So who's going to buy the club?

[Teasy]

NO ESCAPE FOR MIKE ASHLEY

 

MIKE ASHLEY could be in charge at Newcastle until the end of the season.

 

The Toon owner has told allies he is prepared to sit tight if the right offer does not come in by the end of the week, the deadline set by brokers Seymour Pierce.

 

Ashley has been warned he will struggle to find any investor ready to meet his £300million asking price in the current financial market.

 

He still wants out but will not be rushed into a quick sale.

 

And despite seeing the value of his shares in Sports Direct plummet he still has the financial strength to wait for a new buyer to emerge once the credit crunch starts to ease.

 

There are still would-be buyers, but City sources now doubt whether anyone will be prepared to pay so much while finance problems sweep the globe.

 

They say Newcastle is no longer considered the proposition it was a few weeks ago. With each day its standing has dropped.

Sanction

 

That will alarm Geordie fans, who now face the prospect of a January transfer window in which their struggling side will make no major signings. Newcastle are more likely to be a selling club.

 

Ashley’s attempts to cut the wage bill in the summer led to the controversial departure of manager Kevin Keegan, who would not sanction any more sales.

 

The Magpies have six players picking up more than £3m a year.

 

Top of that list is Michael Owen, who will be available for a knockdown £2m fee in January, when his contract will have just six months to run. Manchester City, one of the few clubs who can match his £110,000- a-week wages, could make a move.

 

There will also be fresh attempts to off-load big earners Alan Smith and Joey Barton.

 

And Oba Martins’ future on Tyneside is also in doubt. The Nigerian striker is unhappy that a contract extension was blocked.

The uncertainty over the club’s sale means Joe Kinnear’s reign as manager is likely to be longer than the six games he was originally appointed for.

 

He could be in charge for the whole campaign and has made a second bid to bring in Gerry Francis to bolster his coaching staff.

 

Meanwhile, Ashley is ready to call a truce in his battle with Keegan.

 

Sport of the World has learned Keegan looks set to collect the £2m compensation he sought following his exit.However, that is unlikely to open the door for any return under the current United ownership despite this week’s departure of vice-president Tony Jimenez.

 

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/article43031.ece

 

As if he's going to try to sell players to cut costs when the clubs up for sale    News of the world, where logic and sense go to die.

[Dr Venkman]

i'm nearly crying reading this thread, fucking hell man

[Skirge]

I doubt he is going to try and make money by selling the players we have in January, he does that we go down for sure. Of course there is the worry that lots of players will want away and there will be plenty of clubs that will start tryig to lure our top players.

[NJS]

Of course there is the worry that lots of players will want away and there will be plenty of clubs that will start tryig to lure our top players.

 

That's my worry - if people like Martins say that they aren't happy, I wouldn't be surprised if Ashley just said okay well off you go then.

[Guest neesy111]

if the club went down, he would lose 150-200 million, so all this talk of selling players is most likely crap

[Guest Slippery Sam]

This is a classic case of TINA - There Is No Alternative....

If Ashley can't find a buyer by end of Nov, he's in a cleft stick - he risks relegation unless he agrees to strengthen the side in the Jan window, but can he give any funds for that to a temporary manager whose buys may not be either wanted by his successor(which Ashley will have to choose if he cannot sell the club)??

If he doesn't take action, the club could go down and his Investment is immediately worth much less.

 

I can see that he WILL have to re-appoint KK(or a new full-time manager)within a month unless the club is sold.

Time will tell - maybe, if results pick up, he will even appoint Kinnear until the end of the season.

 

Good post.

 

 

 

 

[Teasy]

Of course there is the worry that lots of players will want away and there will be plenty of clubs that will start tryig to lure our top players.

 

That's my worry - if people like Martins say that they aren't happy, I wouldn't be surprised if Ashley just said okay well off you go then.

 

He'd tell them to stay until the new owner is in, he gains nothing from selling players, it just devalues his asset and risks relegation which would effectively destroy his investment completely.

