RIP sale thread.

[manorpark]

The longer this whole fiasco continues the more I am beginning to think that Ashley is prepared to see us go to the wall. Think about his long, protracted, public fight with Dave Whelan. Ashley continues to attempt to humiliate and belittle the man at every opportunity. Why would he not do the same with Newcastle. He has the power to absolutely destroy the club if he wants. I cannot see this ending in a good way if I am honest and its tearing me up to see our club being destroyed by a greedy, selfish man who has no concept of what Newcastle United football club means to its supporters.

 

This seems to be a very likely outcome indeed. Revenge is sweet.

[Guest toonlass]

The longer this whole fiasco continues the more I am beginning to think that Ashley is prepared to see us go to the wall. Think about his long, protracted, public fight with Dave Whelan. Ashley continues to attempt to humiliate and belittle the man at every opportunity. Why would he not do the same with Newcastle. He has the power to absolutely destroy the club if he wants. I cannot see this ending in a good way if I am honest and its tearing me up to see our club being destroyed by a greedy, selfish man who has no concept of what Newcastle United football club means to its supporters.

 

I'm afraid you're wrong, Ashley does not have "the power to absolutely destroy the club" but he does have the power to drag us down a few divisions and that looks to be his gameplan.

 

The club will survive Ashley and, trying just to see the merest hint of silver in the blackest of clouds, a total clearout and starting again with a blank canvass might not be all bad.

 

Of course he has the ability to destroy the club. He doesn't need to put the club into administration. He can pay the overheads, sell off the good players and recoup as much of the money he put into the club to buy the debts, but spend bugger all on new players etc. He can basically run us into the ground if he wants to. He did not become a billionaire by chance you know.

[ianovthetoon]

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/07/28/mcmahon-hits-out-at-nufc-as-profitable-group-pull-out-72703-24255538/

 

 

I hope Mike Ashley rots in hell, fucking wanker that he is

[ikri]

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/07/28/mcmahon-hits-out-at-nufc-as-profitable-group-pull-out-72703-24255538/

 

 

I hope Mike Ashley rots in hell, fucking wanker that he is

 

However, despite Profitable’s claims that Newcastle have been playing hardball, a source close to Seymour Pierce, said: “They did lodge an interest with us. But they never at any stage provided proof of funds.

 

“Their interest was always at a low level.”

 

McMahon is a fucking liar but he's done his job at raising the profile of his company and the media here has played along nicely. 

[Guest Pedro_de_geordieo]

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/07/28/mcmahon-hits-out-at-nufc-as-profitable-group-pull-out-72703-24255538/

 

 

I hope Mike Ashley rots in hell, f***ing w***** that he is

 

He does have a point though, communication with Fat boy and his muppet brigade is on the poor side

[Teasy]

The longer this whole fiasco continues the more I am beginning to think that Ashley is prepared to see us go to the wall. Think about his long, protracted, public fight with Dave Whelan. Ashley continues to attempt to humiliate and belittle the man at every opportunity. Why would he not do the same with Newcastle. He has the power to absolutely destroy the club if he wants. I cannot see this ending in a good way if I am honest and its tearing me up to see our club being destroyed by a greedy, selfish man who has no concept of what Newcastle United football club means to its supporters.

 

Oh fucking hell common, did it cost him hundreds of millions of pounds to belittle Dave Whelan?  I'm sure if it cost him nowt he'd be happy to do his best to piss off the fans, in fact I expect to hear plenty of digs from him once he's gone.  But the idea that the man is willing to lose hundreds of millions of pounds just to piss people off is ridiculous.

[stalker]

http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2009/07/newcastles-condition-remains-critical.html

 

Newcastle's condition remains critical

 

George Caulkin

 

In terms of seismic levels of surprise, Tuesday morning’s ‘development’ that the Profitable Group has withdrawn its interest in purchasing Newcastle United is right up there with the following sensational breaking news story: Britain can be a bit rainy. This is not a setback and nor should it be a cause of particular anguish because, put brutally, you cannot withdraw from a race you have not entered.

