Dave Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Transcript of exchanges between Mike Ashley and reporters at Sports Direct's AGM, regarding Newcastle and Rangers Q: "I’d like to address a question to Mr Ashley, please. I wonder if he could explain the benefits to Sports Direct in its relationship with Newcastle United and Rangers. Pause of 27 seconds A: “Other than to say than it's been beneficial to Sports Direct and therefore its shareholders, I don't think it’s appropriate to comment.” Q: "Newcastle have said publicly, for example, that Sports Direct don’t pay for any stadium advertising or perimeter advertising at St James' Park - and there’s obviously a lot of it - and I wonder what the benefit is to you and whether you could give a rough estimate of what it’s worth in financial terms please." A: “I think I summed it all up in my previous statement. Those relationships are very beneficial to Sports Direct and its shareholders. And I think that nothing else needs to be said." Q “With due respect, can I then reverse the question. What is the benefit to the relationship they have with Sports Direct for Newcastle United, in which you are the owner, and Rangers, in which you have a shareholding? What is the benefit to those institutions?" Keith Hallawell intervenes: “This is really… That isn’t for the Annual General Meeting of this company. The first question was, in relation to what benefit the company gain from that. I think in relation to what Manchester United, sorry Newcastle United, and Rangers gain, you’d have to ask them. There’s no-one from the board of those companies here. It’s not to do with this company." Q: "Well, there is one member on the board (Ashley)." Another director: “Yes, but this is a Sports Direct annual general meeting." Q: “I know. I’m aware of that. I was just correcting that error. Can I direct a question to Mr Ashley? Sports Direct now process and profit from the shirt sales and merchandising through Newcastle United, the website and the club shop. Can you explain how much this trade is worth? Is it a significant part of the business to Sports Direct and do you, Newcastle, share in that profit? Ashley: “I’ll only answer the same answer as I gave before." Q. "Okay. A follow-up question. A Rangers director stated last week that Mr Ashley had bought the naming rights to Ibrox two years ago for £1. First question, is this true? Second question, St James’ Park was once named Sports Direct Arena and the suggestion is the same could happen to Ibrox. Could he comment on that? A: “I’ll only answer the same answer that I answered before.” Q: “Okay, thank you." Hellawell: “We are really straying beyond the AGM. We’re trying to be helpful." Q: "I would just say the questions are relevant to resolution one in the company accounts and how the company accounts are being boosted by Sports Direct’s very close relationship with Newcastle United and Rangers. That's why we’re exploring this issue." Hellawell: "I think you used the word ‘significant’ didn’t you?" Q: “So are you saying that’s an insignificant relationship between the two?" Hellawell: “If you read the company’s accounts, you can perhaps realise the size of the company and the size of that contribution. That’s all I’ll say." Q: "Perhaps I can ask a follow up? Does Mr Ashley have any plans to increase his shareholding in Rangers to the possible benefit of Sports Direct and its shareholders?" Answer indistinguishable. Q: "We are talking about a massive company and two of the largest football clubs in Britain. It’s an interesting relationship that's being forged. As I shareholder I’m exploring the relationship between two very large football institutions and Sports Direct, a very large and successful company. That’s why I’m asking these questions. Hellawell: “I do understand that and I understand your frustration. Please accept we’re trying to be as helpful as we can, but those are not issues for the Sports Direct board. I think you need to take those up with Newcastle and with… I mean, Mike is an individual but as part of this corporate board now, it’s really not something we can answer." Q: "One not related to football: Tesco, Sainsbury and Morrisons are among the companies who say they don’t use zero hour contracts. Should Sports Direct follow their lead?" A: “I think I’ve answered that in terms of not being able to talk about our employment policy, other than to say we hold them in the highest regard and believe the success of this company is largely based on the contribution they’ve made and we will look out for them as best we can." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
timeEd32 Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Yeah was gonna say has anyone got a paid subscription That's what I just came here for. Anyone? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Clerb for sale would be mint. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Q: "I’d like to address a question to Mr Ashley, please. I wonder if he could explain the benefits to Sports Direct in its relationship with Newcastle United and Rangers. Ashley: “Other than to say than it's been beneficial to Sports Direct and therefore its shareholders, I don't think it’s appropriate to comment.” Q: "Newcastle have said publicly, for example, that Sports Direct don’t pay for any stadium advertising or perimeter advertising at St James' Park - and there’s obviously a lot of it - and I wonder what the benefit is to you and whether you could give a rough estimate of what it’s worth in financial terms please." Ashley: “I think I summed it all up in my previous statement. Those relationships are very beneficial to Sports Direct and its shareholders. And I think that nothing else needs to be said." Q: “Sports Direct now process and profit from the shirt sales and merchandising through Newcastle United, the website and the club shop. Can you explain how much this trade is worth? Is it a significant part of the business to Sports Direct and do you, Newcastle, share in that profit? Ashley: “I’ll only answer the same answer as I gave before." Owning NUFC hasn't been a factor in Sports Direct's fortunes at all though, right? I'm certain I read that on here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howaythetoon Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Something is up, hmmmm.