Mike Ashley

[HaydnNUFC]

Takeover done in December. Give Rafa a billion in January.

 

You could probably give him £50m and we'd be pushing for European places.

 

Get a real #10 and #9 and we are in business IMO. Obviously still depth issues in certain area  but imagine having a league average attack.

We'll have Isco and Aubemayang by next season, man.

[steve_69]

Takeover done in December. Give Rafa a billion in January.

 

You could probably give him £50m and we'd be pushing for European places.

 

Get a real #10 and #9 and we are in business IMO. Obviously still depth issues in certain area  but imagine having a league average attack.

We'll have Isco and Aubemayang by next season, man.

 

on the bench

[Pixelphish]

Takeover done in December. Give Rafa a billion in January.

 

You could probably give him £50m and we'd be pushing for European places.

 

Get a real #10 and #9 and we are in business IMO. Obviously still depth issues in certain area  but imagine having a league average attack.

We'll have Isco and Aubemayang by next season, man.

 

on the bench

 

At our Spanish feeder club.

[Guest]

Takeover done in December. Give Rafa a billion in January.

 

You could probably give him £50m and we'd be pushing for European places.

 

Get a real #10 and #9 and we are in business IMO. Obviously still depth issues in certain area  but imagine having a league average attack.

We'll have Isco and Aubemayang by next season, man.

 

on the bench

 

At our Spanish feeder club.

 

Real Madrid.

[Skeletor]

She seems the opposite of Ashley. Thin, attractive, ambitious, always working to be better, won't tolerate mediocrity. Hasn't made her fortune by accident and luck like the fat cunt.

[manorpark]

This link has already been posted, but just reading it again, fills me full of hope . . .

 

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1171891/sports#.WdTkVGtA2GN.twitter

[James]

 

Is also at high risk to develop Huntingdons Disease within the next 10/15 years.

 

 

 

Huntington's is a very tragic illness so I hope this is not true.

 

Sufferers are meant to become quite erratic as one of the first symptoms and then ultimately the club would effectively owned by someone else via power of attorney

 

Safeguards would be needed on that one!

[Benwell Lad]

 

Is also at high risk to develop Huntingdons Disease within the next 10/15 years.

 

 

 

Huntington's is a very tragic illness so I hope this is not true.

 

Sufferers are meant to become quite erratic as one of the first symptoms and then ultimately the club would effectively owned by someone else via power of attorney

 

Safeguards would be needed on that one!

 

Good to see your usual considered and sympathetic approach to things James, but we may just be getting slightly ahead of ourselves here :-)

[HaydnNUFC]

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/amanda-staveley-deal-could-turn-13717725.amp

 

Amanda Staveley deal could turn Newcastle into high rollers - but Mike Ashley holds the cards

 

Newcastle United takeover talk seems to be gaining momentum and possible bidder Amanda Staveley isn't dampening it

 

New claims from the Gulf suggest that a deal for Newcastle United could be done by the end of the year if Amanda Staveley is serious about investing in the Magpies.

 

No doubt Newcastle officials will be raising eyebrows at such breathless talk, given the fact that they have spent most of the week seeking to point out that there have been no substantive talks with Staveley over price or the shape of a takeover deal which – to put it in context – would be the second most expensive in English football history.

 

 

The deal negotiated by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan to buy Manchester City in 2008 was £210million – and it might take double that to buy Newcastle.

 

Staveley is no tyre kicker, though. She was part of the process that saw English football change in an instant with that City deal and even if Newcastle suspect that there are some smoke and mirrors going on here, her people are not seeking to douse talk of her interest in the club. Crucially, it’s understood that she would be the principal investor through her PCP Capital Partners firm – which represents interests in the Gulf and China.

 

The financial muscle would be provided by her Gulf backers: PCP Capital Partners is worth $37billion.

 

Given those kind of numbers, it’s unlikely that raising the funds to buy Ashley out would be a problem. Neither would giving Rafa Benitez the sort of financial backing which Newcastle were missing in the last transfer window. We don’t know what the small print of any deal or what the structure would be, but these are numbers that eclipse Ashley’s extraordinary wealth.

 

And – as was pointed out in our ‘View from the Middle East’ piece, penned by former Newcastle United Supporters Trust chairman Neil Mitchell – any Gulf investors would be in it to win it, rather than the model followed by Chinese investors in West Brom or Southampton which seems to be one of organic growth.

 

Sources close to her say there is interest in Newcastle and it’s a proposition she wants to explore more – although she has also looked at Spurs and Liverpool, where she has previously tried to do business. Staveley would be front and centre in any new Newcastle era and she knows Rafa Benitez well. His presence is one of the reasons why she sees Newcastle as an attractive proposition and even though it was not him or his people who invited her to St James’ Park, it was him whom she spoke to first after the game – before she was introduced to Ashley’s eyes and ears at Newcastle, Justin Barnes and Lee Charnley.

 

If she does start takeover proceedings, any concerns about Benitez’s future would reduce substantially. The ten-year planning he was talking about in May might start again.

 

Because Newcastle are not a publicly listed company, negotiations would be private and possibly conducted by a few individuals and advisors close to them.

