Mike Ashley

[madras]

 

I say that just as much to point out how unbelievably f***ing rich this bloke is, and getting richer day by day. Some people like to make out like he's a pauper in Premier League terms when he really isn't (Chelsea and City the obvious exceptions, as well as one of Arsenal's guys).

 

He could have Everton's owner doing his f***ing dishes. He's not financially prudent, he's just a thoroughly tight selfish greedy c***.

aye and nah. nobody goes on like he's a pauper but that the club doesn't have the resources at present as some others. unless you want him to bankroll us similar in style to citeh and chelsea, which most seem to think is killing the game.

[madras]

I think it's pretty clear we have an owner that isn't really committed to making Newcastle United the club it should be by rights and is effectively running it on a skeleton crew. But when comparing other club owners favourably, please don't mention Gillett and Hicks of Liverpool. They were mis-managed so badly they were effectively up s*** creek without a paddle with a mounting debt racked up against Liverpool FC rather than the owners themselves. Their fans were protesting and they only got out of that because the club was sold over their heads by the bank to another buyer. If there hadn't been another buyer what then?

 

 

There WAS another buyer though, and the reason is that Liverpool had a recent record of success - that will always attract people who want a PL football club.

NUFC is supposedly in a better state financially than they were, but because the club is seen as a comedy show, nobody is rushing to buy it but they will when it suits their purpose...

 

That's right so comparing Liverpool's situation to ours favourably doesn't make sense then, because of their success they are a worldwide brand, a point made earlier in this thread. That's why if we are going to compare ourselves to another club, it would be closer to Everton.

 

Maybe closer, but Everton will never have NUFC's gate potential...they are seen as the second club in Liverpool, 3rd if you accept Bill Shankly's famous quote..!

Problem is that with Ashley in charge, the club's attraction to potential buyers is going to decline because eventually, there WILL be a boycott...perhaps not an organised one, but many will just stop going.

thing is , gate potential is becoming less and less of a clubs total revenue.

[madras]

The money paid for a free transfer. :lol:

it does happen. I'm sure joey bartons "free" transfer to QPR cost them 2mill.

[Wilson]

just read the last couple of pages...fuck my life

[Interpolic]

The money paid for a free transfer. :lol:

it does happen. I'm sure joey bartons "free" transfer to QPR cost them 2mill.

 

This is brand new information.

[AlanSkÃrare]

I feel sick. Not a football club anymore.

 

Like Dave said a while back, the football is just an uncomfortable distraction.

 

Quite extraordinairy what's happening to be honest.

[henke]

 

I know someone mentioned this the other day but can't remember where:

 

NUFC Statement

 

The Board of Newcastle United can today confirm that the Club is for sale at the price of £100m.

 

Interested parties should contact Newcastle United at [email protected] (or Keith Harris at Seymour Pierce) for further details.

 

The Club will not be making any further comment at the present time.

 

The thread title at the time is priceless: "Club for sale: £100m, anyone interested can email!"

 

 

that was a real low. Broke levels of ineptitude that we hadn't even contemplated

 

I'm more concerned that the fella trusted to sell the club has one hand up a ducks arse.

[themanupstairs]

Seeing as we live in a capitalist society, and most pride themselves on this fact, what Mike Ashley is doing is fair game. He's taking full advantage of this "opportunity". It's just our bad luck that it's happening to our beloved club.

 

From his perspective, he's doing nothing wrong, unless of course he's caught doing something illegal.

[madras]

The money paid for a free transfer. :lol:

it does happen. I'm sure joey bartons "free" transfer to QPR cost them 2mill.

 

This is brand new information.

don't misunderstand it, it means qpr shelled out to the player, his agent etc, not that we received a fee and when a player is a free in the manner barton was, or a desirable player has let his contract run down (ie ballack style) they will expect higher payments due to there being no transfer fee.

[Guest neesy111]

I thought the 35m we got for Carroll helped to get the Ba deal....

[Wilson]

I thought the 35m we got for Carroll helped to get the Ba deal....

 

It all helps you nah....expensive free transfer that was. Paid the last of it off when we sold Perch.

[AlanSkÃrare]

Seeing as we live in a capitalist society, and most pride themselves on this fact, what Mike Ashley is doing is fair game. He's taking full advantage of this "opportunity". It's just our bad luck that it's happening to our beloved club.

 

From his perspective, he's doing nothing wrong, unless of course he's caught doing something illegal.

 

Greed and lack of respect isn't necessarily the driving force in capitalism. This is one man on a money-grabbing crusade, not the result of an ideology.

[NG32]

You have agreed a deal with Sports Direct for the naming rights of Ibrox, yet have £21.2m cash in the bank. Why does the stadium need to be sponsored?