 

Which is not the same as saying that events at St James’ Park are running smoothly. While the sale of the club drags on, the start of the new season is now hurtling towards us - 11 days and counting - and we hardly need to trawl through that familiar, depressing list of concern. But for the sake of recent coma victims or the masochistic, here goes; an absentee owner, no manager, no buys, no sales, a 6-1 defeat at Leyton Orient.

 

The position Newcastle find themselves in has barely shifted within the last fortnight and it is a desperate one. Negotiations with interested parties are ongoing, but the proximity of the Coca Cola Championship must surely serve to focus the minds of those involved.

 

Soon we will be caught up in the maelstrom of matches and a transfer window which would be a crucial factor for any new custodians of the club will be nearing its conclusion.

 

We know that the extent of Newcastle’s overdraft - which is said to stand at anywhere between £35m and £40m - has tangled matters and that advice given to Mike Ashley by Seymour Pierce, the bank charged with selling the club, to reduce it by selling some high-earning players has not yet been taken. We know that after a short break, Keith Harris, Seymour Pierce’s executive chairman, returns to his desk this week.

 

It has been stated in this space previously that a useful rule of thumb during the whole takeover process has been to give least attention to the companies or bidders who make the most noise. There are reasons for that, from the very real presence of confidentiality agreements with preferred bidders, to the more general theory that serious candidates simply do not need to whip up publicity.

 

From the start, the Profitable Group - and they have not been alone - have not been shy in announcing their intentions, yet it is understood that while they made contact with Seymour Pierce, they never provided the necessary guarantees proving they could afford Ashley’s £100m asking price. For that reason, they were not provided access to the data room in which Newcastle’s troubled finances were laid bare.

 

It scarcely matters whether Profitable had ambitious ‘plans’ for Newcastle, whether they spoke to Alan Shearer about his prospective appointment as manager, because from the viewpoint of those involved in the sale, they were never viable, substantive candidates, which is why they have not been mentioned here. For whatever purpose (motive in this whole issue would be an interesting, separate debate - why the hell did Ashley buy Newcastle in the first place?), they have effectively added to the confusion and instability surrounding the club.

 

Only one group of people have suffered from the debacle and it is the same group as always; the club’s supporters. From Ashley and Derek Llambias, Newcastle’s managing director, they have heard next to nothing, genuine bidders are unable or, at this stage, unwilling to comment publicly and those who have broken cover have merely contributed to an interminable farce.

 

In the meantime and with no public face to quash them, rumours spread across Tyneside. Will Ashley cut his losses and seek to place Newcastle, with their crippling wage bill, into administration (something which is being discussed openly at the club’s training ground)? Will the banks demand that a portion of the club’s overdraft is repaid at the end of this month, obliging Ashley to either pour in more of his own money or take a more drastic step? How will it all end? Will it?

 

Until something changes, Newcastle cannot hope to set their own agenda. Is a 6-1 hammering at Brisbane Road a bigger sign of decline than an earlier 7-2 victory at Darlington a suggestion of uplift? Is the fact that 25,000 season tickets have been sold an indication of draining support or, given the context, a remarkable demonstration of loyalty? For now, everything at St James’ Park is viewed within a prism of disillusion.

 

The recent takeover of Southampton showed that from a position of apparent despair, redemption can follow very quickly. There are absolutely no guarantees that something similar will happen at Newcastle (and the longer the wait goes on, the less likely it must become), but, equally, it still could. At present, fans can do little other than cross their fingers and ignore all the froth.

 

The arrival of Leeds United on Wednesday for a pre-season fixture that is unlikely to sit comfortably in the friendly categorically will be another moment of psychology. There are parallels between the clubs which those of a black and white persuasion will not wish to contemplate but probably should, because Newcastle have consistently demonstrated that things can always get worse. But the Profitable Group are not another symptom of it; they are an irrelevance.

