manosdepiedra Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Newcastle should be the one place in the country where he's having to shut down and ship out. Instead he's opening a bigger store in a better location. How utterly embarrassing for us as a city and a group of supporters. This. Apathy rules though. The best way to get rid of Ashley is terrorise Sports Direct and it's share price. It's the only language he understands. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrettNUFC Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Newcastle should be the one place in the country where he's having to shut down and ship out. Instead he's opening a bigger store in a better location. How utterly embarrassing for us as a city and a group of supporters. This is spot on, like Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WashyGeordie Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Must've spent ages merchandising those windows. The MAOC could have a field day and fill it with 'Ashley out' stickers. Would even look better anyway. I'm sure someone did that to the old NUFC shop 'round the corner for advertisement but i can't remember who. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stottie Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Our owner is Britain's fifth richest and we can't even spend the tv money. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sempuki Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Our owner is Britain's fifth richest and we can't even spend the tv money. He maybe be 5th richest but he is 1st for tightness the twat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Geordie Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 The latest; http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-articles/mike-ashley-wants-newcastle-fans-signed-5-years-get-clause/ Mike Ashley Wants Newcastle Fans Trapped For 5 Years With No Get Out Clause 2 hours ago by Dean Wilkins After thousands of season ticket holders cancelled their direct debit in January & February, Mike Ashley has reacted with even cheaper deals to convince fans to sign for 5 years with NO OPT OUT. So far the season ticket deals had allowed for fans to opt out on a yearly basis, but Ashley has now reacted to season ticket holders turning their backs on his running of the club, by dropping prices further but only if fans sign up for 5 years with no chance to pull out. (To feature like Dean, send in your letters/articles for our magazine/website to [email protected]) 5 yearsWhat exactly would happen if anybody’s financial circumstances changed is anybody’s guess. However, judging by the war of attrition that Ashley forced his ticket office to wage against fans trying to cancel their season tickets in January/February, then the club won’t be showing any sympathy to those who fall on hard times. Never mind the fact you don’t know what division we may be in for these coming years. The club have announced that ten thousand more fans will be receiving renewal forms as from today and those that see three year deals expiring will be offered the chance to pay from just £475 per season BUT ONLY if they agree to a five year contract that they can’t pull out of. In return Ashley is offering £103 off the standard price of £578. By offering this deal it shows the desperation to have bums on seats at any price, with the Newcastle United owner worried that the free promotion/advertising of the rest of his business empire will be broadcast out from matches at St.James’ Park to a worldwide audience, with a backdrop of thousands and thousands of empty seats. The information sent out by the club to both the media and the fans is all about getting cheap/cheaper tickets, nowhere does it mention about investment in the team and the quality of football you will be watching. Mike Ashley is about to learn that just because he offer cheaper prices it doesn’t mean he will get those bums on the seats he is so desperate for. Please also, yet again, remind yourself of this statement that Mike Ashley put in the report that Newcastle United put out when announcing the shocking accounts, where match day and commercial revenue was massively down on six years previously. “Matchday and commercial revenue is a key driver because that is where the club can compete with – and outperform – its competitors to enhance its spending capabilities.” I ask the question again, if the aim is simply to keep on cutting and cutting ticket prices in a desperate attempt to keep/trap fans going to home matches – how on earth is the matchday revenue going to be a ‘key driver’ in helping Newcastle United to ‘compete with-and outperform-its competitors’?!!! ----------------------- It would seem that more than a fair few have packed their tickets in, and this is Ashley's latest move to try and counter-act that. I can only hope that the majority of supporters see this for what it is - about keeping the ground full to promote his tacky brand, regardless of what division we are in. In no way at all is it a victory for supporters in keeping football 'affordable'. It's much more cynical than that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanSkÃrare Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 It's very much Americanization of the sport. Remove the competitive edge, regard it as entertainment, be happy that it's cheap. It's all unfolding and it's fucking tragic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Unless the club are going to pursue individual season ticket holders in the courts, there isn't really such a thing as 'no get out clause'. Any business that operates on subscriptions will want to have income as static and predictable as possible. Not sure there's anything more evil to it than that TBH. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest antz1uk Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 how many people would actually pay more money for a season ticket if it actually guaranteed at least a go at trying to be competitive? he is completely missing the point. we aren't desperate to be a poxy family club with the likes of bolton offering cheap deals, give us a good team and we'll gladly pay for the fucker, we're getting turned into Wigan at this rate.. oh hold on... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shays Given Tim Flowers Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Unless the club are going to pursue individual season ticket holders in the courts, there isn't really such a thing as 'no get out clause'. Any business that operates on subscriptions will want to have income as static and predictable as possible. Not sure there's anything more evil to it than that TBH. When ticket income is fixed and secure then fan power is further diminished. Irony being if we were an ambitious club people would buy more season tickets and wouldn't want to hand them back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 There's that evil comment again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Sports Direct urges shareholders to approve £65m bonus for Mike Ashley http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/mar/11/sports-direct-shareholders-bonus-mike-ashley-founder Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanSkÃrare Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 how many people would actually pay more money for a season ticket if it actually guaranteed at least a go at trying to be competitive? he is completely missing the point. we aren't desperate to be a poxy family club with the likes of bolton offering cheap deals, give us a good team and we'll gladly pay for the f***er, we're getting turned into Wigan at this rate.. oh hold on... I'm afraid you're in the wrong here. I think it might work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 I mean, keeping prices low for fans is generally considered a good thing right? In fact, since matchday income doesn't have much to do with spending power, more clubs should be doing exactly what we're doing. There is an argument that people shouldn't be locked in for 5 years, but then that element is optional. I can see why the club wants to secure season ticket income long-term, that's perfectly normal. Whether you think it's normal business practice or an attempt to enslave us to the Ashley will is a matter of opinion I suppose. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimbo Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 It's very much Americanization of the sport. Remove the competitive edge, regard it as entertainment, be happy that it's cheap. It's all unfolding and it's f***ing tragic. American sports are way ahead of us when it comes to having a proper competition. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanSkÃrare Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 It's very much Americanization of the sport. Remove the competitive edge, regard it as entertainment, be happy that it's cheap. It's all unfolding and it's f***ing tragic. American sports are way ahead of us when it comes to having a proper competition. Only been to NBA, but the experience was much more about entertainment, consumption and the event in itself rather than passionate support for either team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 New York Red Bulls have about 200 of the maddest fans I've ever seen. Strange. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveItIfWeBeatU Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Sports Direct urges shareholders to approve £65m bonus for Mike Ashley http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/mar/11/sports-direct-shareholders-bonus-mike-ashley-founder Having read that article, to be fair to Mike Ashley, the terms of the share bonus (worth about £65m) only reward success and not failure. If the company doesn't perform he doesn't get the bonus. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimbo Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 It's very much Americanization of the sport. Remove the competitive edge, regard it as entertainment, be happy that it's cheap. It's all unfolding and it's f***ing tragic. American sports are way ahead of us when it comes to having a proper competition. Only been to NBA, but the experience was much more about entertainment, consumption and the event in itself rather than passionate support for either team. Well they have a different culture, they have a concert in the middle of the Superbowl which delays the 2nd half by 20 minutes. In terms of competition though ours is too warped financially to really be called sport IMO, it's ironic that the Americans recognise that financial equality is needed but us socialists in Europe are going the other way, we even have clubs being run by nation states. