Mike Ashley To Be More Hands On

[Skirge]

http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/06/11/ashley-steps-up-united-control-61634-21055602/

Ashley steps up United control

 

Jun 11 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

 

NEWCASTLE United owner Mike Ashley is taking a more hands-on approach in the running of the club following a plea from Kevin Keegan for him to take more control of key areas like player recruitment.

 

The Journal has spoken to a senior member of the United hierarchy and has been given the clearest insight yet into how the club is being run as Ashley prepares for his second season at St James’s Park.

 

And the news will be reassuring for United fans as it is Ashley himself who is pulling the strings, having initially decided to take a back seat while chairman Chris Mort took control of day-to-day matters at St James’s Park on his behalf.

 

Ashley made the decision to become more directly involved in the club following the meeting in London with Keegan last month, when United’s manager suggested that, if he wants Newcastle to be successful, he has to spend more of his work time devoted to it.

 

Ashley will define the direction that the club takes in its recruitment policy and will also decide on the wages that will be offered to Michael Owen and Steven Taylor when they hold their next round of contract talks.

 

In return, Keegan has been assured he has the final say on individual transfer deals, while there was also a strong denial from the boardroom yesterday that the manager is under pressure to sell any of the club’s top earners in a bid to slash the wage bill.

 

The Journal can also reveal that, while the Magpies have still not made any progress in the transfer market this summer, it is understood this will change when Keegan returns from holiday in a fortnight’s time, confirming that it is the manager and not executive director (football) Dennis Wise or head of recruitment Tony Jimenez who is dictating which players are signed.

 

Nevertheless, Keegan has been told by Ashley that he wants a long-term approach taken, rather than simply a few quick fixes before the start of the new season.

 

That would appear to rule out moves

 

for senior internationals, with the Magpies concentrating on signing young, emerging players instead of established stars who are coming to the end of their careers.

 

This approach has been agreed to by Keegan, as long as he also rates the player in question and is also able to decide which players are allowed to leave this summer. The Magpies have so far sold Turkish midfielder Emre to Fenerbahçe for almost £4m, while Czech Republic centre-back David Rozehnal made his loan move to Lazio permanent yesterday, with a fee of around £3m coming the Magpies’ way.

 

Shola Ameobi will also be sold before the start of the season, with Norwich keen on pushing through a deal which could net Newcastle almost £4m.

 

The Journal has also learned that the club are willing to punish Joey Barton following his imprisonment for assault last month by cutting the player’s wages to around £30,000 a week.

 

However, they have only raised the issue with his advisers and will not make a final decision about whether to terminate his contract until after he has been tried in another court case. Barton has also been charged with assault following a training-ground incident when he was at Manchester City involving then-team-mate Ousmane Dabo.

 

Keegan, as revealed in The Journal last month, has made it clear to the board that he would like to keep the troubled star, who was sentenced to six months following an attack on two people in Liverpool last Christmas. But the matter could be taken out of his hands if the 25-year-old receives another prison sentence following his next trial, which starts on June 30. Nevertheless, the move to halve Barton’s wages does not mean the club has made the cutting of the wage bill the main priority this summer.

 

Keegan has handed the list of players he is willing to sell to Wise, who has informed the players’ agents they can leave. This would appear to suggest Alan Smith will not be leaving this summer as his agent, Alex Black, has already insisted his client is staying at St James’s Park despite a poor first season on Tyneside.

[Dave]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article4109404.ece

 

Mike Ashley, the Newcastle United owner, is to take a more active role in the daily running of the club following a specific request from Kevin Keegan. With Chris Mort, the chairman, due to return to his legal practise in London later this summer, Ashley will begin his second season in charge at St James’ Park in a position of direct authority.

 

On several occasions after his appointment in January, Keegan commented publicly on his lack of regular contact with the billionaire retailer, but that scenario is now expected to change. While Mort will effectively be replaced by Derek Llambias, who is presently deputy chairman, Ashley’s involvement will increase significantly, a development which should appease Keegan.

 

While Keegan enjoyed a sound relationship with Mort, he was understood to be concerned that Newcastle could never expect to be truly successful without the full attention of its benefactor. Ashley has already had an impact on the club’s transfer policy, with Newcastle focussing their resources on young, talented players rather than established professionals who would offer only short-term value.

 

According to a senior figure on Tyneside, that approach has been endorsed by Keegan, as have all decisions on recruitment and sales. It has been reiterated that Keegan remains the final arbiter over who joins the club – activity is expected to pick up when he returns from holiday later this month – and who leaves, ahead of Dennis Wise the executive director.

[ShearMagic]

Read that earlier.

 

Unsure what to think of that to be honest, I suppose it's a good thing.

 

Although there's been plenty of occasions where the people in charge have been too 'hands on'.

[garth]

fuck that bit about Smith not being sold is depressing, to say the least.

[Dave]

Good news if it improves communications.

[relámpago blanco]

http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/06/11/ashley-steps-up-united-control-61634-21055602/

Ashley steps up United control

 

Jun 11 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

Sound's good,  I'm a bit sceptical as to the date they said Keegan would be returning from his holiday because I'm sure The Chronicle said it was this Monday coming.

 

Anyway, it'll be better for Ashley get more involved, it's his club and he needs to understand it more so he can see what investments need making from a better point of view and I'd like him and Keegan to have a better rapport and actually speak to each other more than twice a year.

[Skirge]

Seems like KK thinks if he can get Ashley more involved then he can get more done, I think its good news and if KK and Big Mike can get a good working relationship going then its all the better for the club.

Its better to be able to ask the bloke with the money direct rather than asking the bloke who asks the bloke who asks the bloke with the money..

