Parky

Asset strip? Do you know what asset stripping it? These people you're referring to are so clever they don't even realise this club is in financial meltdown. They seem to think every penny they put into the club should be free to spend on players. "Where's the season ticket money gone".. its been used to pay Damien fucking Duff you cretin! So what's the difference between us and the other 80% of the PL in debt? Having a debt isn't a problem as long as you can afford the interest ect. The problem is a debt that's spiralling out of control year after year. £35 million down a hole last year alone for fuck sake!! 80% of PL clubs are not bleeding anywhere near that kind of money. The majority of them would be bankrupt in no time if they did. I suggest you take a look at the accounts of other clubs. I have. Which clubs? The other clubs in the league that have been run into the ground? You can easily google PL clubs and their debt. Everton for instance. Wages higher than income. Surprised? I'd be extremely surprised, especially since its not true. Really? I don't know the nuts and bolts of it but Everton have always had a pretty strict wage structure, Moyes has had to spend pretty carefully, that much is common knowledge. It might be that Europe has given them some leeway, in which case I don't see how they can be held up as a yardstick for us. So basically you don't actually know. I'm surprised.

The protest is because people are deeply unhappy about the way their beloved club is being ran and unlike the f***ing saps, they are actually trying to do something about it because they're clever enough to realise that we are the clubs greatest asset. Now if everyone was a Superfan and "just turned up no matter who owns it, who plays for us" they could asset strip and take the piss for as long as it takes to find a buyer, that is beyond f***ing stupid, but its the type of thing they're having to deal with by utter muppets with myopia. He could sell it if he wasnt wanting so much for it and if he continues to run it the way he is, the price is only going to come down. The NUSC claim to speak on behalf of the fans, they'll speak on behalf of their members, so why not join up and give them yours? I applaud them for doing what they're doing, but they're destined to fail because there are too many halfwits, too many opinions and too many people who are now apathetic. NUSC ignore what you say unless you agree with exactly what they say, whenever people say anything other than Ashley out, cockney mafia, wise is evil etc they ignore you. I am not happy about the way the club is run, but I'm clever enough to realise protesting against the clubs management when we are in the most dire straights since the late 80s early 90s is not sensible until we are safe. Like I said I'm not pro-Ashley, but he tried to sell and would have taken what he paid, but that didn't come along, the bloke is in danger of losing all his money in this current financial climate, he needs as much as he can get for the club. Strange they should hold open meetings then. Very funny, you know there is a small group of them that pretty much decide everything, I agree with some of their views but not in the way the operate. Join and then you can vote on what they decide. Simple really. Why would I want to join a group with views that oppose some of my own? It would be like joining an anti-hunting lobby when I like hunting. Are you a member? What views of yours do they oppose? Protesting before a match when it will do no good and I'm not pro-ashley but I do think what he is doing will benefit the club financially provided we keep our premiership status. We couldn't keep on spending like a champions league club when we weren't in it. I agree to an extent with all of that. Are you a member Parky? Yes. Do you think they represent you and your views in the way you would like them to? Genuine question. I only expect them, over time to represent a wide consensus. When they do that, I'll give them my tenner and sign up, until then I will not. I think the main problem at the moment is the people joining mainly have the same views and share the same hatred towards ashley et al. It's a great idea having a massive supporters club, I just think the execution has not been of the highest order. Fair enough.

Asset strip? Do you know what asset stripping it? These people you're referring to are so clever they don't even realise this club is in financial meltdown. They seem to think every penny they put into the club should be free to spend on players. "Where's the season ticket money gone".. its been used to pay Damien fucking Duff you cretin! So what's the difference between us and the other 80% of the PL in debt? Having a debt isn't a problem as long as you can afford the interest ect. The problem is a debt that's spiralling out of control year after year. £35 million down a hole last year alone for fuck sake!! 80% of PL clubs are not bleeding anywhere near that kind of money. The majority of them would be bankrupt in no time if they did. I suggest you take a look at the accounts of other clubs. I have. Which clubs? The other clubs in the league that have been run into the ground? You can easily google PL clubs and their debt. Everton for instance. Wages higher than income. Surprised? I'd be extremely surprised, especially since its not true. Really?