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shays Given Tim Flowers Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Fans being suspicious of Mike Ashley is an entirely sensible and proper opinion. From the Keegan Judgement October 2009. “The club's explanation for these statements, which, on their case, were simply untrue, was that they were nothing more than an exercise in public relations carried out so as not to undermine Mr Keegan's position and made necessary, in the first place, by statements made by Mr Keegan himself to the press. We found this explanation to be profoundly unsatisfactory. “We do not understand why the club could not set out publicly and truthfully what they maintain was the true position. After all, Mr Ashley's vision for the club involved a change to a Continental structure and it is clear from the evidence that there are managers of some Continental clubs who do not have the final say. “For the club to have made these statements, when they were, according to the club, untrue, was, in our view, simply to store up trouble for the future.” "You want to know the parameters of the job and they keep changing, and you're not allowed to do what you think's feasible or logical then it becomes very difficult to do your job as well as you can and at the minute the job has been done well terrifically well." Colin Calderwood following the sacking of Hughton December 2010. “They can put together whatever they like. He is not for sale. I am going to say it for one last time, he is not for sale,” Alan Pardew 17 Jan 2011 in response to a proposed £30m pound Tottenham bid for Andy Carroll. "You guys don’t understand how f****** horrible we can be.” Managing Director Derek Llambias November 2011. "I will not let any player leave Newcastle United in this transfer window" Director of Football Joe Kinnear 8 days before Cabaye's transfer to PSG. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 The Mag claiming the club are now offering cheaper 5 year season ticket deals, only thing is there is no get out option. You are signed in for 5 years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanSkÃrare Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 It's very much Americanization of the sport. Remove the competitive edge, regard it as entertainment, be happy that it's cheap. It's all unfolding and it's f***ing tragic. American sports are way ahead of us when it comes to having a proper competition. Only been to NBA, but the experience was much more about entertainment, consumption and the event in itself rather than passionate support for either team. Well they have a different culture, they have a concert in the middle of the Superbowl which delays the 2nd half by 20 minutes. In terms of competition though ours is too warped financially to really be called sport IMO, it's ironic that the Americans recognise that financial equality is needed but us socialists in Europe are going the other way, we even have clubs being run by nation states. I look at clubs in Sweden, where club ownership is restricted by the "51% rule", a socialist-initiated legislation (prevents third parties from controlling clubs) and I see supporters much less alienated from the sport and their clubs. I even attended a seminar this weekend on how supporters can work with their club to build things mutually and be involved (arranged by AIK). Fans influence on the game is completley different here, they are part of the club, not customers to it. I think it preserves some values that are currently being lost in European football, which is moving towards the American way of support. The money isn't there in the same way, which limits Swedish football and the quality of it, but there is a much more dynamic feel to the competitive dimension and the supporters' influence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Geordie Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Fans being suspicious of Mike Ashley is an entirely sensible and proper opinion. From the Keegan Judgement October 2009. “The club's explanation for these statements, which, on their case, were simply untrue, was that they were nothing more than an exercise in public relations carried out so as not to undermine Mr Keegan's position and made necessary, in the first place, by statements made by Mr Keegan himself to the press. We found this explanation to be profoundly unsatisfactory. “We do not understand why the club could not set out publicly and truthfully what they maintain was the true position. After all, Mr Ashley's vision for the club involved a change to a Continental structure and it is clear from the evidence that there are managers of some Continental clubs who do not have the final say. “For the club to have made these statements, when they were, according to the club, untrue, was, in our view, simply to store up trouble for the future.” "You want to know the parameters of the job and they keep changing, and you're not allowed to do what you think's feasible or logical then it becomes very difficult to do your job as well as you can and at the minute the job has been done well terrifically well." Colin Calderwood following the sacking of Hughton December 2010. “They can put together whatever they like. He is not for sale. I am going to say it for one last time, he is not for sale,” Alan Pardew 17 Jan 2011 in response to a proposed £30m pound Tottenham bid for Andy Carroll. "You guys don’t understand how f****** horrible we can be.” Managing Director Derek Llambias November 2011. "I will not let any player leave Newcastle United in this transfer window" Director of Football Joe Kinnear 8 days before Cabaye's transfer to PSG. All in a nutshell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoreboard82 Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 The Mag claiming the club are now offering cheaper 5 year season ticket deals, only thing is there is no get out option. You are signed in for 5 years. Unless you cancel the direct debit of course. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanji Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 It's very much Americanization of the sport. Remove the competitive edge, regard it as entertainment, be happy that it's cheap. It's all unfolding and it's f***ing tragic. American sports are way ahead of us when it comes to having a proper competition. The massive uproar in media (ESPN, etc.) in the USA over a similar Mike Ashley or Vincent Tan situation to a historic sports club would be unreal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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