Mike Ashley

[cp40]

 

Ashamed to say I honestly never knew Alan Sugar owned Spurs at one point, thought he was just another famous fan. 

only discovered it a few years ago myself 

in my defense I was young at the time he did own it

 

Oh what a shame, you missed out on Sugar's Klinsman hissy fit, on footy foucs where he chucks Kilnsmans shirt at the reporter. 

 

  I thought he put it in a bin

[UV]

Very sound post UV. Spurs model is a very good one, if it can be sustained and if it actually leads to success in the end.

 

It doesn't change the fact that pre-Ashley we were accumulating large debts at a rate we couldn't afford though. Neither of our recent regimes have really had the right approach. We are definitely more financially sustainable under Ashley mind, that's a fact. The problem is the price we pay in terms of progress on the pitch.

 

How are you defining "sustained" and "success in the end"? Are Spurs only being run well now if they eventually become the best team in the world and remain there forever? Hall & Shepherd took an impoverished team which had to sell to survive with 26k average crowds from the brink of relegation to the 3rd division to one which was constantly in the top 5 in the league and 20 in the world revenue earners. Did they fail because we only came second twice and didn't win any of the cup finals we were in? If that's failure I'll take it over Ashley's alleged financial sustainability. Nothing is permanent in football, and there's no guarantee of success, all you can ask is that you try (within reason). Under Ashley we don't, and surely no-one can still be under that illusion now.

 

As for your "fact", as already pointed out our non-TV revenues are way down on what they used to be while all our competitors are increasing theirs, but even ignoring that, the biggest risk to a PL team's finances these days is relegation. In the 6 years of Ashley's ownership we have only bettered our worst ever pre-Ashley PL points total twice, and I don't fancy our chances of beating it this year either. We live way closer to the edge now than we ever did under the previous owners. We are being run with a low cost manager and a cut down squad which is only some bad luck and a few core injuries from relegation almost every year. Is that financial sustainability to you?

 

Look at Spurs debt from 06-10 btw:

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WRqcTQKG3Kw/T4Pg7wR6K4I/AAAAAAAAFeM/HWNXIwKvlrc/s400/Tottenham%2BDebt.jpg

 

£90m in 4 years! Sack the board and call in the receivers.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I'm not saying we have the balance exactly right, I'm just trying to compare the two styles of ownership.

 

What I mean is, we spent a load more than we could afford to make ourselves a top Champions League club. We failed to achieve that. We were making losses, our debt was increasing, and we were stuck with crap players on expensive contracts. We didn't make it, our finances became dangerously unbalanced, and that allowed Ashley to come in and bale out the owners.

 

I agree about the risk of relegation.

[Dr Venkman]

Klinsmann was my favourite footballer as a kid.

 

Yeah he was great. A really good bloke as well by all accounts.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

We are not even that well ran financially. Just because we are not going to go bust any time soon or carry any debt doesn't mean we are well off. Our commercial revenue is really poor and our future prospects poor too.

 

[themanupstairs]

Very sound post UV. Spurs model is a very good one, if it can be sustained and if it actually leads to success in the end.

 

It doesn't change the fact that pre-Ashley we were accumulating large debts at a rate we couldn't afford though. Neither of our recent regimes have really had the right approach. We are definitely more financially sustainable under Ashley mind, that's a fact. The problem is the price we pay in terms of progress on the pitch.

 

Spending some money on appointing a competent manager would be logical step to putting that right. Why he hasn't done it just beggars belief.

 

This is the crux of it.

[LRD]

New poster? I swore there was a 'themanupstairs'.

[Tooj]

Look at Spurs, all the years we were having our “golden period” they were a lot like us now (if you listened to their fans back then) bumbling along showing “lack of ambition” but with a healthy bottom line, they’ve ascended as we’ve descended but it’s taken years and years of them making profits and player trading.

 

You're talking about 2 different periods of Spurs' history as if they were one.