Best to go to the source surely? if that's what you think then why are you firefighting in here so much? btw the way i'm no fan of ashley, infact given todays news about kinnears contract if i saw him in the street i'd chin the cunt. Steady.

Emotions were running high. In retrospect some mistakes were made and NUSC are aware of that. Yes but the media fella spoke just over a month ago, on the morning of the Liverpool game. Why was his emotions running high that morning? It was nearly 4 months after the sacking of Keegan, we all knew where we stood. We all knew the club was not likely to be sold in the near future, and yet he went on SSN and publicly slagged of Ashley. If he is a media spokesman then he is a crap one, as he burned yet another bridge for NUSC. Until they stop their public Ashley rants (and there were plenty at the meeting, and Ashley and co could listen to them online as easily as us) then why should Ashley speak to them. They don't represent all the fans views with this point, and they fail to realise that fans are not going to pay £10 to tell them that just to be ignored by the board. NUSC doesn't have the finances to be represented by Saatchi and Saatchi.

Emotions were running high. In retrospect some mistakes were made and NUSC are aware of that.

Looks lke you already know the ans. So you think the towering intellects guiding the actions of the NUSC have said to themselves, "Let's get together and express our sense of frustrated victimhood and then everything will improve"? No it's what you're saying. Then perhaps you can provide us with your answer. It's a rally not a wake.

Best to go to the source surely?

The protest is because people are deeply unhappy about the way their beloved club is being ran and unlike the f***ing saps, they are actually trying to do something about it because they're clever enough to realise that we are the clubs greatest asset. Now if everyone was a Superfan and "just turned up no matter who owns it, who plays for us" they could asset strip and take the piss for as long as it takes to find a buyer, that is beyond f***ing stupid, but its the type of thing they're having to deal with by utter muppets with myopia. He could sell it if he wasnt wanting so much for it and if he continues to run it the way he is, the price is only going to come down. The NUSC claim to speak on behalf of the fans, they'll speak on behalf of their members, so why not join up and give them yours? I applaud them for doing what they're doing, but they're destined to fail because there are too many halfwits, too many opinions and too many people who are now apathetic. NUSC ignore what you say unless you agree with exactly what they say, whenever people say anything other than Ashley out, cockney mafia, wise is evil etc they ignore you. I am not happy about the way the club is run, but I'm clever enough to realise protesting against the clubs management when we are in the most dire straights since the late 80s early 90s is not sensible until we are safe. Like I said I'm not pro-Ashley, but he tried to sell and would have taken what he paid, but that didn't come along, the bloke is in danger of losing all his money in this current financial climate, he needs as much as he can get for the club. Strange they should hold open meetings then. Very funny, you know there is a small group of them that pretty much decide everything, I agree with some of their views but not in the way the operate. Join and then you can vote on what they decide. Simple really. Why would I want to join a group with views that oppose some of my own? It would be like joining an anti-hunting lobby when I like hunting. Are you a member? What views of yours do they oppose? Protesting before a match when it will do no good and I'm not pro-ashley but I do think what he is doing will benefit the club financially provided we keep our premiership status. We couldn't keep on spending like a champions league club when we weren't in it. I agree to an extent with all of that. Are you a member Parky? Yes. Do you think they represent you and your views in the way you would like them to? Genuine question. I only expect them, over time to represent a wide consensus.

