Mike Ashley

[Happy Face]

I find myself defending Ashley far more frequently than I'm comfortable with... but billionaires don't get special multi-million pound parking tickets.  They couldn't exactly strip him of 10% of his wealth.  The fine is a nominal amount only to flag the wrongdoing.  The important punishment would have been to have his controlling position at Rangers removed, but given the recent resignations and those about to follow, he has no control at the club any more.

[Happy Face]

I've been quite vocal about the shit sandwich he's feeding us in terms of  commercial and match day income.

 

It's clear that this becomes less of an issue as TV money increases exponentially though.

 

I don't understand why this is important when everyone else in the league (i.e. our rivals) will see the same increases in TV revenue.

 

Yes we might start spending a bit more money but other teams in the league will do the same and then some.  I understand what you're saying about TV money becoming a bigger proportion of all revenue but the same goes for all clubs and we've seen before it usually leads to another increase in wages across the board and not much else.

 

Ashley has not increased wages from the level they were at since arriving (well, only 3%).  All other clubs have increased wages an average of 180% in that time.  We've not made an operating profit either so the only money to be spent on Transfers has been what we've earned from sales.

 

We've lost ground to all those other clubs in terms of what we spend. But we're still in the group outside the top 6 where tens of millions more has been borrowed and spent.

 

From now on we should be able to grow at easily the same rate those other teams do, but more realistically faster.  Unlike the other clubs, rather than paying off debt or interest on debt, any growth in broadcasting income nufc receive can be spent on new players and increased wages without adding to debt.  The amount of debt and interest payments to finance it for other clubs will only increase as they can secure more borrowing on future TV income.  They're paying significant sums to cover the cost of what was spent to get them where they are now,  we'll pay nothing because the painful groundwork has been done over 7 awful years of  scraping the barrell, with the owner accepting the financial risk if it led to relegation.

[BottledDog]

I've been quite vocal about the shit sandwich he's feeding us in terms of  commercial and match day income.

 

It's clear that this becomes less of an issue as TV money increases exponentially though.

 

I don't understand why this is important when everyone else in the league (i.e. our rivals) will see the same increases in TV revenue.

 

Yes we might start spending a bit more money but other teams in the league will do the same and then some.  I understand what you're saying about TV money becoming a bigger proportion of all revenue but the same goes for all clubs and we've seen before it usually leads to another increase in wages across the board and not much else.

 

Ashley has not increased wages from the level they were at since arriving (well, only 3%).  All other clubs have increased wages an average of 180% in that time.  We've not made an operating profit either so the only money to be spent on Transfers has been what we've earned from sales.

 

We've lost ground to all those other clubs in terms of what we spend. But we're still in the group outside the top 6 where tens of millions more has been borrowed and spent.

 

From now on we should be able to grow at easily the same rate those other teams do, but more realistically faster.  Unlike the other clubs, rather than paying off debt or interest on debt, any growth in broadcasting income nufc receive can be spent on new players and increased wages without adding to debt.  The amount of debt and interest payments to finance it for other clubs will only increase as they can secure more borrowing on future TV income.  They're paying significant sums to cover the cost of what was spent to get them where they are now,  we'll pay nothing because the painful groundwork has been done over 7 awful years of  scraping the barrell, with the owner accepting the financial risk if it led to relegation.

 

Plenty have (perfectly reasonably) become increasingly suspicious as to whether we'll see any actual positives from the policy.

 

Fingers crossed though. Nice to at least have some potential positives to hold on to while wading through shit.

[Happy Face]

 

Plenty have (perfectly reasonably) become increasingly suspicious as to whether we'll see any actual positives from the policy.

 

Fingers crossed though. Nice to at least have some potential positives to hold on to while wading through shit.

 

Aye.  There's plenty of remaining disgraceful policies that make Ashley a twat.  We can't quantify the transfer of funds from NUFC to his shops under the mechanisms he has in place for advertising, retail and kit production (Puma deals havce added no recognisable bump in income). 

 

We're not going to sell out for the visit of Man U either, because he won't sell tickets publicly.  Same with Arsenal coming up.  He'd rather push memberships and half season tickets. 