 

91-01 they were majority owned and run by a top English businessman who made his fortune selling cheap tat to the mass market. He supposedly saved them from their financial troubles (I have no idea if this is actually true or a myth spread by himself) and ran them as a proper business. In Sugar's 10 year run they finished 15, 8, 15, 7, 8, 10, 14, 11, 10, 12 - the very definition of mediocrity (the 10 years prior to Sugar they finished 4, 4, 8, 3, 10, 3, 13, 6, 3, 11). If forums existed then they'd probably have had Sugar apologists telling everyone they should be grateful he saved them, they were doomed before he arrived, how he had sorted out the finances and was running the club on a sound financial footing, etc, but they were going absolutely nowhere on or off the pitch, and we easily out performed them financially.

 

It's only since ENIC & Levy took over that the club actually started to be run with the ambition we once had, which sees them where they are now. Yes they have sold their best players on occasion when they have wanted out - NO club is immune to that - but when they do, they spend all the money they get and more on top to try and keep pushing forward. This obvious ambition is what brings in the supporters, the corporate money and the sponsorship, plus it tends to have a happy side-effect of better football, higher league finishes and the extra cash which that brings in.

 

Now they are on the up and making money they are not looking to pay off the debt, instead they are looking to invest in the infrastructure of the club and build a new £250m stadium to bring in even more revenue. I'm convinced Sugar would never have spent £250m on a new stadium, just as Ashley would never have spent £42m to extend St James - in 6 years, a bore hole, underground heating for the training pitches, and lots and lots of advertising hoardings is the sum of Ashley's investment in the infrastructure of NUFC.

 

Under Ashley we're absolutely nothing like the Levy-run Spurs and never will be until he's gone or has a genuine change of purpose towards the club (but that's just a fantasy IMO). Any short term success like the 5th place season will always be a blip and we will never look to build on it, rather it will be a reason to sit back and run with what we have for another year without having to spend money on improving the squad. Any windfall player sale will not be used to boost the season's transfer kitty, but will be used to fund it entirely for the next few years. The commercial and matchday income we had which set us apart from the second tier of well supported clubs (Everton, Villa, West Ham, Sunderland, etc) was down £23.5m per year from when he bought the club in the last set of accounts. The longer he's here, the closer we get financially to theses clubs, and any advantage we built up under the previous owners will soon disappear. Eventually if they're run half decently they too will start to pull away from us.

 

A quarter of the club's yearly revenue gone and nearly double the debt despite a £35m windfall from a player he inherited, and people say the club is better off financially than when he bought it.

 

Superb post.

[TRon]

One thing Ashley hasn't grasped is the importance of signing a good manager. Shepherd tried to hire the right men but only really succeeded with Bobby Robson, who was John Hall's choice when we initially went for Dalglish instead. But look at the difference it made having the right man as manager of the club compared to the shambles that followed with Souness.

[Wallace]

One thing Ashley hasn't grasped is the importance of signing a good manager. Shepherd tried to hire the right men but only really succeeded with Bobby Robson, who was John Hall's choice when we initially went for Dalglish instead. But look at the difference it made having the right man as manager of the club compared to the shambles that followed with Souness.

 

Agree.  Invest in a good manager - one that is able to develop players - and the benefit would be huge. 

 

As well as a better team for the fans to watch, just think of the improved profit Ashley could make on player sales!!!!!!!!!!!

[DJ_NUFC]

If a person is unable to grasp such a basic concept of running a successful football club, that person shouldn't be owning one. Get the fuck out, you amateur.

[Dave]

Was looking for this the other day and found it on my old external hard drive.

 

Still the only proper interview he's ever given regarding us IIRC.

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/1RXZU4r.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/eG9ApVK.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/QTTZrKk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/B0arsjP.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/PHkydgw.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/U54og5h.jpg

 

 

Lying prick.

[PineBarrens]

On a similar note -

 

MIKE ASHLEY dramatically broke his silence over the turmoil on the Toon and defiantly declared: "I had to act and now I'll do it MY way!"

 

Newcastle's' billionaire owner insists he is ready to step out of the background to run the club the way HE wants to from now on.