The protest is because people are deeply unhappy about the way their beloved club is being ran and unlike the f***ing saps, they are actually trying to do something about it because they're clever enough to realise that we are the clubs greatest asset. Now if everyone was a Superfan and "just turned up no matter who owns it, who plays for us" they could asset strip and take the piss for as long as it takes to find a buyer, that is beyond f***ing stupid, but its the type of thing they're having to deal with by utter muppets with myopia. He could sell it if he wasnt wanting so much for it and if he continues to run it the way he is, the price is only going to come down. The NUSC claim to speak on behalf of the fans, they'll speak on behalf of their members, so why not join up and give them yours? I applaud them for doing what they're doing, but they're destined to fail because there are too many halfwits, too many opinions and too many people who are now apathetic. NUSC ignore what you say unless you agree with exactly what they say, whenever people say anything other than Ashley out, cockney mafia, wise is evil etc they ignore you. I am not happy about the way the club is run, but I'm clever enough to realise protesting against the clubs management when we are in the most dire straights since the late 80s early 90s is not sensible until we are safe. Like I said I'm not pro-Ashley, but he tried to sell and would have taken what he paid, but that didn't come along, the bloke is in danger of losing all his money in this current financial climate, he needs as much as he can get for the club. Strange they should hold open meetings then. Very funny, you know there is a small group of them that pretty much decide everything, I agree with some of their views but not in the way the operate. Join and then you can vote on what they decide. Simple really. Why would I want to join a group with views that oppose some of my own? It would be like joining an anti-hunting lobby when I like hunting. Are you a member? What views of yours do they oppose? Protesting before a match when it will do no good and I'm not pro-ashley but I do think what he is doing will benefit the club financially provided we keep our premiership status. We couldn't keep on spending like a champions league club when we weren't in it. I agree to an extent with all of that. Are you a member Parky? Yes.

Asset strip? Do you know what asset stripping it? These people you're referring to are so clever they don't even realise this club is in financial meltdown. They seem to think every penny they put into the club should be free to spend on players. "Where's the season ticket money gone".. its been used to pay Damien fucking Duff you cretin! So what's the difference between us and the other 80% of the PL in debt? Having a debt isn't a problem as long as you can afford the interest ect. The problem is a debt that's spiralling out of control year after year. £35 million down a hole last year alone for fuck sake!! 80% of PL clubs are not bleeding anywhere near that kind of money. The majority of them would be bankrupt in no time if they did. I suggest you take a look at the accounts of other clubs. I have. Which clubs? The other clubs in the league that have been run into the ground? You can easily google PL clubs and their debt. Everton for instance. Wages higher than income. Surprised?

The protest is because people are deeply unhappy about the way their beloved club is being ran and unlike the f***ing saps, they are actually trying to do something about it because they're clever enough to realise that we are the clubs greatest asset. Now if everyone was a Superfan and "just turned up no matter who owns it, who plays for us" they could asset strip and take the piss for as long as it takes to find a buyer, that is beyond f***ing stupid, but its the type of thing they're having to deal with by utter muppets with myopia. He could sell it if he wasnt wanting so much for it and if he continues to run it the way he is, the price is only going to come down. The NUSC claim to speak on behalf of the fans, they'll speak on behalf of their members, so why not join up and give them yours? I applaud them for doing what they're doing, but they're destined to fail because there are too many halfwits, too many opinions and too many people who are now apathetic. NUSC ignore what you say unless you agree with exactly what they say, whenever people say anything other than Ashley out, cockney mafia, wise is evil etc they ignore you. I am not happy about the way the club is run, but I'm clever enough to realise protesting against the clubs management when we are in the most dire straights since the late 80s early 90s is not sensible until we are safe. Like I said I'm not pro-Ashley, but he tried to sell and would have taken what he paid, but that didn't come along, the bloke is in danger of losing all his money in this current financial climate, he needs as much as he can get for the club. Strange they should hold open meetings then. Very funny, you know there is a small group of them that pretty much decide everything, I agree with some of their views but not in the way the operate. Join and then you can vote on what they decide. Simple really. Why would I want to join a group with views that oppose some of my own? It would be like joining an anti-hunting lobby when I like hunting. Are you a member? What views of yours do they oppose? Protesting before a match when it will do no good and I'm not pro-ashley but I do think what he is doing will benefit the club financially provided we keep our premiership status. We couldn't keep on spending like a champions league club when we weren't in it. I agree to an extent with all of that.

Semantics, maybe. Probably. Just seems a stupid thing to say considering it's the entire basis of Keegan's claims against them. All this will soon come out in the wash Dave.