[Guest sicko2ndbest]

Sunday Sun - Anil Ambani ready to revive interest

 

Meanwhile, sources suggest that Indian billionaire Anil Ambani may be ready to revive his interest in a Newcastle takeover.

 

The Sunday Sun can confirm that Ambani did make serious inquiries about a bid for United in the summer, and has not ruled out an official approach.

 

But the revelation that owner Mike Ashley has underwritten Newcastle’s debts rather than settled them out of his own pocket is understood to be a new concern for would-be buyers.

 

One of the potential investors approached by Ashley during his recent trip to Dubai — Zabeel Investments — are poised to buy Charlton Athletic, as the likelihood increases of Ashley having to significantly lower his asking price for the Magpies.

 

 

[Guest Sniffer]

If MA can't get a buyer and would seriously want to keep the Toon then all he has to do  is get rid of wise and lambias. Come clean and admit that he hired twats who misled him and start over again wiser after this experience. Show his comittment in January, Seems simple enough.

 

Except that he doesn't have the money any more and in this downward spiralling economy owning a club is probably the last thing a sane person would want unless you are mega rich.

[Guest Phil K]

I'm not trying to be argumentative; I'm trying to make a point.

That'll make a pleasant change....

[OzzieMandias]

I'm not trying to be argumentative; I'm trying to make a point.

That'll make a pleasant change....

 

You, on the other hand, take a 22-hour-old post out of context simply in order to take a swipe. So no change there.

 

Congratulations, though, on managing a whole post without whining about how the world is unfair to racists.

[Guest Darth Toon]

 

But the revelation that owner Mike Ashley has underwritten Newcastle’s debts rather than settled them out of his own pocket is understood to be a new concern for would-be buyers.

 

 

OK, I'not really up on all this financial stuff - can anyone explain the implications of this bit - has he paid the debts or not, and how does this affect the price/value of the club?

[Dokko]

Sunday Sun - Anil Ambani ready to revive interest

 

Meanwhile, sources suggest that Indian billionaire Anil Ambani may be ready to revive his interest in a Newcastle takeover.

 

The Sunday Sun can confirm that Ambani did make serious inquiries about a bid for United in the summer, and has not ruled out an official approach.

 

But the revelation that owner Mike Ashley has underwritten Newcastle’s debts rather than settled them out of his own pocket is understood to be a new concern for would-be buyers.

 

One of the potential investors approached by Ashley during his recent trip to Dubai — Zabeel Investments — are poised to buy Charlton Athletic, as the likelihood increases of Ashley having to significantly lower his asking price for the Magpies.

 

 

 

'Help me Anil Ambani, you're my only hope'

[Guest VegasToon]

 

But the revelation that owner Mike Ashley has underwritten Newcastle’s debts rather than settled them out of his own pocket is understood to be a new concern for would-be buyers.

 

 

OK, I'not really up on all this financial stuff - can anyone explain the implications of this bit - has he paid the debts or not, and how does this affect the price/value of the club?

 

He lent the money interest free.  I don't think he ever just gave the money for the debts to be paid. 

[Robster]

Sunday Sun - Anil Ambani ready to revive interest

 

Meanwhile, sources suggest that Indian billionaire Anil Ambani may be ready to revive his interest in a Newcastle takeover.

 

The Sunday Sun can confirm that Ambani did make serious inquiries about a bid for United in the summer, and has not ruled out an official approach.

 

But the revelation that owner Mike Ashley has underwritten Newcastle’s debts rather than settled them out of his own pocket is understood to be a new concern for would-be buyers.

 

One of the potential investors approached by Ashley during his recent trip to Dubai — Zabeel Investments — are poised to buy Charlton Athletic, as the likelihood increases of Ashley having to significantly lower his asking price for the Magpies.

 

 

 

Not sure how this story matches up with Ambani's supposed interest in West Ham ?

All very confusing

[Mick]

 

OK, I'not really up on all this financial stuff - can anyone explain the implications of this bit - has he paid the debts or not, and how does this affect the price/value of the club?