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Nowt's up at all. Other than the fact money is being taken out of the club. And people criticised Shepherd for paying himself a decent wage every year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Those relationships are very beneficial to Sports Direct and its shareholders. Not according to some people on here. EDIT: read Dave's posts in future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 27 seconds to come up with that first answer as well. What a spineless cunt. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
timeEd32 Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Caulkin is a fucking legend by the way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Zaius Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 27 seconds to come up with that first answer as well. What a spineless c***. I wonder if he actually considered giving a proper answer and then just bottled it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howaythetoon Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Nowt's up at all. Other than the fact money is being taken out of the club. And people criticised Shepherd for paying himself a decent wage every year. You're probably right of course but I'm wondering if him allowing Ben Arfa to go on loan and sticking with Pardew is because he no longer cares as the club will soon be out of his hands. I'm fucking day dreaming I know but one can only hope... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledGeordie Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I think the Rangers thing does raise an interesting angle. He has much greater potential there to get into champions league but he can't take full control what with owning us too. Hardly definitive but I think ther might be something in this........maybe........hopefully Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley17 Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Ashley's entire philosophy, as we've seen with our transfer policy, is to buy players when their value is lower than their true value. That is why Rangers is such an attractive proposition to him, they're on the verge of administration again so he can buy for peanuts and there's every chance he can sell for far more in 5-10 years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Coward. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Geordie Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Great work from Caulkin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sempuki Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Clerb for sale would be mint. If he is even entertaining the idea now is the time to remind him we want him out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawK Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Just confirmation from the horse's mouth of what I and many, many others have been saying for years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan_Taylor Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 That's all he could come up with. What a spineless sack of shit Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chopey Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 If a big offer comes in Ashley will sell otherwise why would he , and as for rangers, by all accounts they are about 4 weeks from another liquidation and demotion so he will ride to the rescue just in time to save them, and as for owning two clubs in the same competition, he will find away around it just like Chelsea have done with vitesse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
timeEd32 Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Just saw Spurs are for sale. We're an absolute bargain compared to that asking price (plus the headache of getting the stadium built). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdckelly Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Just saw Spurs are for sale. We're an absolute bargain compared to that asking price (plus the headache of getting the stadium built). yeah did a double take at the headline price too (1 billion for spurs, really? Man Utd global commercial juggernaut went for less than that) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin75 Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 fucks sake that AGM stuff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sima Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 To think Sheik Mansour nearly bought us but this greedy pig priced him out Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 To think Sheik Mansour nearly bought us but this greedy pig priced him out I don't believe a word of that. As far as I know we were actually approached by the corrupt bloke who ended up owning Portsmouth for a few months. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Its quite clear from that transcript, there is no point supporting Ashley's NUFC, it is just a vehicle to advertise his rubbish sports company. Thats all its being ran for and it its being ran just to soley exist in the prem league. End of. NUFC has turned into a pointless football club. Awful man. Anyone still attending these games wants shot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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