 

CG: Bringing an amount of cash in by naming the stadium – and that amount will vary upwards depending on the league that we're in – or the branding of Murray Park is vitally important. This is not money that goes into Charles Green's retirement fund, it goes into Rangers and we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that the team needs investment on the pitch, because it's only with a successful team that we'll get the support of the fans.

 

We had a meeting a few weeks ago with the supporters and invited Sports Direct. We had a presentation from Derek Llambias, the chief executive of Newcastle, who talked about how that worked for him at Newcastle, how that money bought Demba Ba and, after 29 goals, he sold him for £7.5m and bought [Moussa] Sissoko.

 

http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/sport/football/rangers-accounts-q-a.20412541

 

I wonder how much the club were paid for letting Llambias do work for SD?

 

FFS

 

We really are sports direct FC

[David Icke - Son of God]

Just caught up on the last few pages. Bugger me. We know he loves an outsource, but this does go some way to explain why our commercial revenues are in the toilet despite the fact we've been apparently having super duper kit launches.

 

On the plus side this makes any boycott (and anyone who buys any of the tat the club are churning out needs a slap) a lot more effective because it's not our revenue that takes the hit, it's Sports Direct.

[Elliottman]

Newcastle United fans’ groups met last night in an attempt to form a joint strategy to force Mike Ashley out of the club.

 

The Chronicle can reveal that among the tactics discussed was a boycott of the home Capital One Cup tie against Leeds United on September 25, an idea that has the backing of some supporters.

 

Last night’s meeting was arranged to gauge the widespread opinion among Newcastle fans about the current regime and what, if anything, they can do to change the club’s current ownership.

 

Various fan groups believe now is the time for them to be united and co-ordinate protests against the club owner, whatever form they may take. One idea, put forward on social media, is to arrange a march on a match-day to St James’ Park.

 

A poll in The Chronicle conducted in May found that Ashley’s approval rating was high among the majority of fans, although those on the other side of the debate wanted the billionaire businessman out of the club.

 

 

Newcastle fans have become angry with the way the club is being run 

 

But the appointment of Joe Kinnear as Director of Football and the subsequent failure to add more than Loic Remy on loan to one of the smallest Premier League squads in terms of senior players during the transfer window has changed the minds of many supporters who had previously backed the board.

 

Sources we spoke to yesterday admitted the feeling across all Newcastle supporters was a boycott would be a last resort as it goes against their natural instinct, which is to back the team.

 

But it has not been ruled, such is the anger and frustration currently felt by the Toon Army.

 

One told us: “Many have paid out for 10-year season tickets so Ashley has their money. So boycotting those games wouldn’t mean much.

 

“But if we stayed away from a game, such as the cup tie with Leeds that is not on the season ticket, that would hit him in the pocket.

 

“This isn’t something Newcastle fans want to do because we love going to the game and supporting the team.”

 

[NG32]

Fckin pussed giving ashley 10 years of your cash in the first place.  The mans a born liar and totally untrustworthy.

[George Bailey]

Newcastle United fans’ groups met last night in an attempt to form a joint strategy to force Mike Ashley out of the club.

 

The Chronicle can reveal that among the tactics discussed was a boycott of the home Capital One Cup tie against Leeds United on September 25, an idea that has the backing of some supporters.

 

Last night’s meeting was arranged to gauge the widespread opinion among Newcastle fans about the current regime and what, if anything, they can do to change the club’s current ownership.

 

Various fan groups believe now is the time for them to be united and co-ordinate protests against the club owner, whatever form they may take. One idea, put forward on social media, is to arrange a march on a match-day to St James’ Park.

 

A poll in The Chronicle conducted in May found that Ashley’s approval rating was high among the majority of fans, although those on the other side of the debate wanted the billionaire businessman out of the club.

 

 

Newcastle fans have become angry with the way the club is being run 

 

But the appointment of Joe Kinnear as Director of Football and the subsequent failure to add more than Loic Remy on loan to one of the smallest Premier League squads in terms of senior players during the transfer window has changed the minds of many supporters who had previously backed the board.

 

Sources we spoke to yesterday admitted the feeling across all Newcastle supporters was a boycott would be a last resort as it goes against their natural instinct, which is to back the team.

 

But it has not been ruled, such is the anger and frustration currently felt by the Toon Army.

 

One told us: “Many have paid out for 10-year season tickets so Ashley has their money. So boycotting those games wouldn’t mean much.

 

“But if we stayed away from a game, such as the cup tie with Leeds that is not on the season ticket, that would hit him in the pocket.

 

“This isn’t something Newcastle fans want to do because we love going to the game and supporting the team.”

 

 

If that is the case we deserve all we fucking get.

[Interpolic]

The money paid for a free transfer. :lol:

it does happen. I'm sure joey bartons "free" transfer to QPR cost them 2mill.

 

This is brand new information.

don't misunderstand it, it means qpr shelled out to the player, his agent etc, not that we received a fee and when a player is a free in the manner barton was, or a desirable player has let his contract run down (ie ballack style) they will expect higher payments due to there being no transfer fee.