 

On Tuesday he will jet back from a Far East business trip to join forces with chairman Chris Mort as they strive to bring success to St James's Park.

 

And there will be times when he swaps his trademark Newcastle shirt and returns to civvies as he plots the way ahead in the wake of the departure of boss Sam Allardyce.

 

Today, in an exclusive News of the World interview, Ashley outlines his New Year vision for Newcastle including the qualities he's looking for in the club's next manager.

 

He said: "I want a team that will go all out to try to give Chelsea a walloping, that'll try to stuff Tottenham and that will be brave and bold enough to attack Man Utd.

 

"To date I have invested £250m to try and make it happen.

 

"And I'm not the only one who could see it wasn't working with things as they were.

 

"So when my chairman told me it was time for a change I knew it had to happen.

 

"I just knew it was time for me to become involved.

 

"After all I bought this club to make it a success and the harsh truth is there wasn't much prospect of that.

 

"I bought this club to have some fun and I wasn't having much fun at all. So I did what I should have done in the first place and decided it was time to run the club the way I wanted.

 

"I must admit that when I bought this club my gut instinct was to bring in my own team to run it straight away, including a new manager.

 

"That's no reflection on Sam, that's just the way I have always done things.

 

"But for once in my life I ignored my intuition and, looking back, that was a mistake.

 

"My instinct had never let me down in the past, in fact it's been one of my biggest strengths, one of the major reasons behind my success.

 

"Yet I went against that better judgement after buying Newcastle.

 

"Now is the time to put away my Newcastle shirt. I'm not saying I will never go back on the terraces but now I have to be in the boardroom — I have to be hands on."

 

Ashley was left desperately disappointed with the return on his massive investment.

 

A procession of poor performances, ropey results and off-field problems was a shocking reward for his massive outlay.

 

It was not Ashley's vision for the sleeping giants of English football.

 

 

 

He added: "I want a team that is going to be admired up and down the country because of our brilliant, attacking football.

 

"Like they did when Kevin Keegan was in charge here.

 

"In those days everyone in the land loved to watch Newcastle in action. I certainly did.

 

"And I am determined it will be like that again."

 

That sort of stylish, buccaneering football has only been rarely glimpsed at St James's Park this season and Ashley makes no apologies for demanding Newcastle play the way the loyal Toon Army desire.

 

He added:"People might mock me for that and reckon that's all pie in the sky.

 

"But this is a football club, remember — it's about passion, about dreams, about glory. If it's not, then why bother?

 

"Make no mistake I bother, I care and so I will try my hardest to make this club successful.

 

"And I know I don't stand alone — I stand at the head of the Toon Army.

 

"Remember this is a club with a real passion running through it — not least from all those Geordie fans.

 

"And I share that passion."

 

Yet Ashley has still taken a battering over events last week with Allardyce elbowed after just eight months in charge of the Magpies.

 

But those pundits who would have you believe Ashley's a mug punter who does not know what he is doing should beware.

 

After all this is a guy who built his Sports Direct business empire up from nothing.

 

A man who at just 41 years of age boasts a fortune of £1.6billion — put it another way that's one thousand six hundred million pounds.

 

Some mug, then!

 

Yet Ashley is big and brave enough to accept some of the blame, even though he sees positives in his controversial decision to take a back seat so far.

 

He explained: "My thinking was to come into Newcastle United and examine the club from every angle and from every aspect. I wanted to see how it ran, how it worked, what the staff could offer and what the supporters were all about.

 

"I wanted to understand what made this club tick, I wanted to find its soul.

 

"I have done that now and taken a lot of flak along the way.

 

"People have complained I have been in the background too much, not done enough. Are you sure?

 

"Let's get this straight. I paid £140million to buy this club.

 

"I've also paid off £100million worth of debt so today this club doesn't owe a buck to anyone.

 

"And I also gave Sam funds for new players.

 

"Yet I've been hammered by certain people and for what?

 

"Yes, wearing my Newcastle shirt and sitting with the fans.

 

"The critics were suggesting in some way that this was just a cheap trick that would boost sales of shirts in my own stores.