 

Unlike the situation at Liverpool – where takeover codes meant that the saga had to play out in public – Newcastle is a private company and Ashley may do with it as he wishes, provided he sticks to corporate laws.

 

This is probably good for getting any deal done quickly but it hardly brings about transparency – and we know that previous interest has withered when the owner starts to play hardball over prices and terms. For all that Newcastle might feel the current takeover talk is getting way ahead of itself, it’s hard to see Ashley complaining too much.

 

After all, he tried to smoke out interest earlier in the summer with reports claiming Chinese interest was “at an advanced stage”. In an ideal world he’d like a bidding war to drive the price as high as possible. There is still a lingering suspicion he wants a co-investor rather than a complete buy-out: Sports Direct, after all, benefits substantially from the exposure of the Premier League.

 

For all that the talk has been about someone who did attend Sunday’s match, the most important character at Newcastle remains the one who wasn’t there. Ashley is in control, is notoriously unpredictable and holds all of the cards in any takeover saga. If he doesn’t want to do a deal or makes it prohibitive, there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

[B-more Mag]

Should definitely be active in the transfer market with PCP involved.

[Kanj]

The steve, pixel and ON posts back to back were fucking hilarious

 

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/amanda-staveley-deal-could-turn-13717725.amp

 

Amanda Staveley deal could turn Newcastle into high rollers - but Mike Ashley holds the cards

 

Newcastle United takeover talk seems to be gaining momentum and possible bidder Amanda Staveley isn't dampening it

 

New claims from the Gulf suggest that a deal for Newcastle United could be done by the end of the year if Amanda Staveley is serious about investing in the Magpies.

 

No doubt Newcastle officials will be raising eyebrows at such breathless talk, given the fact that they have spent most of the week seeking to point out that there have been no substantive talks with Staveley over price or the shape of a takeover deal which – to put it in context – would be the second most expensive in English football history.

 

 

The deal negotiated by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan to buy Manchester City in 2008 was £210million – and it might take double that to buy Newcastle.

 

Staveley is no tyre kicker, though. She was part of the process that saw English football change in an instant with that City deal and even if Newcastle suspect that there are some smoke and mirrors going on here, her people are not seeking to douse talk of her interest in the club. Crucially, it’s understood that she would be the principal investor through her PCP Capital Partners firm – which represents interests in the Gulf and China.

 

The financial muscle would be provided by her Gulf backers: PCP Capital Partners is worth $37billion.

 

Given those kind of numbers, it’s unlikely that raising the funds to buy Ashley out would be a problem. Neither would giving Rafa Benitez the sort of financial backing which Newcastle were missing in the last transfer window. We don’t know what the small print of any deal or what the structure would be, but these are numbers that eclipse Ashley’s extraordinary wealth.

 

And – as was pointed out in our ‘View from the Middle East’ piece, penned by former Newcastle United Supporters Trust chairman Neil Mitchell – any Gulf investors would be in it to win it, rather than the model followed by Chinese investors in West Brom or Southampton which seems to be one of organic growth.

 

Sources close to her say there is interest in Newcastle and it’s a proposition she wants to explore more – although she has also looked at Spurs and Liverpool, where she has previously tried to do business. Staveley would be front and centre in any new Newcastle era and she knows Rafa Benitez well. His presence is one of the reasons why she sees Newcastle as an attractive proposition and even though it was not him or his people who invited her to St James’ Park, it was him whom she spoke to first after the game – before she was introduced to Ashley’s eyes and ears at Newcastle, Justin Barnes and Lee Charnley.

 

If she does start takeover proceedings, any concerns about Benitez’s future would reduce substantially. The ten-year planning he was talking about in May might start again.

 

Because Newcastle are not a publicly listed company, negotiations would be private and possibly conducted by a few individuals and advisors close to them.

 

Unlike the situation at Liverpool – where takeover codes meant that the saga had to play out in public – Newcastle is a private company and Ashley may do with it as he wishes, provided he sticks to corporate laws.

 

This is probably good for getting any deal done quickly but it hardly brings about transparency – and we know that previous interest has withered when the owner starts to play hardball over prices and terms. For all that Newcastle might feel the current takeover talk is getting way ahead of itself, it’s hard to see Ashley complaining too much.

 

After all, he tried to smoke out interest earlier in the summer with reports claiming Chinese interest was “at an advanced stage”. In an ideal world he’d like a bidding war to drive the price as high as possible. There is still a lingering suspicion he wants a co-investor rather than a complete buy-out: Sports Direct, after all, benefits substantially from the exposure of the Premier League.

 

For all that the talk has been about someone who did attend Sunday’s match, the most important character at Newcastle remains the one who wasn’t there. Ashley is in control, is notoriously unpredictable and holds all of the cards in any takeover saga. If he doesn’t want to do a deal or makes it prohibitive, there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

 

plz happen plz

[DJ_NUFC]

God, we need some sort of forum wreck up to celebrate the end of Ashley

 

If this happens, I'll fly in from Canada to attend and celebrate.