 

I know, man.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Just caught up on the last few pages. Bugger me. We know he loves an outsource, but this does go some way to explain why our commercial revenues are in the toilet despite the fact we've been apparently having super duper kit launches.

 

On the plus side this makes any boycott (and anyone who buys any of the tat the club are churning out needs a slap) a lot more effective because it's not our revenue that takes the hit, it's Sports Direct.

 

Boycotting SD is actually probably a much better way to hit him, if that's what you want to do.

[Unbelievable]

Newcastle United fans’ groups met last night in an attempt to form a joint strategy to force Mike Ashley out of the club.

 

The Chronicle can reveal that among the tactics discussed was a boycott of the home Capital One Cup tie against Leeds United on September 25, an idea that has the backing of some supporters.

 

Last night’s meeting was arranged to gauge the widespread opinion among Newcastle fans about the current regime and what, if anything, they can do to change the club’s current ownership.

 

Various fan groups believe now is the time for them to be united and co-ordinate protests against the club owner, whatever form they may take. One idea, put forward on social media, is to arrange a march on a match-day to St James’ Park.

 

A poll in The Chronicle conducted in May found that Ashley’s approval rating was high among the majority of fans, although those on the other side of the debate wanted the billionaire businessman out of the club.

 

 

Newcastle fans have become angry with the way the club is being run 

 

But the appointment of Joe Kinnear as Director of Football and the subsequent failure to add more than Loic Remy on loan to one of the smallest Premier League squads in terms of senior players during the transfer window has changed the minds of many supporters who had previously backed the board.

 

Sources we spoke to yesterday admitted the feeling across all Newcastle supporters was a boycott would be a last resort as it goes against their natural instinct, which is to back the team.

 

But it has not been ruled, such is the anger and frustration currently felt by the Toon Army.

 

One told us: “Many have paid out for 10-year season tickets so Ashley has their money. So boycotting those games wouldn’t mean much.

 

“But if we stayed away from a game, such as the cup tie with Leeds that is not on the season ticket, that would hit him in the pocket.

 

“This isn’t something Newcastle fans want to do because we love going to the game and supporting the team.”

 

 

If that is the case we deserve all we f***ing get.

 

Unbelievably it does appear to be quite good, with most people content and some even very happy: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-big-toon-survey-4032295

[Unbelievable]

Just caught up on the last few pages. Bugger me. We know he loves an outsource, but this does go some way to explain why our commercial revenues are in the toilet despite the fact we've been apparently having super duper kit launches.

 

On the plus side this makes any boycott (and anyone who buys any of the tat the club are churning out needs a slap) a lot more effective because it's not our revenue that takes the hit, it's Sports Direct.

 

Boycotting SD is actually probably a much better way to hit him, if that's what you want to do.

 

It's the exact same thing

[David Icke - Son of God]

Just caught up on the last few pages. Bugger me. We know he loves an outsource, but this does go some way to explain why our commercial revenues are in the toilet despite the fact we've been apparently having super duper kit launches.

 

On the plus side this makes any boycott (and anyone who buys any of the tat the club are churning out needs a slap) a lot more effective because it's not our revenue that takes the hit, it's Sports Direct.

 

Boycotting SD is actually probably a much better way to hit him, if that's what you want to do.

 

Boycotting 'NUFC Direct' = boycotting Sports Direct

[Interpolic]

Re boycotting matches I remember when not many people went to the Spurs match in the League Cup (not long after that Hull match) and apparently a good few stayed away in protest. I thought the attendance was tiny but just looked it up and it was about 20k, which isn't even that bad really.

[Matt]

Newcastle United fans’ groups met last night in an attempt to form a joint strategy to force Mike Ashley out of the club.

 

The Chronicle can reveal that among the tactics discussed was a boycott of the home Capital One Cup tie against Leeds United on September 25, an idea that has the backing of some supporters.

 

Unless those same individuals can find a truckload of cash, it's not happening. We've been down this route before and it was utterly unsuccessful.

[AlanSkÃrare]

Media has to pick up on this? Whether or not it's illegal isn't really relevant. If our ambition and spending as a football club is being marginalized because of money going into Sports Direct instead, it's a fucking scandal anyway.

 

I've been doing research and reading loads of things this week for a text I'm writing on Ashley's ownership and how things have built up to this. This quote from Llambias is still baffling.

 

“Mike Ashley has only ever put money into this football club; he has never taken a single penny out. And he won’t take a single penny of this £35 million either - all the money will go to the club and we are already working on identifying transfer targets for the summer. We will spend in the summer. Every penny of the £35 million will stay in the club.”

 

“We didn’t push Andy Carroll out, far from it - he asked to go. The fact is Mike Ashley didn’t want to sell him, it’s not like he needs the money is it? And remember we turned down bids of £30m and then £35m from Liverpool."