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Mike Ashley


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Interesting views on here and RTG about this news, and in many ways polar opposites.

 

Some RTG suggestions even proposed that Ashley should sell Newcastle and buy Sunderland, or that they wish that Short would buy Newcastle.  These comments made me think about how each owner is perceived by each club and what they have done from a business perspective. (Yes, we know that Short buying Newcastle was intended to assume that Short would have the same effect on Newcastle finances as he did on Sunderland). But actually, might the crazy scenario of the owners swapping clubs actually give the other club what it needs?

 

This board sees Ashley as someone who has taken the club backwards, in its ability to compete in the premier league, and he is hated by fans.

RTG look at Ashley and see that he  has put the club on a firm financial footing making NUFC financially self-sufficient. A few comments that they would like him to be their owner.

 

Whereas, RTG see Short as the guy who destroyed Sunderland by chasing PL rainbows and building insurmountable levels of debt, while we might look at Short as the type of owner that would invest/spend money where there a good possibility of a return on that investment.  I think he has been a good owner for them, but has been misled and let down by his board, managers and players. (His mistake, is not cutting off the money flow earlier)

 

So what if….

What if Ashley did sell Newcastle, and buy Sunderland.  Ashely would immediately put them on a financial plan to stability, and he would take a relegation (or two) to ensure that they are financially viable.  Never going to reach for the moon in terms of league placement but would invest enough to get into the Premier League and would be happy with lower-mid Prem League position.

 

And while Shorts failing has not been about the money spent (because he has spent and spent), but what it was spent on and by who.  With Short’s willingness to invest, wouldn’t he love to have the recruitment plan and manager from Newcastle that’s able to spend on the right players and have a positive cash flow?

 

Not that I want this to happen or believe that it would happen, but there is a certain symmetry that each club might just have what the other club needs.

 

 

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Ashley loves the attention and he loves taking the p*ss out of desperate Newcastle fans. The club is in the best place it's been for yonks, it's a brilliant time to destabilise it again. Obviously him f***ing off would be fantastic but there's absolutely nothing to suggest he suddenly wants to give the fans genuine hope by selling up.

 

Unless there's something concrete then I'm treating all of this as nonsense tbh. No surprise that it's come out via Sky again btw.

I agree.  As I said earlier - how is this any different to when he put the club up for sale last time?

 

Just an excuse not to spend in Jan imo.

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Ashley loves the attention and he loves taking the p*ss out of desperate Newcastle fans. The club is in the best place it's been for yonks, it's a brilliant time to destabilise it again. Obviously him f***ing off would be fantastic but there's absolutely nothing to suggest he suddenly wants to give the fans genuine hope by selling up.

 

Unless there's something concrete then I'm treating all of this as nonsense tbh. No surprise that it's come out via Sky again btw.

I agree.  As I said earlier - how is this any different to when he put the club up for sale last time?

 

Just an excuse not to spend in Jan imo.

 

I completely agree that it is no different to last time and I think nothing is or will happen.

 

However it's got nowt to do with January spending. He couldn't care less about our opinions or reaction to him not spending money since he has done the same thing in pretty much every transfer window.

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Playbook - Ashley. Nothing will happen.

 

As if he wouldn't sell though.

He has no need to placate supporters, especially now we're in a fairly decent place atm, so that statement of sale can only be one last desperate attempt to drum up business before Rafa buggers off because he won't put extra in the kitty. Hope to god it works as nee decent (or at least financially credible) fucker wants us buy the look of it.

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Guest firetotheworks

So one minute it's "he doesnt give a shit what people think" and next he somehow needs an excuse not to spend money. Not really buying that.

The people saying the former aren't necessarily the same people who are saying the latter.
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I think it’s just him trying to hurry things along. He knows full well that anyone seriously interested in us has enough money to buy us and that they wouldn’t need the sale on credit (non the least because it would involve Sports Direct having theirs mots all over advertising and merchandise as a condition), now would he be willing to sell to a buyer who may well never have then funds to buy him back and risk losing the club if a new owner placed it into admnstration.

 

There is an interest, but things just arn’t moving fast enough for him.

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I think it’s just him trying to hurry things along. He knows full well that anyone seriously interested in us has enough money to buy us and that they wouldn’t need the sale on credit (non the least because it would involve Sports Direct having theirs mots all over advertising and merchandise as a condition), now would he be willing to sell to a buyer who may well never have then funds to buy him back and risk losing the club if a new owner placed it into admnstration.

 

There is an interest, but things just arn’t moving fast enough for him.

