pinkeye

Last year we averaged high 40k's throughout the season, only sold out for the big teams visits.

It sounds like I am preaching about how great a fan I am etc but, surely if you support Newcastle (or any team) you do that whether they win or lose, it is in your blood?? I had no questions in my mind about renewing, I paid for 3 years anyway but, would have renewed the same day the pack landed on my doorstep if I wasn't in the scheme.

That sounds very close to the truth to me. Last year when they reduced the prices and reclassified parts of the ground so nearly everyone got some sort of refund i had to wait ages for mine (£136 so not to be sniffed at) and went into the ticket office a few times chasing it. The lad in the ticket office said to me then that we had 12K on the 3 year scheme and 35K ST holders in total to sort out which was why it was taking so long. 21K renewals in total including the 3 year people sounds about right imho. Would be amazed if it was 29K prior to any takeover. Ok, that makes the story quite plausable then. If we had 12k on three year deals and we know that a good number have cancelled their direct debits then 11k on automatic renewal makes sense. Need that take over to go through to spur some of you late renewers to get cracking!! I would hate the first home game of the season to be watched by anything less than 40k people!

I was told by my mate, who plays golf with the guy that works on the ground staff team at Benton (I know!!!!) that there is about 11k people on the three year scheme that automatically renew and approx a further 10k people have returned their forms to renew making approx 21k season tickets sold so far, not great but, obviously not 100% guaranteed to be the positive truth. To be honest, the ticket office are probably still working through renewals so the true figure is probably no known.

Utter speculation. Is he really suggesting this has dragged on for weeks and weeks simply because they're 'combing through the books'? The papers know nowt, and anything Llambias and Harris say has to be taken with a pinch of salt because right now it's salesman talk. He was stating two important points though which are probably his own opinion but, in mine, very valid. 1) That whoever buys the club must understand what they are getting themselves into and be fully prepared for what needs to be done. 2) Llambias has behaved like a prick all the way through this saga giving soundbites to the press that do nothing to hlep the situation, in fact have the exact opposite effect!!

Nice point about Keith Harris being a professional and Derek Llambias being a moron! Good that the top end press is reflecting an opinion that most of the thinking fans on here have been saying for a while.

Hardly idiots, they have every right to be frustrated with Ashley and his slowmo tactics, he seems hell bent on leaving a nasty legacy behind as he shuts the door on his way out. It is up to Shearer to get messages through to the players via Hughton. Pretty sure that this story is just journalist embellishment of what the writer believes is going on behind the scenes, after all the squad is currently in Ireland!

I was talking to someone who plays golf with a member of the ground staff at Benton, ok - I know it is like my mates mate knows the sister of.......... blah!! However, the story I heard was that absolutely no-one knows what is going on as far as the club staff are concerned, they haven't been briefed, spoken to, consulted or anything. I was told that no-one will even sign off a purchase order for a packet of grass seed at the moment, they aren't allowed to spend a bean, they are short on essential stuff at the training ground. The word within the club is utter shambles! Compare that to what the previous poster has written with all that optimism and somewhere between the two is probably what is actually happening.

Wouldn't like to be him if he signs for another English club and ever comes to face us at St James' in the future.

I have spoken to a few mates who are season ticket holders who feel the same way as others on here and would be fairly happy for the club to go into administration in order to piss Ashley off leaving him with a few pennies in the pound to show for his investment. That would leave the club open to be bought for a nominal fee by a new investor. That could be Freddie or someone entirely new. Personally I am not that happy at the thought of Shepherd coming back into the club, especially after the fiasco he reigned over last time he was in charge. We need a total rebuild and maybe that does mean administration and a fresh start. I do hope not though, it would be embarrassing for the fans and would put our clubs draw to incoming players on an all time low and let's face it the North East is not that great a draw for players when it is compared to our Nations glorious capital. We have the highest draw in the area currently - still even in the Championship I am sure players would prefer to play for us than the other North East options.

Ok, so the way forward is to not pay our ticket money, not go and support the team and that way things will change? I can think of a few things that would change if that happened, the main one being the lack of a club to go and support.

I have renewed because I support Newcastle United and I go to the match, pretty simple really.

I find that impossible to believe that anyone could be so stupid to allow a clause like that into a contract. Subclause 1a, appendix 2. - Should my client complete the term of the contract at Newcastle United but, not find suitable employment immediately then the club will continue to pay full salary until such new employment is obtained. Oh, ok, that sounds fair enough.

No vices whatsoever?? What a lovely man, I would bet money on that being true!!! Recon little Micky might have a small flutter on that as well?

Last thing I want to watch now!! Sky are such a bunch of cunts for showing that within weeks of us being relegated!!! Anyway, cancelled Sky Sports in my final act of defiance last week!!

The fact is that the money that will have been saved by firing those 120 people will not even cover Michael Owens monthly salary, probably!! How are they going to find another decent job the way things are now while he will waltz into another club and fleece them for several 10's of millions like he has done here!!

I am in the East Stand and even if I hadn't paid the 3 year deal I still would have renewed.

The Telegraph article said that we would be looking to put Gonzalez out on loan, isn't only on loan with us? Would we serioulsy be paying a player £40k per week to give us a couple of sub appearences, knowing Newcastle United the answer must be yes!

Nobby Solano style legend in the making!!

While we would probably have found another way to relegate ourselves if it hadn't happened, that disallowed goal in the Fulham game seems to have taken on even greater significance following evens on Sunday!

100% agree!!

I would be very pleased to have Beye stay with us, hope Enrique joins him to give us the best chance of getting back up at the first time of asking.

That's just on the High Street! Ha ha

Anyone witness anything going on around Gateshead / Newcastle? I heard a few rumours about Low Fell going up a few times and heard nothing but, police sirens until well after 2am this morning. I stayed in all day so didn't see anything or witness anything first hand. My neighbour said that she saw someone being carried out of the Jolly Miller around 7pm covered in blood by paramedics, not sure if she was not embelishing the story at all though.

Not 100% sure whether to stay at home and lock the doors or go into town and watch it in a bar. If we manage to stay up the party will be immense but, on the other hand it could be the worst place to be if we get relegated. Will probably go to players for the big screen if I go out.