Ashley to keep club, put £20m in and consider stadium naming rights

[Parky]

I don't particularly want the stadium renamed, but it's all part of a general trend for clubs to maximise their income through sponsorship. I can remember a time when people thought having a sponsor's name on the shirt was a desecration. This kind of thing will happen more and more and there are more important things to get worked up about.

 

When Ashley took over, he made this major mistake of thinking he could run the club and still join the fans in the stands and the clubs afterwards and be one of the lads. He thought it could be fun. He now knows different, and that part of running a major club means developing some thick skin. Unless you're making Abramovic-style signings, you're bound to come in for some flak. The Keegan appointment seems to have been some half-arsed attempt at pleasing the fans whilst still maintaining tight financial control, and of course it all exploded in his face.

 

At least the flagging up of the renaming issue shows a bit of much-needed bottle, and a willingness to make his own decisions rather than run scared all the time. The club has badly lacked leadership on and off the field, so perhaps Ashley has turned some kind of corner.

 

We've had a situation where the owner has wanted to be a fan, and the fans have wanted to be the owners. The result has been chaos, and if this marks the end of that, then great.

 

Like what, in your opinion?

 

Going off the rest of your post and many others lately, things seem pretty positive.

 

I wasn't thinking of anything in particular that's happening at the moment. I just meant that the things to get worked up about are the performances and attitudes of players, managers and owners, results on the pitch etc etc. The name of the stadium isn't that important to me.

 

Obviously things aren't great at the moment because we're in the Championship, but in the circumstances I think Ashley taking the club off the market and re-committing himself is a good move. If nothing else, there aren't any more positive alternatives.

 

It beggers belief that you think he is committed to the club.

[UV]

One encouraging thing is that for once, the players, manager and owner all seem to be working together. That's far more important than the approval of NUFC.com, NUST, or any of the other self-appointed voices of the people.

 

We've not had unity behind the scenes since the early days of Sir Bob's regime, and we've suffered as a result.

 

You should get your profile changed to "Comedy Writers Group"

 

I'm sure the players are all thinking "Phew I'm glad the possibility of a takeover and any chance of investment in the squad has been put to rest, now we can move onwards and upwards with Mike & Derek running the club off the field, and Chris on it. We surely can't fail now with this winning combination. This year the Championship, next year competing for the Champions League." 

 

Not even footballers are that thick, regardless of what they say in the press.

 

This news must be a massive kick in the guts to any players in the squad with any ambition (however deluded that might be) to achieve anything in their career. I think a lot of them will have been straight on the phone to their agents, and even if Ashley isn't planning another everything-must-go sale in January I fear we're going to struggle to keep hold of a number of the better ones. I don't think Ashley will put up much of a fight to keep anyone if decent offers come in either (I'm sure he'll be assured by whichever agency he's using to advise on transfers that they can be replaced for less as they collect their 10%).

[UV]

I don't particularly want the stadium renamed, but it's all part of a general trend for clubs to maximise their income through sponsorship. I can remember a time when people thought having a sponsor's name on the shirt was a desecration. This kind of thing will happen more and more and there are more important things to get worked up about.

 

When Ashley took over, he made this major mistake of thinking he could run the club and still join the fans in the stands and the clubs afterwards and be one of the lads. He thought it could be fun. He now knows different, and that part of running a major club means developing some thick skin. Unless you're making Abramovic-style signings, you're bound to come in for some flak. The Keegan appointment seems to have been some half-arsed attempt at pleasing the fans whilst still maintaining tight financial control, and of course it all exploded in his face.

 

At least the flagging up of the renaming issue shows a bit of much-needed bottle, and a willingness to make his own decisions rather than run scared all the time. The club has badly lacked leadership on and off the field, so perhaps Ashley has turned some kind of corner.

 

We've had a situation where the owner has wanted to be a fan, and the fans have wanted to be the owners. The result has been chaos, and if this marks the end of that, then great.

 

Like what, in your opinion?

 

Going off the rest of your post and many others lately, things seem pretty positive.

 

Like how it's all money grabbing Keegan's fault of course Dave.

[Robster]

At least the flagging up of the renaming issue shows a bit of much-needed bottle, and a willingness to make his own decisions rather than run scared all the time. The club has badly lacked leadership on and off the field, so perhaps Ashley has turned some kind of corner.

Would this be like earlier in the year when Kinnear told us he was going to take on a more hands on role?

