manorpark

Yes it is possible that it could be a positive announcement. A lot of people on here have put two and two together though . . . and made about 42 (HHGTTG) . . . Myself, I think the odds are about 60/40 in favour of the announcement saying "XXX will be taking over WEF xxx". So, 60/40 - what do the rest of you think?

A large stake and chips. With some brown sauce perhaps?

We may be happy to get Moat now (or "to get RID of Ashley", more like) but THIS (a lack of real big money) is something we are very likely to very soon find to be very frustrating. If the club has no debt when he takes over I guess all the money the club brings in the club can use to buy players etc. When we were in the Premiership our turnover was £100m I think so theres a pretty large wod of cash to spend on wages and transfers. I know that's a very simplistic way of looking at things but it does mean the club could run itself. Especially with the new income from the foreign tv rights which starts next season I think. Yes, we have always been (until last year) one of the clear "big five" earners amongst UK football clubs and in the top 10/15 in the world. So, we should (if we get back in the Prem) very soon become 'self-sufficient' for transfers, again. That is one (of many) things about "Billionaire Ashley" that confuses me. Having made the initial investment (to buy the club) as a billionaire you would have expected he would have (desperately) 'wanted to' add some of his own money to our own large earned income (whether we were making 'net' profits or losses, in any given year) which would have made us 'awash' with transfer money. But, it didn't happen. Quite the reverse. Endlessly, Sir John Hall stressed how important it was for us to 'speculate to accumulate' and to invest to make sure we were at or near the very top of the Premier League, all of the time, so that we were in position when the inevitable European Leagues were set up. This subject has (yet again) re-emerged this week, with Wenger sounding very liike SJH, as he talks about the 'inevitability' of the arrival of a European League. Ashley? Now, our 'ambitions' (and those of supporters, particularly young-uns who have arrived on the scene in the last 5 or 10 years) are . . er . . . somewhat less grand . . . (and NO, "somewhat less grand" does not mean the same thing as "more realistic", it just means "somewhat less grand"!) Put it this way. If Ashley had left the debt and had paid off the £4m a year as we had been doing and instead put the £200m he's now lost into player buys we'd probably be looking at Champions League football again rather than Championship football. Yes, that is very very probable. What a thought!!

We may be happy to get Moat now (or "to get RID of Ashley", more like) but THIS (a lack of real big money) is something we are very likely to very soon find to be very frustrating. If the club has no debt when he takes over I guess all the money the club brings in the club can use to buy players etc. When we were in the Premiership our turnover was £100m I think so theres a pretty large wod of cash to spend on wages and transfers. I know that's a very simplistic way of looking at things but it does mean the club could run itself. Especially with the new income from the foreign tv rights which starts next season I think. Yes, we have always been (until last year) one of the clear "big five" earners amongst UK football clubs and in the top 10/15 in the world. So, we should (if we get back in the Prem) very soon become 'self-sufficient' for transfers, again. That is one (of many) things about "Billionaire Ashley" that confuses me. Having made the initial investment (to buy the club) as a billionaire you would have expected he would have (desperately) 'wanted to' add some of his own money to our own large earned income (whether we were making 'net' profits or losses, in any given year) which would have made us 'awash' with transfer money. But, it didn't happen. Quite the reverse. Endlessly, Sir John Hall stressed how important it was for us to 'speculate to accumulate' and to invest to make sure we were at or near the very top of the Premier League, all of the time, so that we were in position when the inevitable European Leagues were set up. This subject has (yet again) re-emerged this week, with Wenger sounding very liike SJH, as he talks about the 'inevitability' of the arrival of a European League. Ashley? Now, our 'ambitions' (and those of supporters, particularly young-uns who have arrived on the scene in the last 5 or 10 years) are . . er . . . somewhat less grand . . . (and NO, "somewhat less grand" does not mean the same thing as "more realistic", it just means "somewhat less grand"!)

We may be happy to get Moat now (or "to get RID of Ashley", more like) but THIS (a lack of real big money) is something we are very likely to very soon find to be very frustrating.

Couldnt agree more it is the best we can hope for and hope it comes off and this nightmare will end I agree, someone who "cares" is the most important thing. We are all currently learning this from the experience - right now - of being controlled by someone who HATES us and our club and everything we stand for and believe in. Trouble is . . . we also need someone who has a lot more money than 'Moat and his backers' seem to have, or in a year or so we will end up with a caring owner of a DORMANT (failed and small thinking) club. Does this ring a bell with those of us who remember the Westwood and McKeag years? They were VERY LONG years. BUT - first things first - lets get a proper owner first, then hope he has rich friends!

He won't get a game though. And Blue Star have gone of business now as well. I'm sure Clarky will give him 5 mins... He will play from the start, he is doing fantastic down there. The coaching staff and the fans love him. He is someone (else) from Newcastle - his family lives here - who will probably score against us, and who we will regret not signing, eventually. He has a VERY bright future, does Lee Novak.