 

[ianovthetoon]

http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2009/07/newcastles-condition-remains-critical.html

 

Newcastle's condition remains critical

 

George Caulkin

 

In terms of seismic levels of surprise, Tuesday morning’s ‘development’ that the Profitable Group has withdrawn its interest in purchasing Newcastle United is right up there with the following sensational breaking news story: Britain can be a bit rainy. This is not a setback and nor should it be a cause of particular anguish because, put brutally, you cannot withdraw from a race you have not entered.

 

Which is not the same as saying that events at St James’ Park are running smoothly. While the sale of the club drags on, the start of the new season is now hurtling towards us - 11 days and counting - and we hardly need to trawl through that familiar, depressing list of concern. But for the sake of recent coma victims or the masochistic, here goes; an absentee owner, no manager, no buys, no sales, a 6-1 defeat at Leyton Orient.

 

The position Newcastle find themselves in has barely shifted within the last fortnight and it is a desperate one. Negotiations with interested parties are ongoing, but the proximity of the Coca Cola Championship must surely serve to focus the minds of those involved.

 

Soon we will be caught up in the maelstrom of matches and a transfer window which would be a crucial factor for any new custodians of the club will be nearing its conclusion.

 

We know that the extent of Newcastle’s overdraft - which is said to stand at anywhere between £35m and £40m - has tangled matters and that advice given to Mike Ashley by Seymour Pierce, the bank charged with selling the club, to reduce it by selling some high-earning players has not yet been taken. We know that after a short break, Keith Harris, Seymour Pierce’s executive chairman, returns to his desk this week.

 

It has been stated in this space previously that a useful rule of thumb during the whole takeover process has been to give least attention to the companies or bidders who make the most noise. There are reasons for that, from the very real presence of confidentiality agreements with preferred bidders, to the more general theory that serious candidates simply do not need to whip up publicity.

 

From the start, the Profitable Group - and they have not been alone - have not been shy in announcing their intentions, yet it is understood that while they made contact with Seymour Pierce, they never provided the necessary guarantees proving they could afford Ashley’s £100m asking price. For that reason, they were not provided access to the data room in which Newcastle’s troubled finances were laid bare.

 

It scarcely matters whether Profitable had ambitious ‘plans’ for Newcastle, whether they spoke to Alan Shearer about his prospective appointment as manager, because from the viewpoint of those involved in the sale, they were never viable, substantive candidates, which is why they have not been mentioned here. For whatever purpose (motive in this whole issue would be an interesting, separate debate - why the hell did Ashley buy Newcastle in the first place?), they have effectively added to the confusion and instability surrounding the club.

 

Only one group of people have suffered from the debacle and it is the same group as always; the club’s supporters. From Ashley and Derek Llambias, Newcastle’s managing director, they have heard next to nothing, genuine bidders are unable or, at this stage, unwilling to comment publicly and those who have broken cover have merely contributed to an interminable farce.

 

In the meantime and with no public face to quash them, rumours spread across Tyneside. Will Ashley cut his losses and seek to place Newcastle, with their crippling wage bill, into administration (something which is being discussed openly at the club’s training ground)? Will the banks demand that a portion of the club’s overdraft is repaid at the end of this month, obliging Ashley to either pour in more of his own money or take a more drastic step? How will it all end? Will it?

 

Until something changes, Newcastle cannot hope to set their own agenda. Is a 6-1 hammering at Brisbane Road a bigger sign of decline than an earlier 7-2 victory at Darlington a suggestion of uplift? Is the fact that 25,000 season tickets have been sold an indication of draining support or, given the context, a remarkable demonstration of loyalty? For now, everything at St James’ Park is viewed within a prism of disillusion.

 

The recent takeover of Southampton showed that from a position of apparent despair, redemption can follow very quickly. There are absolutely no guarantees that something similar will happen at Newcastle (and the longer the wait goes on, the less likely it must become), but, equally, it still could. At present, fans can do little other than cross their fingers and ignore all the froth.

 

The arrival of Leeds United on Wednesday for a pre-season fixture that is unlikely to sit comfortably in the friendly categorically will be another moment of psychology. There are parallels between the clubs which those of a black and white persuasion will not wish to contemplate but probably should, because Newcastle have consistently demonstrated that things can always get worse. But the Profitable Group are not another symptom of it; they are an irrelevance.