 

The only thing I can think of is that he could expect the loan to be repaid on top of the sale price, if it's included then it makes no difference.

[NE5]

I wonder why Shepherd feels the need to keep his name in the papers.

 

because, unlike you, he doesn't request to be anonymous ?

 

 

[NE5]

 

OK, I'not really up on all this financial stuff - can anyone explain the implications of this bit - has he paid the debts or not, and how does this affect the price/value of the club?

 

The only thing I can think of is that he could expect the loan to be repaid on top of the sale price, if it's included then it makes no difference.

 

bravo. Which is what a few of us said when you and others were making him out to be saint mike and insinuating he was doing it all out of the goodness of his heart.

 

 

[Mick]

 

bravo. Which is what a few of us said when you and others were making him out to be saint mike and insinuating he was doing it all out of the goodness of his heart.

 

 

 

I can't remember people making him out to be a saint, I think he came here to enjoy the football and I think he's tried to do his best for the club.  The fact that he's paid off debts by loaning the club money is no different to what the Russian has done at Chelsea.  Ashley has made mistakes and I don't think anybody has tried to say anything different to that.

[NE5]

 

bravo. Which is what a few of us said when you and others were making him out to be saint mike and insinuating he was doing it all out of the goodness of his heart.

 

 

 

I can't remember people making him out to be a saint, I think he came here to enjoy the football and I think he's tried to do his best for the club.  The fact that he's paid off debts by loaning the club money is no different to what the Russian has done at Chelsea.  Ashley has made mistakes and I don't think anybody has tried to say anything different to that.

 

shame you're not half so understanding towards people that provided you with regular european football.....and, eeerrr, saved the club from folding.

 

Fact is that myself and a few others have been trying to tell you that paying off that stadium debt is what anybody else would have done had they had the brass to do it. He's whacking it onto the asking price, and you KNOW that numerous people insinuated he did it out of the goodness of his heart. He's screwed up because he knew not much about football, the area, the supporters, the football club, all qualities the board you slated had in fact.

 

Lets hope he does get his money back quickly, and walks away with a huge slice of money that the ex board were slated for doing from every direction, and bring an end to this whole sad and sorry episode.....and we get someone else in who will attempt to match the relative success we had in the last 15 years, at least.

[Thespence]

 

bravo. Which is what a few of us said when you and others were making him out to be saint mike and insinuating he was doing it all out of the goodness of his heart.

 

 

 

I can't remember people making him out to be a saint, I think he came here to enjoy the football and I think he's tried to do his best for the club.  The fact that he's paid off debts by loaning the club money is no different to what the Russian has done at Chelsea.  Ashley has made mistakes and I don't think anybody has tried to say anything different to that.

 

Many on here & I am sure I was one of them were over the moon when we were lead to believe the debt had been paid off from what Mort had said. It was the major thing used defending Ashely for not spending big but like Sir John Hall the money given to the club is a 0% loan, which I suppose is good in these times.

[Mick]

 

shame you're not half so understanding towards people that provided you with regular european football.....and, eeerrr, saved the club from folding.

 

Fact is that myself and a few others have been trying to tell you that paying off that stadium debt is what anybody else would have done had they had the brass to do it. He's whacking it onto the asking price, and you KNOW that numerous people insinuated he did it out of the goodness of his heart. He's screwed up because he knew not much about football, the area, the supporters, the football club, all qualities the board you slated had in fact.

 

Lets hope he does get his money back quickly, and walks away with a huge slice of money that the ex board were slated for doing from every direction, and bring an end to this whole sad and sorry episode.....and we get someone else in who will attempt to match the relative success we had in the last 15 years, at least.

 

Unlike you with Ashley I gave Shepherd years to get things right, I didn't make my mind up the day he took over.  The stadium debt was nowhere near £100 million but you seem to gloss over that in attempt to whitewash the issue, laughable.  Nobody claims that Ashley paid off debt out of the goodness of his heart, he paid off some of the debt because he had to and the rest was paid off to reduce the effect it was having on the club.  Instead of the banks taking £millions it remained within the club. 

