bovineblue

It's also possible that events such as this can be down to creative (most often legal) accounting procedures rather than pure luck. If the GFC tells us anything it's that often real value and perceived (or manipulated) value are inconsistant at best.

Well most Premiership clubs are run on borrowed money these days, very few are operating within their profits. Also, we should bear in mind it was certainly in Ashley's interests to exaggerate about the state of the club's finances when he arrived. This is the same man who believed a few months ago we could finish 6th this season, the same man who bought the club without even looking at the books, and put his mates in charge of running it. During his rant Ashley said he'd cleared our debt, yet it turns out this wasn't even true. Truth is, as insanely badly as he's run this club, a 0-0 draw would still have seen us survive on the final day. So I have little doubt that under any other owner (the Premiership has never seen incompetence on the level of Ashley) we'd have done enough to stay up. Even under Roeder, when we were missing up to 15 players for some games, we still stayed up with about 5 points to spare. Like I say, we'll never know what would have happened had Freddy stayed in charge and we never will. The last few years under him did see us slipping down the premiership, poor managers, horrible football (under Big Sam) and growing debts. I'd rather have fresh blood but then Ashley wasn't the breath of fresh air most people had hoped for. Is it really too much to ask for a new competant owner with ambition AND a sound financial plan.

The point in bold. Do anyone really think he'll stop dipping his fingers into the till? People need to realise that we would have ended up in a simiar mess under Shepherd. Ashley might have completely f***ed up, but at least he's left us debt free. Don't want Shepherd within a million miles of the place. Yep, being debt free is great. We just so happened to be relegated of course, but never mind that. Facts are they're both s*** in their own way. We probably need someone who's not either of them. Will never know but could always have ended up relegated AND deep in debt.

Would this mean a sale is close though, because surely the longer he remains in charge without sorting anything out, the more it will cost him? He could keep it at around £100million for another while yet, would only get lower when we sell players and struggle in the CCC due to the club once again being unstable. Then he could change his mind, take us back off the market and put JFK in charge and get us sent down again.

But then where does the funding to cover next year's debts and rebuild the team come from?

http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/avs/avatar_161.png Would look even better if the title was photoshopped to 'what to look out for in summer' and the picture was of last season's transfer deals.

in store? Nah they are updating the computers to handle all of the emails about buying the club.

Not really a Lily Allen fan. Are the words stupid fat cunt mentioned in the song?

Business success involves a hell of a lot of luck. Being in the right place at the right time with the right people around you can make even a complete moron a lot of money. With us, Ashley seemed to be content to rely on his luck rather than good management and his luck just ran out.

The way this club is run the $1,000 is probably on its way to you now Tried to knock me down to a Shola but wanted me to pay postage.

This.

Hello Mr Ashley My name is Horace Mgumbo. I am wealthy Nigeria business man. The type you might see in Hollywood movie good friend. I would love to be buying your football club. My uncle is Minister of Banking here in Nigeria and has the sum of $100,000,000 British Dollars in secret back account. I would be very interested to buy this Newcastle United Football Team as I hear they do well in Premiership under your exellent guidence my friend. If you can send me the sum of $1,000 British Dollars or perhaps if that is too difficult give me contract to excellent player Nicky Butt we can do some excellent business dealings. Doctor Horace Mgumbo. Professor of finacnial Studys Nigeria institute of Businesses and Money Wonder if it'll get a reply.

Years of planning and millions of pounds for Ashley to set up the greatest RickRoll ever?

2009

We might need a back up to the tea-lady - she's getting on in years y'know. Tea would be cold by the time Shola got around with it. That's if he didn't trip over the cart or fumble the cup into the door frame on his way to the office.

Looks smart now.

Looks a bit like Dr. Harry.

i'm sure he could do that with less than 50kpw (if true) The papers wouldn't make stuff up, of course it's true.

He's looked a danger but England as a whole are rather gash they don't play like a team Scotland are a better team with poorer individuals. Punctuation, ffs. Text speak, for f***s sake. You want to be a journalist, right? Yes you need to start making stuff up spice it up if you want to be a journo. Perhaps something like this:

Can see the confusion. A fat wanker with no clue about football practically screams American owner.

Where are all the Ranger haters now?

The man's a legend. Is he still a legend if he asks for £2.5m/year to manage a Championship team? Would have to know full details of any contract to make a proper judgement of course.

The man's a legend. We know. Also see under : Messiah, God, Prodigal Son, Lazarus, Allah, Prophet, King, Prince. Christ sake. How can you possibly be comparing Shearer to this man? http://blogs.theage.com.au/lifestyle/trashtalk/prince.jpg

The man's a legend.

Yes how dare any fans try look for a glimmer of hope in an otherwise disasterous season. You should be ashamed of yourselves.