 

But then, even that piss take of a policy is driving up the matchday income and adding to the coffers.  Only Man City have grown their matchday income more than NUFC over the past 5 years.  These are the only  2 clubs who don't publish ticket prices and categorisations clearly on their site from day 1 of the season.  They're shitting on fans with fluctuating prices and picking numbers out of the air on a game by game basis, but the cut-throat policy is driving revenue growth at a rate to oustrip peers.

[Peppe]

From a Glasgow Rangers messageboard:

 

How the Newcastle fans must look at our support with envy at how we have chased the fat cockney and his minions from our door.

 

We really do. Wish we could do the same thing 

[Sima]

What the fuck happens to the likes of Bigi and Vuckic now?

[Guest]

Huge fucking difference. We had no idea what we were getting into when he bought us. They had a heads up so it's far easier to stop him getting in than it is to force him out.

[Happy Face]

Can you imagine if Shepherd had tried to fight Ashley and encouraged fans to buy up all the shares Ashley was chasing after to keep him away.

 

He'd have been told to fuck right off

[Unbelievable]

 

Plenty have (perfectly reasonably) become increasingly suspicious as to whether we'll see any actual positives from the policy.

 

Fingers crossed though. Nice to at least have some potential positives to hold on to while wading through s***.

 

Aye.  There's plenty of remaining disgraceful policies that make Ashley a t***.  We can't quantify the transfer of funds from NUFC to his shops under the mechanisms he has in place for advertising, retail and kit production (Puma deals havce added no recognisable bump in income). 

 

We're not going to sell out for the visit of Man U either, because he won't sell tickets publicly.  Same with Arsenal coming up.  He'd rather push memberships and half season tickets. 

 

But then, even that p*ss take of a policy is driving up the matchday income and adding to the coffers.  Only Man City have grown their matchday income more than NUFC over the past 5 years.  These are the only  2 clubs who don't publish ticket prices and categorisations clearly on their site from day 1 of the season.  They're shitting on fans with fluctuating prices and picking numbers out of the air on a game by game basis, but the cut-throat policy is driving revenue growth at a rate to oustrip peers.

 

Wait, why do you pick the Championship season as a starting point for this analysis. Are you not the same person who published this graph showing Chelsea and NUFC are the only two clubs who have seen match day income decline since when Ashley took over?

 

http://41.media.tumblr.com/f33eac79ec5ecaa44bf41c91092c5036/tumblr_nibgfzIrRd1u89ei4o1_1280.png

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Huge fucking difference. We had no idea what we were getting into when he bought us. They had a heads up so it's far easier to stop him getting in than it is to force him out.

 

Exactly, we thought we were getting a billionaire owner who wanted a successful football club. Rangers fans know exactly what he's like, and he hasn't got his tanks on the lawn yet.

[Happy Face]

Wait, why do you pick the Championship season as a starting point for this analysis. Are you not the same person who published this graph showing Chelsea and NUFC are the only two clubs who have seen match day income decline since when Ashley took over?

 

http://41.media.tumblr.com/f33eac79ec5ecaa44bf41c91092c5036/tumblr_nibgfzIrRd1u89ei4o1_1280.png

 

Absolutley.

 

Both are equally true and show the trajectory of the club over different timespans.

 

Ashley has reduced seasonal matchday income since buying the club.  But he's grown matchday income per game.

[Toonpack]

From a Glasgow Rangers messageboard:

 

How the Newcastle fans must look at our support with envy at how we have chased the fat cockney and his minions from our door.

 

We really do. Wish we could do the same thing 

 

They can think that but it's just not true. Like he's going anywhere on anything but his own terms, he controls everything that makes any money for them outside of ticket sales.

[ToonTastic]

Huge f***ing difference. We had no idea what we were getting into when he bought us. They had a heads up so it's far easier to stop him getting in than it is to force him out.

 

He also owned less than 10% of them so it was much easier to get shot of him, if he owned 100% like he does here there would be very little/nothing they could do just like with us.

And just because they have chased him out of the board room doesn't mean anything else has changed, he still more or less owns all their income streams.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I don't think Rangers fans can stop Ashley, but the league, SFA and other shareholders might be able to. Although as has been said, he has already snapped up their commercial income.

[ToonTastic]

I don't think Rangers fans can stop Ashley, but the league, SFA and other shareholders might be able to. Although as has been said, he has already snapped up their commercial income.