 

You also think you were right about Ashley all along just because Keegan has walked, not for the first time.    What did you say when he first walked out and didn't come back under Hall & Shepherd? 

 

The ex board were rightly slated for the direction they were taking the club, something Sir John recognised when selling his shares, he said they had run out of ideas.  It's just a pity he didn't understand that before appointing Souness, if he had we might not be having this argument now as the new owner wouldn't have been starting out from such a low position in a very competitive league.

 

[Mick]

 

Many on here & I am sure I was one of them were over the moon when we were lead to believe the debt had been paid off from what Mort had said. It was the major thing used defending Ashely for not spending big but like Sir John Hall the money given to the club is a 0% loan, which I suppose is good in these times.

 

The debt was paid off, how it was paid off makes no difference as we no longer lost money servicing the debt and it would always have been factored into a sale.  Loan or gift to the club still takes it out of his bank balance and is effectively no longer available for him or the club to use.

[NE5]

 

shame you're not half so understanding towards people that provided you with regular european football.....and, eeerrr, saved the club from folding.

 

Fact is that myself and a few others have been trying to tell you that paying off that stadium debt is what anybody else would have done had they had the brass to do it. He's whacking it onto the asking price, and you KNOW that numerous people insinuated he did it out of the goodness of his heart. He's screwed up because he knew not much about football, the area, the supporters, the football club, all qualities the board you slated had in fact.

 

Lets hope he does get his money back quickly, and walks away with a huge slice of money that the ex board were slated for doing from every direction, and bring an end to this whole sad and sorry episode.....and we get someone else in who will attempt to match the relative success we had in the last 15 years, at least.

 

Unlike you with Ashley I gave Shepherd years to get things right, I didn't make my mind up the day he took over.  The stadium debt was nowhere near £100 million but you seem to gloss over that in attempt to whitewash the issue, laughable.  Nobody claims that Ashley paid off debt out of the goodness of his heart, he paid off some of the debt because he had to and the rest was paid off to reduce the effect it was having on the club.  Instead of the banks taking £millions it remained within the club. 

 

You also think you were right about Ashley all along just because Keegan has walked, not for the first time.    What did you say when he first walked out and didn't come back under Hall & Shepherd? 

 

The ex board were rightly slated for the direction they were taking the club, something Sir John recognised when selling his shares, he said they had run out of ideas.  It's just a pity he didn't understand that before appointing Souness, if he had we might not be having this argument now as the new owner wouldn't have been starting out from such a low position in a very competitive league.

 

 

I'm not whitewashing anything. The majority of people on here, including you, have made out that Ashley paid off these debts as if it was an act goodwill, ambition, or whatever. Look at your quote in my sig for your response to how you viewed his actions would be in this area.

 

You gave Shepherd time. Aye, you went to 2 FA Cup Finals and regular european football while you gave him time. If Ashley provided a club that was even aiming for half of that, then he would still have the goodwill of the supporters and wouldn't have lost his manager.

 

Speaking of who, you aren't taking the piss out of Keegan now are you, in your desperation to defend the man who hasn't "embarrassed" you ? For info, he "walked out" after 5 years [shame he didn't last even 1 year under Ashley] and when he walked out the first time, the chairman was in fact Sir John Hall, the man who was forced into appointing Keegan in the first place by his fellow directors, yet you still give him the credit.

 

Speaking of debts, it has been said often that all the major clubs have debts, and well documented by certain people that it is not such a big deal with the income coming into the club and revenue streams. Do you think that manu are in deep shit because they have a debt of something in excess of over half a billion ? Do you think they are worried about it or thier supporters are worried about it ? You and people like you only focussed on this for one reason. You wanted something to beat Shepherd with. Well, now Ashley has took it on, and as you all harped on about running the club "like a business", well now you have it. We didn't waste any money in the summer, or last January.

 

It didn't take much to see that this was what was going to happen, having seen and heard the utter bollocks that started coming out of the club this time a year ago. Anyone who had been there before would have done.

 

 

[Syrette]

Please don't reply to him Mick.