 

[Guest toonlass]

http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2009/07/newcastles-condition-remains-critical.html

 

Newcastle's condition remains critical

 

George Caulkin

 

In terms of seismic levels of surprise, Tuesday morning’s ‘development’ that the Profitable Group has withdrawn its interest in purchasing Newcastle United is right up there with the following sensational breaking news story: Britain can be a bit rainy. This is not a setback and nor should it be a cause of particular anguish because, put brutally, you cannot withdraw from a race you have not entered.

 

Which is not the same as saying that events at St James’ Park are running smoothly. While the sale of the club drags on, the start of the new season is now hurtling towards us - 11 days and counting - and we hardly need to trawl through that familiar, depressing list of concern. But for the sake of recent coma victims or the masochistic, here goes; an absentee owner, no manager, no buys, no sales, a 6-1 defeat at Leyton Orient.

 

The position Newcastle find themselves in has barely shifted within the last fortnight and it is a desperate one. Negotiations with interested parties are ongoing, but the proximity of the Coca Cola Championship must surely serve to focus the minds of those involved.

 

Soon we will be caught up in the maelstrom of matches and a transfer window which would be a crucial factor for any new custodians of the club will be nearing its conclusion.

 

We know that the extent of Newcastle’s overdraft - which is said to stand at anywhere between £35m and £40m - has tangled matters and that advice given to Mike Ashley by Seymour Pierce, the bank charged with selling the club, to reduce it by selling some high-earning players has not yet been taken. We know that after a short break, Keith Harris, Seymour Pierce’s executive chairman, returns to his desk this week.

 

It has been stated in this space previously that a useful rule of thumb during the whole takeover process has been to give least attention to the companies or bidders who make the most noise. There are reasons for that, from the very real presence of confidentiality agreements with preferred bidders, to the more general theory that serious candidates simply do not need to whip up publicity.

 

From the start, the Profitable Group - and they have not been alone - have not been shy in announcing their intentions, yet it is understood that while they made contact with Seymour Pierce, they never provided the necessary guarantees proving they could afford Ashley’s £100m asking price. For that reason, they were not provided access to the data room in which Newcastle’s troubled finances were laid bare.

 

It scarcely matters whether Profitable had ambitious ‘plans’ for Newcastle, whether they spoke to Alan Shearer about his prospective appointment as manager, because from the viewpoint of those involved in the sale, they were never viable, substantive candidates, which is why they have not been mentioned here. For whatever purpose (motive in this whole issue would be an interesting, separate debate - why the hell did Ashley buy Newcastle in the first place?), they have effectively added to the confusion and instability surrounding the club.

 

Only one group of people have suffered from the debacle and it is the same group as always; the club’s supporters. From Ashley and Derek Llambias, Newcastle’s managing director, they have heard next to nothing, genuine bidders are unable or, at this stage, unwilling to comment publicly and those who have broken cover have merely contributed to an interminable farce.

 

In the meantime and with no public face to quash them, rumours spread across Tyneside. Will Ashley cut his losses and seek to place Newcastle, with their crippling wage bill, into administration (something which is being discussed openly at the club’s training ground)? Will the banks demand that a portion of the club’s overdraft is repaid at the end of this month, obliging Ashley to either pour in more of his own money or take a more drastic step? How will it all end? Will it?

 

Until something changes, Newcastle cannot hope to set their own agenda. Is a 6-1 hammering at Brisbane Road a bigger sign of decline than an earlier 7-2 victory at Darlington a suggestion of uplift? Is the fact that 25,000 season tickets have been sold an indication of draining support or, given the context, a remarkable demonstration of loyalty? For now, everything at St James’ Park is viewed within a prism of disillusion.

 

The recent takeover of Southampton showed that from a position of apparent despair, redemption can follow very quickly. There are absolutely no guarantees that something similar will happen at Newcastle (and the longer the wait goes on, the less likely it must become), but, equally, it still could. At present, fans can do little other than cross their fingers and ignore all the froth.