 

Fact is if he sold Newcastle tomorrow morning he'd own Ranger outright probably by tomorrow night. He doesn't care what their fans think like he doesnt care about ours.

[Happy Face]

Speaking of which...

 

King & co. choke on their celebratory cocktail weenies as Ashley strikes

 

http://www.scotzine.com/2015/03/king-co-choke-on-their-celebratory-cocktail-weenies-as-ashley-strikes/

 

[Toonpack]

Happy Face is basically stating what I hope is actually happening, i.e. that he's playing the long game and thinks he can make us better/successful his way without it costing him any more money.

 

For someone who cares not one iota for the club, supposedly, why does he attend games more often than not, I just can't get my head around that. If I was a multi-billionaire, I wouldn't turn up to see something I couldn't give a shit about every week or so, much better places I could go with my endless cash and my private jet.

[ToonTastic]

Speaking of which...

 

King & co. choke on their celebratory cocktail weenies as Ashley strikes

 

http://www.scotzine.com/2015/03/king-co-choke-on-their-celebratory-cocktail-weenies-as-ashley-strikes/

 

 

What are the assets or are they not known?

[Dokko]

Happy Face is basically stating what I hope is actually happening, i.e. that he's playing the long game and thinks he can make us better/successful his way without it costing him any more money.

 

For someone who cares not one iota for the club, supposedly, why does he attend games more often than not, I just can't get my head around that. If I was a multi-billionaire, I wouldn't turn up to see something I couldn't give a shit about every week or so, much better places I could go with my endless cash and my private jet.

 

I think he goes because it winds a few people up.

[Happy Face]

Speaking of which...

 

King & co. choke on their celebratory cocktail weenies as Ashley strikes

 

http://www.scotzine.com/2015/03/king-co-choke-on-their-celebratory-cocktail-weenies-as-ashley-strikes/

 

 

What are the assets or are they not known?

 

Secured against Murray Park (training ground), Edmiston House (derelict ticket office and social club), Albion Car Park, and the Club's registered trademarks - but not Ibrox.

 

[jdckelly]

Happy Face is basically stating what I hope is actually happening, i.e. that he's playing the long game and thinks he can make us better/successful his way without it costing him any more money.

 

For someone who cares not one iota for the club, supposedly, why does he attend games more often than not, I just can't get my head around that. If I was a multi-billionaire, I wouldn't turn up to see something I couldn't give a shit about every week or so, much better places I could go with my endless cash and my private jet.

 

Because it's a huge asset, that he uses for advertising, and he might like watching football?  Actually nah, must be because he cares about the club.

so he comes to watch us because.............?

[lovejoy]

Happy Face is basically stating what I hope is actually happening, i.e. that he's playing the long game and thinks he can make us better/successful his way without it costing him any more money.

 

For someone who cares not one iota for the club, supposedly, why does he attend games more often than not, I just can't get my head around that. If I was a multi-billionaire, I wouldn't turn up to see something I couldn't give a s*** about every week or so, much better places I could go with my endless cash and my private jet.

 

I think he goes because it winds a few people up.

 

he'd be bored of that by now man, the same wind up, i.e turning up, gets boring for anyone after 9 years.

 

not that I know what his game is like.

[Toonpack]

Happy Face is basically stating what I hope is actually happening, i.e. that he's playing the long game and thinks he can make us better/successful his way without it costing him any more money.

 

For someone who cares not one iota for the club, supposedly, why does he attend games more often than not, I just can't get my head around that. If I was a multi-billionaire, I wouldn't turn up to see something I couldn't give a s*** about every week or so, much better places I could go with my endless cash and my private jet.

 

Because it's a huge asset, that he uses for advertising, and he might like watching football?  Actually nah, must be because he cares about the club.

 

He must visit his flagship stores all the time I guess

[AyeDubbleYoo]

If I owned a football club and could rock up to be treated like the king in my executive box I would definitely do it like.

 

I don't think he has absolutely no regard for football, it's just his regard for profit is much more important.

[Toonpack]

If I owned a football club and could rock up to be treated like the king in my executive box I would definitely do it like.

 

I don't think he has absolutely no regard for football, it's just his regard for profit is much more important.

 

If I had his cash there's better places I could think of to rock up to and be treated like a King, places involving sun and scantily clad young gold-diggers.