Where has the leadership been since then ?

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/championship/newcastleunited/4523827/Newcastle-owner-Mike-Ashley-wants-more-hands-on-role.html

[Thespence]

Moat's sinking feeling

 

Rejected Newcastle buyer Barry Moat is believed to be inconsolable after totally-erratic owner Mike Ashley finally called time on his selling period. Ashley says no bidder put the £80m he wanted for a cut-price deal on the table. However, Moat had come up with £70m in cash, with another £40m worth of funding to arrive later. Meanwhile, only an outfit run by such a hapless chief executive as Derek Llambias, a former casino manager, could put out a statement about Ashley keeping the club and include mention of pursuing naming right sponsorship for St James' Park - most likely Ashley's own Sports Direct - which will infuriate the Toon faithful.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1223677/CHARLES-SALE--1m-sponsorship-boost-Englands-2018-World-Cup-bid.html#ixzz0VHSgLQOp

 

[Jayson]

This news must be a massive kick in the guts to any players in the squad with any ambition (however deluded that might be) to achieve anything in their career. I think a lot of them will have been straight on the phone to their agents, and even if Ashley isn't planning another everything-must-go sale in January I fear we're going to struggle to keep hold of a number of the better ones. I don't think Ashley will put up much of a fight to keep anyone if decent offers come in either (I'm sure he'll be assured by whichever agency he's using to advise on transfers that they can be replaced for less as they collect their 10%).

 

Krul may not be to happy. Outside of that several of them had been saying for a while that they wanted Hughton as the manager, that isnt something they have to say to the media. Its not the same as just giving some positive comments when asked questions. They're working with the guy, getting wins & enjoying themselves. For the time being, i expect many of them are happy at the appointment.

[dustynrg]

This news must be a massive kick in the guts to any players in the squad with any ambition (however deluded that might be) to achieve anything in their career. I think a lot of them will have been straight on the phone to their agents, and even if Ashley isn't planning another everything-must-go sale in January I fear we're going to struggle to keep hold of a number of the better ones. I don't think Ashley will put up much of a fight to keep anyone if decent offers come in either (I'm sure he'll be assured by whichever agency he's using to advise on transfers that they can be replaced for less as they collect their 10%).

 

Krul may not be to happy. Outside of that several of them had been saying for a while that they wanted Hughton as the manager, that isnt something they have to say to the media. Its not the same as just giving some positive comments when asked questions. They're working with the guy, getting wins & enjoying themselves. For the time being, i expect many of them are happy at the appointment.

 

Aye it will be like getting the softest teacher in the school getting the headmasters job. Whoopdedoop, we can go drinking every night of the week! We can turn up late for training and no-one will blink an eye! And best of all we get to lunch with Fat ASh every so often!

 

That will be Taylor gone in January - all hope of Shearer being manager extinguished, followed by Colo, Jonas (no big loss there like) and probably Krul. Never mind we'll have a million to spend on Championship players and Harewood like loan signings, that's after he's shored up the overdraft and paid the wages with the other 19 million.

 

 

 

 

[Guest VegasToon]

Dear Mr. Cunt, I mean Ashley,

 

Can you please at the very least sell half of your ownership to someone who can run the club with dignity and become a slient partner?

[Jayson]

Aye it will be like getting the softest teacher in the school getting the headmasters job. Whoopdedoop, we can go drinking every night of the week! We can turn up late for training and no-one will blink an eye! And best of all we get to lunch with Fat ASh every so often!

 

That will be Taylor gone in January - all hope of Shearer being manager extinguished, followed by Colo, Jonas (no big loss there like) and probably Krul. Never mind we'll have a million to spend on Championship players and Harewood like loan signings, that's after he's shored up the overdraft and paid the wages with the other 19 million.

 

Well sure if you want to make up unrealistic nonsense then get upset about the idea of it happening?

[bovineblue]

So the £20m being invested is just to pay for the losses Ashley expects for the rest of the season?

[ohmelads]

So the £20m being invested is just to pay for the losses Ashley expects for the rest of the season?

 

Yeah because apparently we're the only football club that has operated at a loss and loaned money from the bank. Big Mike saved us. That's why players are sold for profit and the first team lacks any investment - it's all about balancing the books so we can be like all those Premier League big boys, cos they're all totally sustainable. Until Big Mike came in it was just us operating like that - he sorted the books out and even put us in an easier division so the youth players could get a chance. It's all about a youth system you see, that'll make us successful. Who knows maybe we can be like Southampton or Ipswich and have a famous youth academy. That's why he's putting 20m in - the first team doesn't need it because a youth system will get us out of this mess.