[Figures 1-0 Football]

He’ll inevitably price out any potential investors or put in place terms that are impossible to agree, then claim that ‘he tried’ to sell us but nobody wanted us.

 

Our best hope is that a group with a bottomless pit of money make him an offer that he cannot refuse.

 

As exciting that all of this is, I wont get too excited until it’s confirmed. We’ve been let down by these idiots time and time again.

[HaydnNUFC]

He’ll inevitably price out any potential investors or put in place terms that are impossible to agree, then claim that ‘he tried’ to sell us but nobody wanted us.

 

Our best hope is that a group with a bottomless pit of money make him an offer that he cannot refuse.

 

As exciting that all of this is, I wont get too excited until it’s confirmed. We’ve been let down by these idiots time and time again.

PCP seem to be that tbf. Then again like you say, it's the hope that kills.

[Ikon]

Any potential buyer should just flat out ask him how much he wants to walk away completely. No evidence of his ownership left behind.

 

Probably half a billion.

 

Knowing Ashley he would probably ask for something like that plus Mandy flashing her tits.

[Scoot]

God, we need some sort of forum wreck up to celebrate the end of Ashley

 

Wrecked for a week once he goes.

[DJ_NUFC]

Any potential buyer should just flat out ask him how much he wants to walk away completely. No evidence of his ownership left behind.

 

Probably half a billion.

 

This is my worry. Plus the nerve of the fucking man. If he'd only run us like a proper business and club, he would stand to make a lot more. Instead he's constantly focused on fleecing whomever he does business with to maximize his own pennies without spending any.

 

I'm concerned he won't let go of the SD branding opportunity that easily, he may have a provision that all that tat stays up, regardless of majority stakeholder.

[Kanj]

I want this club to be the very best and be up there in the top rungs of the league, challenging for titles, cups, Champions League, global presence - I want to see us win more often than not - and in today's global landscape of sport - you need to spend money to do that and you need to pay agents, high wages, etc. I'd love to see the academy produce proper players, I'd like to see articles of experts loving our facilities etc.

 

Anyway, all of this takes money - we've suffered a ton under Ashley and the only reason we are where we are today is because Rafa Benitez has poured every single bit of life into this, so fuck it. If this actually happens and the owners want to build a fantastic club from top to bottom with everything in place for success, let's fucking have it. We all deserve it.

[Figures 1-0 Football]

He’ll inevitably price out any potential investors or put in place terms that are impossible to agree, then claim that ‘he tried’ to sell us but nobody wanted us.

 

Our best hope is that a group with a bottomless pit of money make him an offer that he cannot refuse.

 

As exciting that all of this is, I wont get too excited until it’s confirmed. We’ve been let down by these idiots time and time again.

PCP seem to be that tbf. Then again like you say, it's the hope that kills.

 

The Saudi’s are apparently wanting a football club, as in their dick measuring competition, they are coming up short with their neighbours all owning one. The finance is nothing to them, they want what the others have.

 

It’s like competing with the lads at school over who has the best football boots, only over a much larger scale.

 

She could potentially be scouting one for them, if she is, they will have a bottomless pit and the club they end up purchasing could go exactly the same way as Man City.

 

Imagine if they turn to someone like West Ham because Ashley fucks it up

[Charlies]

Was she really at the Stoke game?

[Figures 1-0 Football]

Was she really at the Stoke game?

 

Caulkin said he heard that rumour, but wasn’t aware that she was.

 

Basically - no.

[HaydnNUFC]

He’ll inevitably price out any potential investors or put in place terms that are impossible to agree, then claim that ‘he tried’ to sell us but nobody wanted us.

 

Our best hope is that a group with a bottomless pit of money make him an offer that he cannot refuse.

 

As exciting that all of this is, I wont get too excited until it’s confirmed. We’ve been let down by these idiots time and time again.

PCP seem to be that tbf. Then again like you say, it's the hope that kills.

 

The Saudi’s are apparently wanting a football club, as in their dick measuring competition, they are coming up short with their neighbours all owning one. The finance is nothing to them, they want what the others have.

 

It’s like competing with the lads at school over who has the best football boots, only over a much larger scale.

 

She could potentially be scouting one for them, if she is, they will have a bottomless pit and the club they end up purchasing could go exactly the same way as Man City.

 

Imagine if they turn to someone like West Ham because Ashley f***s it up

I hope that we turn into another Man City. Like Kanji's said us as a fanbase fucking deserve it, we've had 10 years of bloody Ashley and arguably 13 years of absolute shite.

[Scoot]

Honestly, if Ashley f***s this up...

 

 

He will. It's Ashley.

[summerof69]

I don't. Just want someone who gives a fuck. Would prefer someone who wants to grow the club organically, or ideally someone who would buy the club and sell it on to the fans at a massive discount.

[Ikon]

No matter what happens, whatever way it goes, it'll take some time I imagine. I'm desperate for change and I really want it to happen asap As long as it happens I'll be over the moon. Trying to use my head and think/expect nothing positive to happen to avoid any false hope, but no matter how hard I try I can't stop dreaming of a new Newcastle United and I'm scared of another inevitable let down.