So who's going to buy the club?

[NE5]

My Toon Deal Will Astound World..

Oct 6 2008 By Craig Mcdonald

 

Scot Boasts Of £300m Newcastle United Bid

 

A SCOTS businessman last night claimed his £300million deal to take over Newcastle United would "astound the world".

 

Jonathan Cleland, 46, brushed off doubts about his ability to clinch the deal and said he would find backers with the cash.

 

Cleland - who says other Scots are involved in the plans - added: "We are going to put together a deal that will astound the world because of the remarkable vision, insight and networking that has been brought to bear to make it come to pass."

 

He described his role in the plans as "chief executive" and said he had anticipated there would be those who doubted him.

 

He said: "We are trying to buy a venerable English institution in the world of football.

 

"Of course there are going to be people that get cold feet or get a little bit nervous."

 

Doubts were raised at the weekend over the credibility of the deal after one reported backer, South Africa's richest man Johann Rupert, said he'd never heard of Cleland.

 

The Record told on Saturday how Rupert and two other South African tycoons had flatly denied knowing anything about a deal.

 

But Cleland, who was born in Africa to Scottish parents, said: "That is part of the cost of putting a deal of this scale together. I can't comment on speculation.

 

"All I can tell you is that who we eventually do the deal with - because we will eventually do a deal with Newcastle United - may not be those originally identified.

 

"Obviously, the people who were mentioned were the people who were, at the time, our preferred backers.

 

"But if they fall by the wayside, then we will respect their decisions."

 

Cleland admitted: "With the potential money that we identified deserting us, I'm less confident but I remain enthusiastic.

 

"The way I put it is - money follows good ideas, good people and a good plan and we have those, so we believe money will follow, if not from these gentlemen then certainly from others."

 

Cleland, who came to Scotland nine years ago, runs a management consultancy called Corpreneurs from his home in Stirling.

 

He said: "Corpreneurs is my consulting business. What we do is to help businesses to improve their results.

 

"I don't want to talk about me personally. I'm not doing this for celebrity.

 

"I'm doing this to help a wonderful English institution be the success it deserves.

 

"Of course I am serious about this. My own credibility is at stake and the credibility of Corpreneurs.

 

"I will never sidestep attention if it helps us but in this case it doesn't.

 

"We need to operate under the radar to bring out the really big money people.

 

"The really big money people don't want to have their names in the press."

 

Cleland walks with the aid of a stick after suffering a stroke in 2004.

 

He runs the charity Headlight and said: "I'm demonstrating that people who've had brain injuries can recover.

 

"Some might argue it took my brain injury to be interested in Newcastle United."

 

Last week, Cleland said he'd already met former manager Kevin Keegan and plans to bring the Toon idol back to St James's Park.

 

'Some might argue it took my brain injury to be interested in Newcastle'

 

 

Poor bloke. He doesn't appear to realise how stupid he's sounding.

 

anyone but Fred eh ?

 

That would be 2 duds out of 2.

 

Keep trying.

 

 

[Syrette]

Why must you insist on bringing Shepherd into absolutely everything you talk about on here?

[relámpago blanco]

Why must be you insist on bringing Shepherd into absolutely everything you talk about on here?

He's in love with him.

[themanupstairs]

 

NE5 seriously!!!

 

The same way there are potential suitors out there who will turn out to be worse than Shepherd, there will also be those who will turn out to be better - a FACT of life that makes your above post look bafflingly stupid.

[dilligaf]

It wouldnt surprise me if someone has made a reasonable offer and given Ashley a deadline, and hes set his own to see if there are any other better/serious offers

[NE5]

 

NE5 seriously!!!

 

The same way there are potential suitors out there who will turn out to be worse than Shepherd, there will also be those who will turn out to be better - a FACT of life that makes your above post look bafflingly stupid.

 

Well, basically, its because I think the older people on here who saw the days pre-1992 [or say they did] and spent half their lives saying how embarrassed they were at Shepherd and Hall - poor dears - and how they wanted them out [yes for anybody] are unbelievably and bafflingly stupid. Especially when they still can't bring themselves to admit it.

 

Mind boggling that we might actually do even worse than how Ashley has done, but its easily possible.

 

 

[Guest Edd]

I just hope Mike Ashley sells the club to the right bidder (the owner we need) and not the highest bidder.

 

 

You can hope all you like, but I don't see why he should

[Guest gggg]

I just hope Mike Ashley sells the club to the right bidder (the owner we need) and not the highest bidder.

 

 

You can hope all you like, but I don't see why he should

 

Because he's still peddling that 'i'm a fan like you' bollocks and that will be proven to be another lie.

[afar]

Seems very strange that he's practically admitted, he's actually got no money yet, just looking for backers. He's either a very ambitious and somewhat niave man or a publicity hungry whore.

