Mick

Unlike you with Ashley I gave Shepherd years to get things right, I didn't make my mind up the day he took over. The stadium debt was nowhere near £100 million but you seem to gloss over that in attempt to whitewash the issue, laughable. Nobody claims that Ashley paid off debt out of the goodness of his heart, he paid off some of the debt because he had to and the rest was paid off to reduce the effect it was having on the club. Instead of the banks taking £millions it remained within the club. You also think you were right about Ashley all along just because Keegan has walked, not for the first time. What did you say when he first walked out and didn't come back under Hall & Shepherd? The ex board were rightly slated for the direction they were taking the club, something Sir John recognised when selling his shares, he said they had run out of ideas. It's just a pity he didn't understand that before appointing Souness, if he had we might not be having this argument now as the new owner wouldn't have been starting out from such a low position in a very competitive league.

I can't remember people making him out to be a saint, I think he came here to enjoy the football and I think he's tried to do his best for the club. The fact that he's paid off debts by loaning the club money is no different to what the Russian has done at Chelsea. Ashley has made mistakes and I don't think anybody has tried to say anything different to that.

The only thing I can think of is that he could expect the loan to be repaid on top of the sale price, if it's included then it makes no difference.

Carlisle should be North West I would have thought.

Bloody foreigners.

I honestly think if we don't get a new owner then it's got to be done, the fans and owner must build bridges for the good of the club.

I'd forgotten about that tosser.

If we don't get a new owner then a lot of bridge building is going to be necessary.

I signed up but will not take it any further than that, I can't wait until they use the number who have paid to become members then they can no longer claim to represent me.

Peter Bolesław Schmeichel, in the past, now and in the future, I'll always hate him, add Graham bastard Fenton.

Anelka, I always wanted us to bring him here.

Did anybody on here get an email from The Journal, if so, had you signed up for NUSC or not?

I think the current climate could be very good for us as the clubs who borrow to buy players might be in a bit of shit.

Gambled, yes. That doesn't mean that they have harmed it, only time will tell.

I'm not a financial expert but I'd hate to be running a company or a football club who were carrying much debt at this time. Especially if they were looking to re-finance. If football goes tits up we'll be in a strong position, I'm not sure how many clubs can say that, my guess would be very few.

I think somebody will have to do something to get both sides working together if the club isn't sold. It's a pity that the major fan sites and publications are members of the NUSC committee as they would have been ideal fans representatives.

That's not easy to answer as the new owner could bring in better or worse, he could also invest or take from the club.

If they have the interests of the club at heart then they do everything ih their power to arrange a meeting with Ashley and try to map out a way forward that involves Ashley investing into the club again. I know its difficult to take anything coming out of the club at face value, but if he is truthful in only selling the club as he can no longer enjoy going to the matches then with compromise on everyones part this can be resolved. Of course that doesn't fit with ensuring he leaves at all costs, but if a buyer isn't found (i'd even go as far as to say if one is not found by next Friday) then this is the only way forward imo I doubt that Ashley would have any interest in meeting NUSC after what's gone on, that's just a guess.

I think the answer has to be "of course." If Ashley can't find a buyer then he's got to do what is best for the club, I'd like to see Llambias go before we bring in a new manager and keep Ashley.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/oct/10/premierleague-newcastleunited Finding a buyer for Newcastle United could prove impossible in the current financial crisis, the man charged with selling the club admitted yesterday. Keith Harris, vice-chairman of the investment bank Seymour Pierce, said that the club's owner, Mike Ashley, could remain in control for much longer than anticipated, as a serious bidder has yet to emerge and the global meltdown of financial markets made it "easy for people to find an excuse" not to buy. Harris said that although several parties had shown an interest since Ashley asked him to help sell Newcastle last month, none had come up with a viable bid. Harris was speaking as Newcastle came to terms with yesterday's departure of Tony Jimenez, their vice-president in charge of recruitment and a key ally of Ashley and Dennis Wise. A Newcastle spokesman said Jimenez's departure would have no bearing on the future of Wise, the executive director (football), who has been the target of fans' resentment since the departure of the manager Kevin Keegan in September. Ashley - whose company Sports Direct is now worth £168m compared to £1.7bn in February because of the stockmarket crash - has placed a price of £300m on the club, a figure few are willing to meet in the current climate. "Mike did it [took over the club] for the right reasons and it hasn't worked out," said Harris. "It is a major iconic brand and we are attracting interest, but this is a very easy climate for people to find an excuse. Newcastle has been transformed as a football club, they are a big club and I can see them going somewhere, but it requires time and careful attention." When asked if Ashley would stay on as owner because of a lack of acceptable bids, Harris replied: "I wouldn't rule anything out." Harris, who believes the credit crunch will have a profound effect on the Premier League, defended Ashley's record, claiming he had wiped out the club's debt and invested heavily to improve the academy. "He has done a lot of good there with the academy, there has been a lot of investment. When you look back through the years so many good players have come from that north-east corner, but how many were signed up by Newcastle? Not many." Magpies fans had hoped to see the back of Ashley long before the opening of the transfer window in January, with many still hankering after the return of Keegan. News of Jimenez's departure briefly raised the possibility that, if there was no takeover imminent, there could be a major reshuffle, which might tempt Keegan back. However, with Wise and the managing director, Derek Llambias, still employed, that looks unlikely. "People should not fall into the mistake of believing that the departure of Jimenez is going to lead to the return of Kevin Keegan," said a club source. Jimenez, who wants to stay in football, is understood to have quit as a result of the uncertainty over the club's future ownership. Ashley has also indicated he will not fund the purchase of any new players in January if he is still in charge, effectively making Jimenez's recruitment job redundant. Meanwhile, Newcastle's Australian striker, Mark Viduka, is expected to be out for another six months as he needs an operation to solve a long-standing Achilles injury. The interim manager, Joe Kinnear, said: "We know there is a chance Viduka may need surgery and if this turns out to be the case we will be without his services for a minimum of six months. This is not good news."

Wise on £3 million a year, the Chairman who appointed him was only (in football terms) on £1 million.

Why do you assume that results might stay the same? I would expect that a return to fitness of Beye, Enrique and Martins plus Barton returning from suspension might make a difference and I'd guess that most peple would expect the same. We've also got a manager instead of a coach picking the team and we've seen an improvement with that. You base our entire season around an injury hit squad which wasn't being managed and you use that as a reason for Ashley wanting to sell. We're not going down as we'll not play the full season under the same cloud as we've played too many games so far.

Thanks but they don't know that.

My attitude is that they don't represent my views and they have done nothing at all to hear mine. If anything, they've done everything they can do avoid them.

It's easy enough to read so isn't too bad.