 

The arrival of Leeds United on Wednesday for a pre-season fixture that is unlikely to sit comfortably in the friendly categorically will be another moment of psychology. There are parallels between the clubs which those of a black and white persuasion will not wish to contemplate but probably should, because Newcastle have consistently demonstrated that things can always get worse. But the Profitable Group are not another symptom of it; they are an irrelevance.

 

 

He really is the best newcastle united reporting journalist out there. Yet again another outstanding article from Caulkin. 

[Willow]

this club is a fucking nightmare

 

I reckon ashley is going to get beaten to a pulp if he takes us into administration!

 

I'm actually surprised theres not been any kind of protest outside SJP this pre-season, the whole club is being destroyed before our eyes and nothing is being done about it

 

[Guest aoliversaknob]

Possibly the best peice of journolism written about the whole sorry affair.

 

Top Man, top wordsmith,

 

G Caulkin

[Guest Pedro_de_geordieo]

Excellent read, this to me proves how complete and utter crap writing the Chronicle are.

[ianovthetoon]

If Ashley is having difficulty selling, it has to be the loan etc that is the sticking point. His best option really would be to sell the club for a nominal sum, with all debt being handed to the new owners. Ashley could apply two different interest rates to the loan, one for being in the Championship and a higher one with promotion. This way the new owners could invest some of their capital directly to the club for transfers etc and Ashley would get a little more than his £100M through time.

 

Won't happen though cos the guy's a moron

[ianovthetoon]

this club is a fucking nightmare

 

I reckon ashley is going to get beaten to a pulp if he takes us into administration!

 

I'm actually surprised theres not been any kind of protest outside SJP this pre-season, the whole club is being destroyed before our eyes and nothing is being done about it

 

 

I'd be surprised if there was no protest tomorrow night. I can see the football being secondary to the evening

[LoveItIfWeBeatU]

this club is a fucking nightmare

 

I reckon ashley is going to get beaten to a pulp if he takes us into administration!

 

I'm actually surprised theres not been any kind of protest outside SJP this pre-season, the whole club is being destroyed before our eyes and nothing is being done about it

The whole thing doesn't make any sense. From Ashley buying the club in the first place all the way through to his running it into the ground now.

 

I wonder how the media would be reacting if the people who bought Man U, Chelsea or Liverpool had done the same sort of thing to them that Ashley has done to us. It's funny how Mike Ashley is a 'fit and proper person' by the Premier League ownership rules but we'd have been better off if a Taiwanese dictator had bought us!

[dcmk]

this club is a f***ing nightmare

 

I reckon ashley is going to get beaten to a pulp if he takes us into administration!

 

I'm actually surprised theres not been any kind of protest outside SJP this pre-season, the whole club is being destroyed before our eyes and nothing is being done about it

The whole thing doesn't make any sense. From Ashley buying the club in the first place all the way through to his running it into the ground now.

 

I wonder how the media would be reacting if the people who bought Man U, Chelsea or Liverpool had done the same sort of thing to them that Ashley has done to us. It's funny how Mike Ashley is a 'fit and proper person' by the Premier League ownership rules but we'd have been better off if a Taiwanese dictator had bought us!

 

Huh? We are one of the most talked about teams pre-season, i don't get your point at all. 

 

 

 

[Heron]

As much as some form of protest would satisfy me as a fan I cannot see it changing anything. Wanting rid of one thing is all very well - but it's what you replace it with that's key.

[NG32]

Time to buy cream cakes of all varieties and hurl them at Llambias.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

As much as some form of protest would satisfy me as a fan I cannot see it changing anything. Wanting rid of one thing is all very well - but it's what you replace it with that's key.

 

If there's one thing we learned from Ashley replacing Shepherd, that's it.

[thomas]

The profitable group.   

 

[img-vader-noooooooooooo]

[Skirge]

[email protected]

 

Maybe 

[Ronaldo]

never took them seriously anyway

[Wallace]

this club is a f***ing nightmare

 

I reckon ashley is going to get beaten to a pulp if he takes us into administration!

