we would have had to pay to someone who would make a lot of money securitising our season-ticket money.”

Hmmm, so not massive amounts but positive stuff. "Surprised and happy" though? Can guarantee that won't be a universal feeling.

The same reason we look out for the likes of Cattermole, Karl Henry, or Suarez. Hated for being horrible cnuts who get away with shit, and sometimes wary of the damage they can inflict on our own players.

Part of the Lambias interview a couple of pages back - "...and the “best commercial deal” in the club’s history with new shirt sponsor Wonga." Reckon it'll just be the release of the details of this deal once Virgin are out the way.

Nice to see Ashley has given them a rocket up the arse regarding the quality of our football this season.

Ah, thought it might have been Mort. Presume the next years drop was because the Mort and Freshfields million+ came from some other section then and we had no Director as such?

That ceiling is the last straw. I'm out.

Would there be much of a backlash? If we can still be competitive in the market it would be good to start clearing the debts at some point I'd have thought. Maybe not though if he continues to charge the club minimal interest on the loans.

Come on man, what would be the point of him just sticking around? His mere presence isn't going to inspire us to 3 points and it would be a bit unfair of us to say no when we let Ben Arfa do whatever he wants. The whole thing is pretty annoying but we cannot really blame him for wanting to be with his family, he's human. But he was a God.

Ah nah, genuinely puzzled that I'd missed something obvious.

Stunning quote Stunning? What am I missing here?

Should certainly help Barry Moat persuade his bank manager that the loan would be less risky.

Coining it in how? Ashley going to start taking a wage? We'll see I guess, but bar paying off debt, I'd be very surprised if money generated by NUFC doesn't remain to be invested in NUFC. I meant the club. Ah right, hope so. Been a while since we could allude to us having some sort of 'War Chest'. Mmmmmmm, 'Waaaaaar Cheeesssssssst'.

Great to hear he's through it. There's no doubt at all for me of the significance that his form and injury (and now it seems, mental state) have had on our season.

Coining it in how? Ashley going to start taking a wage? We'll see I guess, but bar paying off debt, I'd be very surprised if money generated by NUFC doesn't remain to be invested in NUFC.

Who wouldn't. http://i.imgur.com/aZQOE0d.jpg

He's spot on. They've spent a canny bit on their stadium and I think moving away would kill them too though sadly. Orient are fucked.

Bit pointless these days aren't they? He doesn't exactly need the cash injection to afford a pub to retire to, and I can't see much chance of a high profile charity do.

Massadio Haidara has recounted the horrific tackle from Callum McManaman that rocked football by admitting: “I thought my leg had smashed in two.” Amazingly McManaman’s tackle went unpunished by the FA after the challenge that has been described as a “leg breaker” by many pundits left Haidara with blood seeping out of his knee. But while there is still no timescale on Haidara’s recovery, he said today: “I underwent some further tests yesterday morning. “The ligaments in the knee are undamaged. “It’s a massive relief. “I was very worried when it happened. “I thought he’d broken my leg or smashed up my knee. “The pain was unbearable, I couldn’t bend my knee. It was really horrible. “But, God was on my side.” And looking back on the incident that left him floored, he said: “I remember it all. I can still see it in my mind’s eye. “The ball came to me, I controlled it. “I thought I had the time to run around him but he came at me like a bullet. “It all went so fast. I didn’t think he’d tackle me, especially not above the knee. “And then I felt his studs crash into my knee and remember feeling excruciating pain. “I was in so much pain I couldn’t think of anything. “I was so shocked. “I still am actually. “When, afterwards, you think of everything. “I told myself that perhaps I’d never be able to play football again or that I’d be able to play but never with the same level of ability. “It was a tough time. Once I was in the ambulance, “I started to think of my family. I knew my brother was watching the match live.” McManaman is thought to want to apologise to the player and Haidara said: “Yesterday I was told he wanted to speak with me. For the time being, we haven’t talked. “There is a language barrier but I think we will try to meet up next week with an interpreter.” “At the time, I was very angry. I thought he’d ended my career. Now, I know I escaped a serious injury, I have taken time to stand back from it and I am not angry. I simply hope that it will serve as a lesson for him and the next time he will think twice before making a tackle like that. “I hope, when he watched it back, he told himself that wasn’t who he really was.” Massadio Haidara was recovering today but there is still no timescale on his recovery and the player is unable to confirm whether he will be back this season. And reflecting on Wigan chief Whelan’s comments, Haidara said: “I understand he wants to defend his own player but I believe fairness and honesty must be respected. You simply need to see the images and photos to understand. “People will have their own opinion, of course, and I don’t wish to cause a controversy. “I am simply relieved to have escaped the worst. “It’s tough to take. “I don’t understand why. “He could have ended my career and ruined my whole life and he will play again before me! “Ridiculous! “You must protect players” And when asked about his hopes of recovery this season he said: “I don’t know. “I feel better but the medical team remains cautious. “I don’t want to rush back but, when I do get back, there will be a lot of apprehension, it’s understandable. “But then, I can’t let this affect my mentality too much. I am quite strong mentally. I won’t dwell on this too much. I’ll get over it.” http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/massadio-haidara-slams-dave-whelens-1767472? and http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/massadio-haidara-callum-mcmanamans-horrific-1767469?

easy out, they can just say they went to any pub at any time and had some crack about strips how did this post convey being upset out of interest? Not your post man, I was agreeing with you. Stop getting your knickers in a twist.

easy out, they can just say they went to any pub at any time and had some crack about strips Whey, all they're saying is that they'll talk about talking to supporters about setting up discussions about finding some way of getting supporters involved in the design at some point down the line. Getting upset at them already 'breaking promises' is a bit precious.