Our team is struggling due to lack of investment. Investment ? Get real. Borrowed again from the Grauniad. Accounts recently published by Newcastle, for the year to June 2008, show how much more generous Ashley's contribution has been already, with debts paid off and £100m loaned interest free to the club, compared to the millions relentlessly earned from the club by the Halls and Shepherds. When Sir John, the Gateshead shopping-centre magnate, took over Newcastle, he promised that the club would herald north-east regeneration and revive the "Geordie nation". Whatever the outcome of that, the club certainly became hugely profitable for Sir John and his family. The Halls and Freddy Shepherd, who became a director alongside them, took no salaries for the first few years, then made up for it in 1996: Sir John was paid £836,803, Douglas Hall £793,612 and Shepherd £750,000. The accounts said the payment "recognises the fact that the directors received no remuneration prior to this year". Shepherd, who staunchly defends his and the Halls' record of achievement at Newcastle, acknowledged that after the club floated on the stockmarket in 1997, they never contributed money for the club to invest. Before that, he said, they had guaranteed loans – documents at the time noted that £3.5m of the club's borrowings were guaranteed by the Halls' company, Cameron Hall, and that Cameron Hall had loaned the club money, at 11% interest. The latest accounts provide a final reckoning on the Shepherds' and Halls' era because they sold all their shares to Ashley in June 2007 and have also resigned as directors. Altogether, the two families made an extraordinary £145.8m from their years of involvement – the Halls made £95.7m, the Shepherds £50.1m, mostly in salaries, dividends and ultimately selling their shares. The Halls had already made £20.35m from selling portions of their shares before Ashley paid £55m for their remaining stake. Shepherd did not want to sell – he had steadily bought more shares – but was effectively forced to – Ashley paid Freddie and Bruce £38m. Shepherd did not receive a pay-off when he resigned as a director in July 2007 but Douglas Hall, paid a £494,655 salary package in 2007 via a Newcastle United company registered in the tax haven of Gibraltar, was entitled to two years' pay in compensation and received an additional £1.17m when he resigned. The unrest and despondency on Tyneside now make it easy to forget how Ashley's arrival put a smile on local faces, a new owner who watched matches with supporters, drank on the Bigg Market and had £1bn in his pocket, too. The accounts show that having bought the club for £134m, Ashley paid off borrowings of £43m and cleared the overdraft, lending the club £100m on which he has chosen to waive interest. He has not declared a dividend nor paid himself a salary. In short, he has put a chunk of his considerable fortune on the line, and not taken a penny out.[/b] Yes. So Ashley has got in above his head. Our fault?

Asset strip? Do you know what asset stripping it? These people you're referring to are so clever they don't even realise this club is in financial meltdown. They seem to think every penny they put into the club should be free to spend on players. "Where's the season ticket money gone".. its been used to pay Damien fucking Duff you cretin! So what's the difference between us and the other 80% of the PL in debt? Having a debt isn't a problem as long as you can afford the interest ect. The problem is a debt that's spiralling out of control year after year. £35 million down a hole last year alone for fuck sake!! 80% of PL clubs are not bleeding anywhere near that kind of money. The majority of them would be bankrupt in no time if they did. I suggest you take a look at the accounts of other clubs. I have.

But what if my belief is that the protests will be harmful and futile? Then surely I would be sticking to my principles much more by not attending? To be honest I'm not bothered if I come across as one of those people that 'boil your piss' or not, my reasons for thinking the protest is a bad idea are clear. Another example, shared by NUSC it seems, of the basic assumption that everyone must want Ashley out. I'm not staying away from protesting because I want Ashley out but think the protest won't work. I'm staying away because I want to give him a chance to make things work. Where are you getting the idea they think EVERYONE wants Ashley out? I don't mean literally every single person, what I mean is a lot of people assume that it's the only sensible viewpoint. I've got this impression from listening to the NUSC meeting and many responses I've read on this forum. I don't think I'm wrong on this one. They have repeatedly asked for dialogue and engagement with Ashley. The reported from the Mirror also commented how the club don't even reply to press e mails. It's no longer an Ashley out one agenda organization. It has to be realistic and open to ideas to work. That is why it is growing. Mistakes are always made and they have owned up to their mistakes which imo is a good sign. Fair enough, we'll have to agree to disagree, don't want to go over the same argument yet again. To me any move towards reconciliation seems to be token at best. Why say you want communication, then get some, then still organise a protest rally? Carrot and stick?