 

I'm actually surprised theres not been any kind of protest outside SJP this pre-season, the whole club is being destroyed before our eyes and nothing is being done about it

The whole thing doesn't make any sense. From Ashley buying the club in the first place all the way through to his running it into the ground now.

 

I wonder how the media would be reacting if the people who bought Man U, Chelsea or Liverpool had done the same sort of thing to them that Ashley has done to us. It's funny how Mike Ashley is a 'fit and proper person' by the Premier League ownership rules but we'd have been better off if a Taiwanese dictator had bought us!

 

Huh? We are one of the most talked about teams pre-season, i don't get your point at all. 

 

 

 

 

We are one of the most talked about teams but most of it very inaccurate and resorts to the old cliches.  With the exception of George Caulkin, there are few if any print or broadcast journalists reporting the current situation in what I would consider to be an accurate manner.  As ever, everyone else thinks it is all the fans fault and that Ashley has paid off all the debt and we are an ungrateful bunch obsessed with former idols and so deserve everything we get.  Furthermore we would not be in the mess if we had kept Allardyce and so on.

 

I don't even think the comparison with Leeds is that relevant other than where we might end up.  There are so many times in the last 2 years that you can point to where the wrong decision has been made (if they had just made the correct decision on one of those occasions, our situation might be different now) - it has not been about chasing the dream as with Leeds and overspending in trying to achieve that.  It has been about employing the wrong people, employing people with no football experience, choosing to back the wrong people, selling the wrong players, not reacting promptly and letting things drift, employing Xisco for £50k a week for 5 years (still cannot believe that is true) and Bassong on £5k for 2 or 3 years to mention just a few.

 

Most of these things are being glossed over.  We've already had a play written on this season but there is definitely a whole book waiting to be written on how not to run a football club based on the last 2 years under Ashley.

[Mowen]

never took them seriously anyway

 

There was about a 2 hour spell when they first announced their interest and it was very exciting...then someone who'd heard of them pissed on that bonfire.

[dustynrg]

this club is a f***ing nightmare

 

I reckon ashley is going to get beaten to a pulp if he takes us into administration!

 

I'm actually surprised theres not been any kind of protest outside SJP this pre-season, the whole club is being destroyed before our eyes and nothing is being done about it

The whole thing doesn't make any sense. From Ashley buying the club in the first place all the way through to his running it into the ground now.

 

I wonder how the media would be reacting if the people who bought Man U, Chelsea or Liverpool had done the same sort of thing to them that Ashley has done to us. It's funny how Mike Ashley is a 'fit and proper person' by the Premier League ownership rules but we'd have been better off if a Taiwanese dictator had bought us!

 

Huh? We are one of the most talked about teams pre-season, i don't get your point at all. 

 

 

 

 

We are one of the most talked about teams but most of it very inaccurate and resorts to the old cliches.  With the exception of George Caulkin, there are few if any print or broadcast journalists reporting the current situation in what I would consider to be an accurate manner.  As ever, everyone else thinks it is all the fans fault and that Ashley has paid off all the debt and we are an ungrateful bunch obsessed with former idols and so deserve everything we get.  Furthermore we would not be in the mess if we had kept Allardyce and so on.

 

I don't even think the comparison with Leeds is that relevant other than where we might end up.  There are so many times in the last 2 years that you can point to where the wrong decision has been made (if they had just made the correct decision on one of those occasions, our situation might be different now) - it has not been about chasing the dream as with Leeds and overspending in trying to achieve that.  It has been about employing the wrong people, employing people with no football experience, choosing to back the wrong people, selling the wrong players, not reacting promptly and letting things drift, employing Xisco for £50k a week for 5 years (still cannot believe that is true) and Bassong on £5k for 2 or 3 years to mention just a few.

 

Most of these things are being glossed over.  We've already had a play written on this season but there is definitely a whole book waiting to be written on how not to run a football club based on the last 2 years under Ashley.