[madras]

So the £20m being invested is just to pay for the losses Ashley expects for the rest of the season?

 

Yeah because apparently we're the only football club that has operated at a loss and loaned money from the bank. Big Mike saved us. That's why players are sold for profit and the first team lacks any investment - it's all about balancing the books so we can be like all those Premier League big boys, cos they're all totally sustainable. Until Big Mike came in it was just us operating like that - he sorted the books out and even put us in an easier division so the youth players could get a chance. It's all about a youth system you see, that'll make us successful. Who knows maybe we can be like Southampton or Ipswich and have a famous youth academy. That's why he's putting 20m in - the first team doesn't need it because a youth system will get us out of this mess.

west ham and portsmouth aswell as ourselves and leeds prove unsustainability is real. just watch liverpool if they fail to make the champs league.

 

as has been pointed out once or twice on here it's not so much having debt but having debt whilst continually making losses and adding to it....sooner or later those lending are going to question the ability to of the lender to finance more lending..

[ohmelads]

So the £20m being invested is just to pay for the losses Ashley expects for the rest of the season?

 

Yeah because apparently we're the only football club that has operated at a loss and loaned money from the bank. Big Mike saved us. That's why players are sold for profit and the first team lacks any investment - it's all about balancing the books so we can be like all those Premier League big boys, cos they're all totally sustainable. Until Big Mike came in it was just us operating like that - he sorted the books out and even put us in an easier division so the youth players could get a chance. It's all about a youth system you see, that'll make us successful. Who knows maybe we can be like Southampton or Ipswich and have a famous youth academy. That's why he's putting 20m in - the first team doesn't need it because a youth system will get us out of this mess.

west ham and portsmouth aswell as ourselves and leeds prove unsustainability is real. just watch liverpool if they fail to make the champs league.

 

as has been pointed out once or twice on here it's not so much having debt but having debt whilst continually making losses and adding to it....sooner or later those lending are going to question the ability to of the lender to finance more lending..

 

all well and good, but if you stop spending on the first team you will crash rapidly. we are a perfect example of that.

 

sometimes you have to take a hit financially to get yourself out of a viscious cycle - if we keep "balancing the books" like this and neglecting the first team we will plummet. everything revolves around the first team - they are what make the club its money. attendances, TV money, sponsorship deals, they are all dependent on the first team. it is the absolute last thing you neglect. the cost of not getting promoted this season, with ashley taking us into the next one, just doesn't bear thinking about.

 

mort and ashley spouted about a youth system and so did Glenn Roeder before them, but there are clubs out there with great youth systems who spent many years building them up only to see it wasted. joe cole, carrick, ferdinand, lampard, none of them ply their trade at west ham. dyer, bramble, bent, none of them ply their trade at ipswich. walcott, bale, even shearer, all left southampton at a young age. if our ambition is to be a feeder club for the big buys, it may make us sustainable but i'd remind you that two of those clubs are in the lower divisions and the other also got relegated. excluding the billionaires, how many top flight teams have balanced books? i'd hazard a guess that a good few of them are in a ton of debt. and so are we - the only difference is we now owe ashley the money and not the banks. the debt has not been paid off, and we're now a division lower.

[colinmk]

I don't particularly want the stadium renamed, but it's all part of a general trend for clubs to maximise their income through sponsorship. I can remember a time when people thought having a sponsor's name on the shirt was a desecration. This kind of thing will happen more and more and there are more important things to get worked up about.

 

When Ashley took over, he made this major mistake of thinking he could run the club and still join the fans in the stands and the clubs afterwards and be one of the lads. He thought it could be fun. He now knows different, and that part of running a major club means developing some thick skin. Unless you're making Abramovic-style signings, you're bound to come in for some flak. The Keegan appointment seems to have been some half-arsed attempt at pleasing the fans whilst still maintaining tight financial control, and of course it all exploded in his face.

 

At least the flagging up of the renaming issue shows a bit of much-needed bottle, and a willingness to make his own decisions rather than run scared all the time. The club has badly lacked leadership on and off the field, so perhaps Ashley has turned some kind of corner.

 

We've had a situation where the owner has wanted to be a fan, and the fans have wanted to be the owners. The result has been chaos, and if this marks the end of that, then great.