[Guest Edd]

I just hope Mike Ashley sells the club to the right bidder (the owner we need) and not the highest bidder.

 

 

You can hope all you like, but I don't see why he should

 

Because he's still peddling that 'i'm a fan like you' bollocks and that will be proven to be another lie.

 

I think we gave up any right to complain about his "I'm a fan" comments the minute the other fans decided to drive him out. 

 

He can't win though really.  If he sells at a low price it's more likely to be someone with little money to spend on players and he'll get flack for that, and if he sells for a high price it's more likely these people will have more money to spend on players but he'll get flack for profiteering.

 

I don't necessarily agree with all of NE5's argument a couple of posts back, but he says a lot of people wanted Shepherd out and didn't care or consider who might take over and the same applies to Ashley.  Some people were in such a hurry to get him out that they didn't consider whether he would sell to someone who was in the best interests of the club, or whether they would in fact be better for the club than Ashley himself. 

[Teasy]

 

I think we gave up any right to complain about his "I'm a fan" comments the minute the other fans decided to drive him out. 

 

He can't win though really.  If he sells at a low price it's more likely to be someone with little money to spend on players and he'll get flack for that, and if he sells for a high price it's more likely these people will have more money to spend on players but he'll get flack for profiteering.

 

Pretty much nonesense that like.

[Consortium of one]

Me and my consortium have raised up to $2,001.27 as of this morning.  I have spoken to someone at Seymour Pierce and have broached the idea of a face to face to begin hammering out details.  I must say I was rather put off by the fact that they expect me to pay my way over to London.  I thought they might be a little more gracious to a potential buyer, especially since air fair and accomodations would take up a substantial portion of the funds that I have raised.  I played it cool though, and told them that I'd effort the flight when I had a moment, referring to my quite busy schedule (pronounced "shedule" for an added air of continentality).  I expect that one of the higher up will trump the lackey I spoke to and call and roll out the red carpet for me any moment now.

[ChezGiven]

I just hope Mike Ashley sells the club to the right bidder (the owner we need) and not the highest bidder.

 

 

You can hope all you like, but I don't see why he should

 

Because he's still peddling that 'i'm a fan like you' bollocks and that will be proven to be another lie.

 

I think we gave up any right to complain about his "I'm a fan" comments the minute the other fans decided to drive him out. 

 

He can't win though really.  If he sells at a low price it's more likely to be someone with little money to spend on players and he'll get flack for that, and if he sells for a high price it's more likely these people will have more money to spend on players but he'll get flack for profiteering.

 

I don't necessarily agree with all of NE5's argument a couple of posts back, but he says a lot of people wanted Shepherd out and didn't care or consider who might take over and the same applies to Ashley.  Some people were in such a hurry to get him out that they didn't consider whether he would sell to someone who was in the best interests of the club, or whether they would in fact be better for the club than Ashley himself. 

 

Correct.

[ChezGiven]

 

I think we gave up any right to complain about his "I'm a fan" comments the minute the other fans decided to drive him out. 

 

He can't win though really.  If he sells at a low price it's more likely to be someone with little money to spend on players and he'll get flack for that, and if he sells for a high price it's more likely these people will have more money to spend on players but he'll get flack for profiteering.

 

Pretty much nonesense that like.

 

Wrong.

[Guest Edd]

 

I think we gave up any right to complain about his "I'm a fan" comments the minute the other fans decided to drive him out. 

 

He can't win though really.  If he sells at a low price it's more likely to be someone with little money to spend on players and he'll get flack for that, and if he sells for a high price it's more likely these people will have more money to spend on players but he'll get flack for profiteering.

 

Pretty much nonesense that like.

 

No, for some people that's exactly how they'll react.   They already hate him so whatever he does they will put a bad spin on it.  We all do it, it's human nature (see also discussions about Taylor, Milner, Shepherd etc etc).

[NE5]

I just hope Mike Ashley sells the club to the right bidder (the owner we need) and not the highest bidder.

 

 

You can hope all you like, but I don't see why he should

 

Because he's still peddling that 'i'm a fan like you' bollocks and that will be proven to be another lie.

 

I think we gave up any right to complain about his "I'm a fan" comments the minute the other fans decided to drive him out. 

 

He can't win though really.  If he sells at a low price it's more likely to be someone with little money to spend on players and he'll get flack for that, and if he sells for a high price it's more likely these people will have more money to spend on players but he'll get flack for profiteering.

 

I don't necessarily agree with all of NE5's argument a couple of posts back, but he says a lot of people wanted Shepherd out and didn't care or consider who might take over and the same applies to Ashley.  Some people were in such a hurry to get him out that they didn't consider whether he would sell to someone who was in the best interests of the club, or whether they would in fact be better for the club than Ashley himself. 

 

Correct.