 

"But anyone who knows anything about Newcastle knows all the fans already have their shirts so it's all nonsense, just unbelievable.

 

"And do you know something? I don't regret those days with our supporters at all.

 

"I might own the club but they are the heartbeat and I had a lovely time with them.

 

"And I guarantee that you haven't seen the last of me out there with the lads and lasses.

 

"I will do it again from time to time. That's because among the fans he felt at home but when he sat in his own directors' box he was condemned as unconventional.

 

He explained: "I can't stand this self-imposed etiquette in the boardroom and directors' box.

 

"You're supposed to wear a suit, a shirt and tie and behave like a headmaster.

 

"Why? It's like one of those , snobby, snooty golf clubs where they have rules for this and that. It's nonsense and I won't go along with it.

 

"I want to go to football and enjoy it.

 

"I want to celebrate when my team scores, when my team wins.

 

"It's a game of drama and emotion — of highs and lows, of highlights and heartbreaks. And I want to live it.

 

"So from now on it's all down to me.

 

 

 

"I am here because I want to be here and because I want to win trophies.

 

"That's it — period — to get trophies in the cabinet and have a ball doing it. I can't see anything wrong with that at all.

 

"Buying a football club is something I've always wanted to do so it's living a dream.

 

"I always said I bought this club to become part of its passion.

 

"I'd like to think I've done that. Now I want to channel that passion into bringing success and I just can't wait until it happens."

 

[Jayson]

Was looking for this the other day and found it on my old external hard drive.

 

Still the only proper interview he's ever given regarding us IIRC.

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/1RXZU4r.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/eG9ApVK.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/QTTZrKk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/B0arsjP.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/PHkydgw.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/U54og5h.jpg

 

 

Lying prick.

 

Outside of Wenger/Pardew we are following Arsenals model tbf to him. Sell our best players, buy & scout youngsters, fill the side with french players & struggle with transfers we dont see as being the perfect deal. He's just overlooked the whole not having Wenger part.

 

His quote on Keegans outlook is interesting. "Kevin himself is very particular on who he wants, to use his words they have to have the right heart for Newcastle United." "We want players with the right heart & passion to play for Newcastle United & its supporters, Kevin doesnt stop emphasizing that".

 

Think we're missing a bit of that with our recent transfers really.

 

[TheGuv]

The Keegan stuff was interesting - considering a month later he'd left for all the reasons he said weren't happening.

 

Prick

[biggs]

"Roman Abramovich could put £100 million into Chelsea and write it off ,Newcastle is not yet in a position to do that and neither are a lot of others " (from Daves article)

Never will he or ever have the intention of doing that

Ashley spouts on about Europe yet Pardew says it was a distraction ,how the fuck should he feel hearing that from his manager

What a crock of shit and what the fuck is his ambition or long term plan for us now as the academy is a shambles too by all accounts

[Darth Crooks]

Fuck off and leave you vermin

 

(not biggs btw)

[bowlingcrofty]

Hope he gets struck by lightning today

[Guest H09]

Ashley spouts on about Europe 

 

You know him personally because I've never seen him say anything at all, ever.

[Guest neesy111]

Hope he gets struck by lightning today

 

Twice.  Just to make sure.

[Guest chopey]

Ashley has lost all interest in the footballing side of Newcastle, all he cares about is the bottom line.

 

Any profit he takes it , any loss someone gets sacked

[Dave]

Ashley spouts on about Europe 

 

You know him personally because I've never seen him say anything at all, ever.

 

What?

[biggs]

Ashley spouts on about Europe 

 

You know him personally because I've never seen him say anything at all, ever.

In Daves article he added to his post (not got time to post it going to pub)

[biggs]

Ashley spouts on about Europe 

 

You know him personally because I've never seen him say anything at all, ever.

 

What?

Hasnt read your posting Dave 

[henke]

If this fat fucker wants £200m can we please sell all of our first team squad. Sell the the silverware from the executive boxes, the gym equipment from the training ground. Sell anything and everything it takes to get him his £200m and the fuck out of our club.