 

So he has let us get relegated, put us on the market with clearly no intention of selling and now in November having gone for the cheapest option as manager has decided to turn the corner. And you think the changing of the stadium name is a show of bottle and leadership? That is crazy Bobyule and I don't believe you are being serious.

[Guest natolars]

Brown Ale Arena.

[merlin]

It's all business.  Probably was all business right along.  The problem is that Ashley looks to be a poor businessman.

 

He'll sell the club when he gets his price.  He'll not improve the club unless he feels it will ultimately lead him to get his price.  Anything he does to increase revenue will be because he wants to get his price. 

 

Hughton has gotten results, is cheap and quite frankly could be let go by a new owner and not have too much money left on the hook.  If Ashley thought he needed a real football man to come in and run the club so Ashley could get his price, Ashley would hire one.  As it is, he thinks the current structure is enough to get Newcastle promoted so he can get his price.

 

This is all about Ashley getting his price.  Any move will be predicated on if it will help him get his price.  Were he a shrewd businessman it would be easier to accept.  Ashley has shown himself to be an incompetent bungler, though.  In retrospect, he hasn't put a right foot even once.

 

This - good post.

[Howaythelads]

I don't particularly want the stadium renamed, but it's all part of a general trend for clubs to maximise their income through sponsorship. I can remember a time when people thought having a sponsor's name on the shirt was a desecration. This kind of thing will happen more and more and there are more important things to get worked up about.

 

When Ashley took over, he made this major mistake of thinking he could run the club and still join the fans in the stands and the clubs afterwards and be one of the lads. He thought it could be fun. He now knows different, and that part of running a major club means developing some thick skin. Unless you're making Abramovic-style signings, you're bound to come in for some flak. The Keegan appointment seems to have been some half-arsed attempt at pleasing the fans whilst still maintaining tight financial control, and of course it all exploded in his face.

 

At least the flagging up of the renaming issue shows a bit of much-needed bottle, and a willingness to make his own decisions rather than run scared all the time. The club has badly lacked leadership on and off the field, so perhaps Ashley has turned some kind of corner.

 

We've had a situation where the owner has wanted to be a fan, and the fans have wanted to be the owners. The result has been chaos, and if this marks the end of that, then great.

Christ! What planet are you on, man? Post after bloody post of utter tripe. Are you trying to win a bet, or something?

[Cronky]

I don't particularly want the stadium renamed, but it's all part of a general trend for clubs to maximise their income through sponsorship. I can remember a time when people thought having a sponsor's name on the shirt was a desecration. This kind of thing will happen more and more and there are more important things to get worked up about.

 

When Ashley took over, he made this major mistake of thinking he could run the club and still join the fans in the stands and the clubs afterwards and be one of the lads. He thought it could be fun. He now knows different, and that part of running a major club means developing some thick skin. Unless you're making Abramovic-style signings, you're bound to come in for some flak. The Keegan appointment seems to have been some half-arsed attempt at pleasing the fans whilst still maintaining tight financial control, and of course it all exploded in his face.

 

At least the flagging up of the renaming issue shows a bit of much-needed bottle, and a willingness to make his own decisions rather than run scared all the time. The club has badly lacked leadership on and off the field, so perhaps Ashley has turned some kind of corner.

 

We've had a situation where the owner has wanted to be a fan, and the fans have wanted to be the owners. The result has been chaos, and if this marks the end of that, then great.

 

So he has let us get relegated, put us on the market with clearly no intention of selling and now in November having gone for the cheapest option as manager has decided to turn the corner. And you think the changing of the stadium name is a show of bottle and leadership? That is crazy Bobyule and I don't believe you are being serious.

 

What I'm getting at is that ever since he's taken over, it's like he's been reacting to events rather than shaping them. We've been stumbling from one unsatisfactory situation to another without him really getting a grip. The Allardyce sacking, the Keegan appointment, the Keegan walk-out, the first decision to sell, the first decision not to sell, the Shearer appointment, the second decision to sell - it all feels like he's been controlled by outside events and forces.

 

His one real attempt at imposing his own ideas - the Keegan appointment with Wise as DOF - was flawed from the start through being a half-way house between his own ideas and what he thought he should do to please others. He saw Keegan as a way of getting the fans onside whereas he should really have picked a manager who was going to be comfortable with the long-term strategy and management structure that he believed in.