Good question. e mail it to NUSC.

But what if my belief is that the protests will be harmful and futile? Then surely I would be sticking to my principles much more by not attending? To be honest I'm not bothered if I come across as one of those people that 'boil your piss' or not, my reasons for thinking the protest is a bad idea are clear. Another example, shared by NUSC it seems, of the basic assumption that everyone must want Ashley out. I'm not staying away from protesting because I want Ashley out but think the protest won't work. I'm staying away because I want to give him a chance to make things work. Where are you getting the idea they think EVERYONE wants Ashley out? I don't mean literally every single person, what I mean is a lot of people assume that it's the only sensible viewpoint. I've got this impression from listening to the NUSC meeting and many responses I've read on this forum. I don't think I'm wrong on this one. They have repeatedly asked for dialogue and engagement with Ashley. The reported from the Mirror also commented how the club don't even reply to press e mails. It's no longer an Ashley out one agenda organization. It has to be realistic and open to ideas to work. That is why it is growing. Mistakes are always made and they have owned up to their mistakes which imo is a good sign.

Asset strip? Do you know what asset stripping it? These people you're referring to are so clever they don't even realise this club is in financial meltdown. They seem to think every penny they put into the club should be free to spend on players. "Where's the season ticket money gone".. its been used to pay Damien fucking Duff you cretin! So what's the difference between us and the other 80% of the PL in debt?

Irony? Ignorance? If all protests were guaranteed positive outcomes the traffic in London would be at a standstill for months. Don't attach unrealistic caveats.

I suggest you ask them directly all you need to know. I have the answer I got was to help promote the supporters club with leaflet drops etc. I'm happy enough with that but all finances should be wide open explaining every penny that goes into the club and where every penny goes and taxes paid on the money. Until then I wont join for fear of someone in the background pocketing a small fortune. All finances will be made crystal clear. It's silly to alienate people on an issue which is so easily sorted.

NUSC wil have going on 1200 fee paying members within the next few weeks. LambKebabarse already seems niggled by it. Truth hurts. I am not a member but it amazes me the people that are so against it give this so called small group such credence. I'm against due to the publicity they have managed to generate in the national press which make the club again look like a joke. I won't pay to join because nobody has as yet shown me what happens to all the funds. How do articles by serious sports writers in broadsheets like the Times and Telegraph make the club look like a joke? The articles seemed pretty supportive. Have you read them? because they continue to throw this view across that all Newcastle fans want this and want Ashly out and hate everything that is going on at the club, backing it up with views from certain members of NUSC. It makes me wonder if they have a spokesperson for the club and if they do how are they doing there job so badly ? Publicity for the club is great and the supporters club is great if it shows how the supporters club is influcing the club and allowing it to move forward. At the moment that isn't happening. my question however was to do with funding. NUSC want to work with the current regime and as asked repeatedly for meetings and engagement. The dynamic of groups such as this often starts with a core grievance (say Ashley out) but over time they develop into a group with broader ideas and objectives. I have no reason to doubt (and it is already happening) this will be the case with NUSC. It is important also to have a wide range of opinions and they are welcomed. Ultimately it will represent the views of the members and the greater good of the club or it will fail.

I suggest you ask them directly all you need to know.

Well it's only just started. Is that a yes or a no? Pontificating isn't really a question.

NUSC wil have going on 1200 fee paying members within the next few weeks. LambKebabarse already seems niggled by it. Truth hurts. I am not a member but it amazes me the people that are so against it give this so called small group such credence. I'm against due to the publicity they have managed to generate in the national press which make the club again look like a joke. I won't pay to join because nobody has as yet shown me what happens to all the funds. How do articles by serious sports writers in broadsheets like the Times and Telegraph make the club look like a joke? The articles seemed pretty supportive. Have you read them?