 

are you agreeing with the last sentence CG ? I'm not so sure if Shepherd should get the blame for this statement that he "didn't consider whether he would sell to someone who was in the best interests of the club". I think that statement applies to the Halls and not Shepherd but I don't expect people to see this as they probably won't want to.

 

Other than that, and the fact that many people DID want Shepherd out for anybody and there must be hundreds of posts to prove it, I agree with the sentiments anyway. In spite of the fact that I had no confidence whatsoever in Ashley, I also think that there is still a whole lot worse again that we could end up with. [Which raises the Halls and Shepherd still higher in the grand scheme of things]. Whatever.

 

There is no doubt that Ashley will sell to whoever pays his price. He's got no affinity with the club. He never did. And if it was me selling a club that had no affinity with, I'd do exactly the same.

 

 

[Baggio]

Shepherd released a statement as chairman recommending that all shareholders sell to Ashley for £1.01 per share.

 

The board at St James’ Park has recommended that Ashley’s 101p per share offer be accepted by the remaining shareholders, with the sportswear tycoon requiring 75% to trigger a full takeover of the club.

 

A statement issued by Shepherd, read: “The offer from SJHL (St James Holdings Limited - Ashley’s company) is at a level which fully reflects both the performance of Newcastle and its prospects and ambitions for the future.

 

“The board believes that SJHL and Mike Ashley will be excellent custodians of Newcastle United’s heritage and will provide the best possible opportunity for the club to flourish in the future, to the benefit of the company and its fans.”

 

 

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/north-east-sport/football/latest-football-news/2007/06/07/magpies-shepherd-to-sell-84229-19259723/

 

[NE5]

Minority shareholder.

 

End of story.

 

Baggio must be well pleased that all his dreams have worked out so well for the club.

 

I can't quite believe that he is too dumb to recognise what is nothing other than normal business procedure and associated comments in this sort of situation.

[Baggio]

Yet between Shepherd and the rest of the shareholders they had a combined total of 58.4%

 

He was happy to not only sell his shares but recommend everyone else sell theirs too, in fact there's an interview kicking around on here with Sir John Hall where he says he went to London with a price in his head that was agreed with the Shepherd's to sell the club for when he met Ashley's people, that might explain why Shepherd's only put up a token fight to hold on to his shares rather than refusing to sell to Ashley and telling the other shareholders to do the same.

[Baggio]

Minority shareholder.

 

End of story.

 

Baggio must be well pleased that all his dreams have worked out so well for the club.

 

I can't quite believe that he is too dumb to recognise what is nothing other than normal business procedure and associated comments in this sort of situation.

 

I'm not going to get into an argument with you Steve as you will only throw your toys out of the pram and send me PM's offering to fight me again. mackems.gif

[NE5]

Yet between Shepherd and the rest of the shareholders they had a combined total of 58.4%

 

He was happy to not only sell his shares but recommend everyone else sell theirs too, in fact there's an interview kicking around on here with Sir John Hall where he says he went to London with a price in his head that was agreed with the Shepherd's to sell the club for when he met Ashley's people, that might explain why Shepherd's only put up a token fight to hold on to his shares rather than refusing to sell to Ashley and telling the other shareholders to do the same.

 

last post edited, and notice the lack of notification 

 

You're showing your ignorance, and not for the first time.

 

As you already lied when you said I was happy to sell mine - when I clearly said twice that I would rather not do it - I don't suppose you will embrace the truth now either.

 

The Halls had been touting for a buyer for ages, not Shepherd.

 

Now I've corrected you, I've bugger all else to say to you.

 

 

[NE5]

Minority shareholder.

 

End of story.

 

Baggio must be well pleased that all his dreams have worked out so well for the club.

 

I can't quite believe that he is too dumb to recognise what is nothing other than normal business procedure and associated comments in this sort of situation.

 

I'm not going to get into an argument with you Steve as you will only throw your toys out of the pram and send me PM's offering to fight me again. mackems.gif

 

Matthew won't tell me when he is next in Newcastle will you Matthew, and tell me to my face what he said about stalking my daughter ?

 

 

[BottledDog]

Minority shareholder.

 

End of story.

 

Baggio must be well pleased that all his dreams have worked out so well for the club.

 

I can't quite believe that he is too dumb to recognise what is nothing other than normal business procedure and associated comments in this sort of situation.

 

As a 'minority shareholder' he had no choice other than to sell, no choice but to put his name to that statement? Give over.

[Syrette]

Deja vu...

[NE5]

Minority shareholder.

 

End of story.

 

Baggio must be well pleased that all his dreams have worked out so well for the club.

 

I can't quite believe that he is too dumb to recognise what is nothing other than normal business procedure and associated comments in this sort of situation.

 

As a 'minority shareholder' he had no choice other than to sell, no choice but to put his name to that statement? Give over.

 

see my other post.