I'm starting to think you're actually an urban myth, everything you've said in here recently has been completely ludicrous. So two Argentina internationals and the England Under 21's captain aren't good enough for League 1? Really? From you post it is quite clear that you do not go to Newcastle games. Now please go and throw yourself in front of a high speed train So you think Jonas, Colo and Taylor aren't good enough for league 1? 1 Current Argentine international, the former England U21 Captain and the man that used to keep Ayala and Samuel out of the Argentine team. Mental What is this 'League 1' stuff all about? He said they couldnt even cut it in league 1 Musta missed that, thought the confusion of all these silly 'league names' we now have, was getting to him. Instead it was getting to me!

I'm starting to think you're actually an urban myth, everything you've said in here recently has been completely ludicrous. So two Argentina internationals and the England Under 21's captain aren't good enough for League 1? Really? From you post it is quite clear that you do not go to Newcastle games. Now please go and throw yourself in front of a high speed train So you think Jonas, Colo and Taylor aren't good enough for league 1? 1 Current Argentine international, the former England U21 Captain and the man that used to keep Ayala and Samuel out of the Argentine team. Mental What is this 'League 1' stuff all about?

I'm starting to think you're actually an urban myth, everything you've said in here recently has been completely ludicrous. So two Argentina internationals and the England Under 21's captain aren't good enough for League 1? Really? League 1? It is either the "2nd Division" (its proper name) or "The Championship" (its current stupid name). League One is what they now call the Third Division, I believe. I can understand your confusion though!!!

I am not sure where these people get their ridiculous estimates of TURNOVER from. Including Premier League 'parachute payments', it will be amazing if our turnover (currently around £100M) falls below £60M this year.

Agreed! The only difference for me, is that I specifically refer to the 'Second Division' when talking to (what you call) the under-30s. Education is important, and they are never to old to 'learn'. They need to realise that the ponsy title "Championship" refers only to a bunch of VERY second rate (second division) teams. That is all they are, nothing more. (Woops . . . that is us now!)

No, not denied as far as I know, just that SSN are saying it 'unlikely' . . and I think they have been 'fed' this to stop the deal breaking down. In my view, it is happening!! And the chron claim to have had it denied thismorning by the club Yeah, it all seems to add up (to me). They WOULD say this to the media, if a genuine bid had been 'leaked'.

No, not denied as far as I know, just that SSN are saying it 'unlikely' . . and I think they have been 'fed' this to stop the deal breaking down. In my view, it is happening!!

As I said, don't worry, this mornings latest cr*p ("Moat will be surprised") will have been leaked to Craig deliberately.

Have you just noticed? Btw Llambias (or whoever is feeding Craig) will tell him anything that fits their agenda. Means nothing. Correct, in fact I think it is probable that Llambias will have woken up this morning in a 'cold sweat' when he realised that this was being talked about in the media - he would be sh***ing himself that it had leaked and that the (nearly done) deal might now break down because of it. Especially as HE was probably the one who leaked it! So, this morning he contacted his monkey and leaked this latest bit of David Craig cr*p to him. (Thats my theory on todays event, anyway!)

It will be availible to download off the 5live website about 9.30pm Can you not listen live on the net? Yes here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00m30b1 We're not back in the championship. we've never been in the Championship before That's true Mind, I still call it (what it actually IS) the "Second Division", anyway. All these stupid names ('Championship' for gawds sake . . . championship of what? - of nothingness, thats what). Its a bit like the League Cup (changes its name weekly). It is THE SECOND DIVISION - end of . . . and we are stuck in it (right in it!).

Can we change the title?

Developed? Yeah . . I know, but it just seems a bit deeper (and smellier) lately.

Why has this thread developed into a pile of sh*t? It always was a pile of s*** to one degree or another. I think we all NEED (and I mean N E E D) there to be truth in this - TODAY. We're crackin' up!

Why has this thread developed into a pile of sh*t?

If you are right mate (and I still think you could be) then there should be four statues outside SJP - Milburn, Shearer (as planned) SBR (as suggested) and . . . YOU!!!! If you are wrong, well they have to dig the foundations for the statues anyway . . . (Joking!!!)

That's a good point. Foolishly, I was one of those who was only too happy to see all of 'the benefits' (ie, enforced openness etc) of being on the Stock Exchange, taken away by Ashley . . . my mind was just full of dreams of a BILLIONAIRE owning us and spending all his money on us! I think I just suspended all common sense . . . it was a bit like falling in love . . . you become irrational. God, what a thought . . . "falling in love with Ashley" (Aaaaaagh!!!!).

It's not a leak, as it hasn't been reported by the Media.

MORE than just an internet forum, surely. Anyway - just a thought!!! No, just an internet forum ok, but "more than one" internet forum, plus 'Newsnow', etc . . . but I take your point! (could be wishful - desperate - thinking, on my part!)