[Dave]

Ashley made the decision to become more directly involved in the club following the meeting in London with Keegan last month, when United’s manager suggested that, if he wants Newcastle to be successful, he has to spend more of his work time devoted to it.

 

Ashley will define the direction that the club takes in its recruitment policy and will also decide on the wages that will be offered to Michael Owen and Steven Taylor when they hold their next round of contract talks.

 

In return, Keegan has been assured he has the final say on individual transfer deals, while there was also a strong denial from the boardroom yesterday that the manager is under pressure to sell any of the club’s top earners in a bid to slash the wage bill.

 

The Journal can also reveal that, while the Magpies have still not made any progress in the transfer market this summer, it is understood this will change when Keegan returns from holiday in a fortnight’s time, confirming that it is the manager and not executive director (football) Dennis Wise or head of recruitment Tony Jimenez who is dictating which players are signed.

 

Nevertheless, Keegan has been told by Ashley that he wants a long-term approach taken, rather than simply a few quick fixes before the start of the new season.

 

That would appear to rule out moves for senior internationals, with the Magpies concentrating on signing young, emerging players instead of established stars who are coming to the end of their careers.

 

This approach has been agreed to by Keegan, as long as he also rates the player in question and is also able to decide which players are allowed to leave this summer.

 

Keegan, as revealed in The Journal last month, has made it clear to the board that he would like to keep the troubled star [barton], who was sentenced to six months following an attack on two people in Liverpool last Christmas.

 

Keegan has handed the list of players he is willing to sell to Wise, who has informed the players’ agents they can leave.

 

Just a few snippets of interest from that article. Better.

[stalker]

Did anyone else notice that in one of the Journal articles this morning we have sold Emre "for nearly 4 million" and in the other "for around  3 million"? You've got to love the consistency.

[WarrenBartonCentrePartin]

http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/06/11/ashley-steps-up-united-control-61634-21055602/

Ashley steps up United control

 

Jun 11 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

 

 

Nevertheless, Keegan has been told by Ashley that he wants a long-term approach taken, rather than simply a few quick fixes before the start of the new season.

 

That would appear to rule out moves for senior internationals, with the Magpies concentrating on signing young, emerging players instead of established stars who are coming to the end of their careers.

 

Thats the bit that slightly vexes me.  If we're to improve in any way, we need more quality in the squad.  I know this isn't the gospel truth and it says players 'coming towards the end of their careers', but if we're looking to primarily sign young 'uns then we're not going to get quality straight away, and so the chance is more mid-table mediocrity will follow.  Although how young is young?  If Edwards reckons he got this from a 'United source' then surely he's of the belief we won't be signing someone like Turan?  I wouldn't call 25 years of age 'young'.

[OzzieMandias]

A long-term approach. Well, that's a novelty, at any rate.

[Dokko]

I'd rather see Ashley sell up and Keegan sacked than see Alan Smith playing footballing in a B&W shirt next season.

 

 

[geordie jamie]

Surley Keegan still cant be on his hols. Come back man and sign some players.

[Dave]

I'd rather see Ashley sell up and Keegan sacked than see Alan Smith playing footballing in a B&W shirt next season.

 

 

 

[TRon]

It all sounded so good until we got to the bit about Smith staying. The prospect of a season on the bench should be hammered home to the twat.

[Dr Venkman]

good news, might shut a few people up for a day or two

[Broadsword]

Edwards reckons he got this from a 'United source' then surely he's of the belief we won't be signing someone like Turan?  I wouldn't call 25 years of age 'young'.

 

Turan is 21.

[SUPERTOON]

The paper has been saying Keegan will be back from holiday in a fortnight for about 5 weeks!

[relámpago blanco]

The paper has been saying Keegan will be back from holiday in a fortnight for about 5 weeks!

Surely he's got a mobile phone anyway it's not like he'll actually be negoitiating the deal himself. All he has to do is this;

 

Keegan:"Go and buy Shaun Wright Phillips"

Wise "Ok"

 

[Guest WalkervilleMag]

It all sounded so good until we got to the bit about Smith staying. The prospect of a season on the bench should be hammered home to the t***.

 

All well saying sell him,  need somebody who wants to buy him 1st, and i doubt no club would 1. pay anything near what we paid for him,  and 2. Agree to his wage demands, meaning ether we pick up the diffrence in wages, or he stays here

[Dokko]

The paper has been saying Keegan will be back from holiday in a fortnight for about 5 weeks!

Surely he's got a mobile phone anyway it's not like he'll actually be negoitiating the deal himself. All he has to do is this;

 

Keegan:"Go and buy Shaun Wright Phillips"

Wise "Ok"

 

 

Aye its working well so far.

[relámpago blanco]

The paper has been saying Keegan will be back from holiday in a fortnight for about 5 weeks!

Surely he's got a mobile phone anyway it's not like he'll actually be negoitiating the deal himself. All he has to do is this;

 

Keegan:"Go and buy Shaun Wright Phillips"

Wise "Ok"

 

 

Aye its working well so far.

Aye, working wonders.  How did we ever do without people liek Wise and co.

[Slim]

Is that the meeting that a few months ago the papers were saying he is going to sack Keegan *sigh*

[Disco]

Did anyone else notice that in one of the Journal articles this morning we have sold Emre "for nearly 4 million" and in the other "for around  3 million"? You've got to love the consistency.

Selling Ameobi to Norwich now and not Ipswich too.

[Tisd09]

The paper has been saying Keegan will be back from holiday in a fortnight for about 5 weeks!

Surely he's got a mobile phone anyway it's not like he'll actually be negoitiating the deal himself. All he has to do is this;

 

Keegan:"Go and buy Shaun Wright Phillips"

Wise "Ok"

 

 

KK hasn't got a mobile, he's old school, thats Allardyce.