 

Nah

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Guest The Little Waster

“That would allow for a period for serious interested parties to put themselves forward, for a diligence process to carry on, and then hopefully by Christmas for a sale to conclude with the sort of flexibility around terms we have discussed.If that weren’t possible then there is no desire to sell the club for any price to anyone. "

 

( From The Mag )

 

So he wants to sell before Xmas or not at all / never ever to anyone at all !

Aye , reet ...

 

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Simplistically, maybe Mike can see the adoration  the fans have for Rafa and has no intention of sanctioning the financial backing required in January. ... He wants out before the backlash... A backlash so severe it would inhibit and devalue any  following deal? Thus quick sale preferred?

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Mike Ashley puts Newcastle up for sale amid continued interest from Amanda Staveley

 

Amanda Staveley still appears interested in buying Newcastle United whose owner Mike Ashley finally publicly confirmed he wants to sell the club and would like to complete a deal before the January transfer window opens.

 

Staveley, whose PCP Capital Partners firm is understood to control up to £30billion of Middle Eastern wealth, is believed to have identified Newcastle as the most viable Premier League club to purchase although a deal is some way off.

 

The leading financier has failed in two attempts to buy Liverpool, most recently offering at least £1.2bn for the club, so could easily afford Newcastle. Staveley also played a key role in Sheikh Mansour’s takeover of Manchester City in 2008 and has strong links with the north and, according to sources, understands the potential at Newcastle and the scale of the club.

 

Newcastle released a statement on Monday afternoon that merely confirms what was widely known. There have been several interested parties already discussing a takeover but Staveley would increasingly appear to be the strongest option.

 

The financier attended Newcastle’s recent home match against Liverpool and spoke to club officials after the game. There has not been much movement since then but that is possibly partly because Staveley is involved in a near £1bn lawsuit she has brought against Barclays which is set to go to court in London.

 

According to sources once that is out of the way it is likely she will turn her attention to Newcastle, a club genuinely regarded as ripe for development, although there are other clubs of interest,

 

Telegraph Sportunderstands a number of potential buyers have signed non-disclosure agreements which prevent them from discussing any details of a takeover attempt, although there are conflicting reports regarding how much it will cost to buy. Talk of Chinese investment has receded given the change of policy there about buying foreign sports teams.

 

It had been initially thought that Ashley had lowered the asking price to less than £400m, but that has been denied privately by those close to the talks, with suggestions it remains around £450m, which is likely to deter all but those with huge financial backing - although for PCP it would not amount to a big deal.

 

But according to some sources a more realistic valuation for Newcastle would be closer to £300m. It is known, however, that no negotiations have taken part yet on price so it remains speculative. Given the resources available to Staveley then significant investment in Newcastle can be expected should she buy the club.

 

The takeover rumours have been a distraction for several months, although the desire to sell helps explain why Ashley was so unwilling to spend any extra money in the summer transfer window, something which frustrated manager Rafa Benítez.

 

However, Ashley has at least moved to clear up the uncertainty and has confirmed he hopes to end his divisive 10-year reign before Christmas so that the new owners can invest in the team in January.

 

Supporters will be hoping he is successful after years of animosity towards the retail billionaire, but it should be remembered that there have been several attempts to sell the club in the past without success.

 

The club statement read: “As a result of increasing press speculation regarding the future of Newcastle United, the owner of the club, St James Holdings Limited, wishes to clarify its intentions.

 

“As one of the Premier League's oldest and best supported football clubs - and for the benefit of its many fans and supporters in the UK and across the world - Newcastle United requires a clear direction and a path to a bright and successful future.

 

“To give the club the best possible opportunity of securing the positioning and investment necessary to take it to the next level, at what is an important time in its history, its present ownership has determined that it is in the best interests of Newcastle United and its fans for the club to be put up for sale.

 

“To give an incoming owner the maximum possible flexibility to make meaningful investment in the club, including in its playing squad, the sale process will give interested parties the opportunity of deferring substantial payments.

 

“A process will now commence of identifying new ownership for the club that will be capable of delivering the sustained investment in and dedication to the club that is necessary for it to achieve its ambitions.”

 

Benítez was told of Ashley’s desire to sell up several weeks ago and will also be hoping a deal can be done with new owners so that he has more money to spend in the winter window.

 

The manager is said to be relaxed about the situation and has been updated by managing director Lee Charnley. As far as Benítez is concerned he is planning for the January window assuming Ashley will still be in charge and the budget will be limited.

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