 

I hope that this latest set of decisions represents him facing up to the situation and showing a willingness to stick with his job through thick and thin, despite media pressure and public unpopularity. Time will tell on that.

[Heron]

Could we all pay £300 or something and name it St James' Park - The Peoples Choice?

 

Would be quite amusing although it's a shit name...

[Guest BooBoo]

Well you're right about Keegans appointment. It was an ill thought out desperate attempt to get the fans on side and bring back days that were long gone. The club had changed, football had changed and Keegan had changed. Anyone with a degree if sense could see it would end badly. Adding Wise and stooges simply pressed the fast forward button to the inevitable.

[Isegrim]

I don't particularly want the stadium renamed, but it's all part of a general trend for clubs to maximise their income through sponsorship. I can remember a time when people thought having a sponsor's name on the shirt was a desecration. This kind of thing will happen more and more and there are more important things to get worked up about.

 

When Ashley took over, he made this major mistake of thinking he could run the club and still join the fans in the stands and the clubs afterwards and be one of the lads. He thought it could be fun. He now knows different, and that part of running a major club means developing some thick skin. Unless you're making Abramovic-style signings, you're bound to come in for some flak. The Keegan appointment seems to have been some half-arsed attempt at pleasing the fans whilst still maintaining tight financial control, and of course it all exploded in his face.

 

At least the flagging up of the renaming issue shows a bit of much-needed bottle, and a willingness to make his own decisions rather than run scared all the time. The club has badly lacked leadership on and off the field, so perhaps Ashley has turned some kind of corner.

 

We've had a situation where the owner has wanted to be a fan, and the fans have wanted to be the owners. The result has been chaos, and if this marks the end of that, then great.

 

So he has let us get relegated, put us on the market with clearly no intention of selling and now in November having gone for the cheapest option as manager has decided to turn the corner. And you think the changing of the stadium name is a show of bottle and leadership? That is crazy Bobyule and I don't believe you are being serious.

 

What I'm getting at is that ever since he's taken over, it's like he's been reacting to events rather than shaping them. We've been stumbling from one unsatisfactory situation to another without him really getting a grip. The Allardyce sacking, the Keegan appointment, the Keegan walk-out, the first decision to sell, the first decision not to sell, the Shearer appointment, the second decision to sell - it all feels like he's been controlled by outside events and forces.

 

His one real attempt at imposing his own ideas - the Keegan appointment with Wise as DOF - was flawed from the start through being a half-way house between his own ideas and what he thought he should do to please others. He saw Keegan as a way of getting the fans onside whereas he should really have picked a manager who was going to be comfortable with the long-term strategy and management structure that he believed in.

 

I hope that this latest set of decisions represents him facing up to the situation and showing a willingness to stick with his job through thick and thin, despite media pressure and public unpopularity. Time will tell on that.

Poor old Mikey, he only made poor decisions decisions to be popular. If only he had stuck to his own remarkable ideas - like buying a club without doing due diligence - instead of listening to all those other poor advisers (who actually seem to have a clue).

 

Ashley has brought everything on himself on his own. Every poor decision has ultimately been his own - whatever advice he was given. The idea of renaming the stadium is only the latest. His decision making is poor because he isn't thinking things through very well - like announcing one unpopular decision (keeping the club) with another one (offer the name of the stadium for sale).

 

The amount of excuses and new dawns you find for this feckless regime is ridiculous.

[NJS]

Well you're right about Keegans appointment. It was an ill thought out desperate attempt to get the fans on side and bring back days that were long gone. The club had changed, football had changed and Keegan had changed. Anyone with a degree if sense could see it would end badly. Adding Wise and stooges simply pressed the fast forward button to the inevitable.

 

Name any manageriial appointment in the meantime who is a better manager than Keegan.

 

 

[NJS]

I hope that this latest set of decisions represents him facing up to the situation and showing a willingness to stick with his job through thick and thin, despite media pressure and public unpopularity. Time will tell on that.

 

Like in January when announced his commitment again?

 

Like in May when he heralded Shearer as his only correct decision?

 

 

The man gets up in the morning and depending what mood he's in makes another crass decision, having any hope or faith in him is absolute lunacy.

 

 

[Consortium of one]

Trackie Bottoms Park

[Thomson Mouse]

Don't know if this has been posted yet, but thought it might keep some people amused

 

http://www.punchinthefacebook.com/punch/mike-ashley