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Various: Mike Ashley in talks with Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan


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Guest reefatoon

Can’t see him lasting long at all if he goes bright red at someone calling him a parasite. Few more of those and he might spontaneously combust.

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I’m simply making an educated guess based on 1) interest in football globally 2) global markets and economy and 3) he doesn’t invest in us and we go down scenario, he will cut and run for good.

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46074109

 

What is Mike Ashley's plan for the High Street?

By Jill Treanor

Business reporter, BBC News

2 November 2018

 

What is Mike Ashley's game plan?

 

The founder of Sports Direct seems intent on taking over the UK's High Streets.

 

This week the businessman, who has a retail empire that spans budget sportswear and luxury fashion, added Evans Cycles to the High Street names in his sprawling and intertwined retail empire.

 

The cycle chain came wrapped for a quick sale in a special arrangement which freed it of its debts. The price tag was just £8m for the cycle chain after it had been placed into administration.

 

It followed the £90m deal by Sports Direct in August to buy House of Fraser, after the department store chain had been placed in administration.

 

Richard Hyman, a strategic adviser to retailers, said: "I don't really think he's got a strategy as such. He's an opportunist.

 

"But I need to make clear that I don't mean that in a pejorative sense!"

 

The deals have been bolted on to a business that traces its roots to 1982 when Mr Ashley started Sports Direct with one store and a £10,000 loan from his parents.

 

In 2007, Sports Direct was floated on the stock market, by which time it had more than 400 stores, owned Lillywhites in London and brands such as Donnay and Slazenger.

 

Not all of his interests are held through Sports Direct, but they now include a substantial property business, clothing chain French Connection, lingerie chain Agent Provocateur, the upmarket clothing outlets Flannels and Cruise and more brands, including Firetrap and Lonsdale, and, of course, Newcastle United football club.

 

Richard Lim, chief executive of Retail Economics, doesn't think there's a concrete plan. He says Mr Ashley's deals are a "combination of both strategic and opportunistic".

 

But the purchase of the Evans Cycles chain - where Mr Ashley admits he will shut half of the 62 shops - does fit with his plans for dominance in the field of sports.

 

"There are [acquisitions] that are clearly relevant. Evans is in that camp. In conversation with Mike five years ago [about] areas of sports and leisure he wasn't involved in, he'd put cycling and fishing in that camp. Evans is relevant to the sports retailing business," said John Stevenson, analyst at stock brokers Peel Hunt.

 

Goals Soccer Centres, the five-a-side football business in which he also holds an interest, also falls into the category.

 

Others, though, are less obvious. Think Debenhams - in which Sports Direct has a-near 30% stake - and Game Group, where it has also amassed shares.

 

The stake in Debenhams - partly amassed through a complex financial trade - is not being used as a prelude to a full takeover. That was set out in September when Simon Bentley, a non-executive director of Sports Direct, clarified remarks he had made that he did not intend to infer a merger between House of Fraser and Debenhams was being discussed.

 

Figuring out what Mr Ashley is planning is not made easy by his less-than-warm relationship with the investment establishment. Mr Stevenson said they "don't engage with the City about what their strategy is".

 

But Mr Ashley has perhaps tried to define his own strategy through eye-catching slogans: The "Selfridges of Sport" for Sports Direct and the "Harrods of the High Street" for House of Fraser.

 

These, though, have provoked some scepticism. "There are hundreds of High Streets in Britain but only one has a got Harrods on it. I think there's a message there," said Mr Hyman.

 

But Mr Ashley is finding opportunities at a time when analysts talk about a period of unprecedented turmoil on the High Street.

 

So what does he look for in a deal? Mr Lim said he will have "a stringent set of tests" as he seeks out well-known brands.

 

Buying a company out of administration allows him to "trim off the fat", Mr Lim said. Half of Evans Cycles stores are to be closed.

 

And the purchases also come with lots of goods. Richard Hyman points to the stock that the chains are carrying. Evans, Mr Hyman said, carried £28m of stock. House of Fraser, Mr Hyman said, was "largely about buying a pile of stock at a heavily discounted price which he can then sell and make a handsome profit from".

 

"This is what I mean by opportunistic. Evans Cycles is not a bad fit. Is he following a strategic plan? I don't think he is. Is he positively opportunistic? Yes. Has got the resources to take advantage of opportunities that come his way? Yes."

 

Mr Hyman adds: "Has he got courage? Yes".

 

If nothing else, his shopping spree has been a bold one.

 

So he bought Evans Cycles for £8m which includes £28m of stock. Similar situation with House of Fraser. He can't fail doing that.

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Fuck me, the quality of broadcasters nowadays. This dick is probably the most clueless of the lot.

 

 

Alan Brazil suggests Rangers speak to Mike Ashley

Sat 3 Nov

 

Celtic-supporting Alan Brazil has suggestion for Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox club Glasgow Rangers regarding Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley.

 

A general view of Ibrox Stadium is seen ahead of the EURO 2016 Qualifier match between Scotland and Georgia at Ibrox Stadium on October 11, 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Ibrox Stadium of Rangers

 

Celtic fan and former Scotland international forward Alan Brazil has suggested in The Sunday Post that Ibrox club Glasgow Rangers should speak to Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley about investment.

 

Rangers have been involved in a court battle with Sports Direct and Newcastle owner Ashley over a merchandise deal, as reported in The Sunday Post last month.

 

As recently reported by The Daily Record, Rangers have posted a £14 million loss in their annual accounts.

 

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United forward Brazil - who now works as a presenter on talkSPORT and stated in The Sunday Post in July 2017 that he is red-hot Celtic fan - has suggested that the Gers work with Newcastle owner Ashley in order to improve their financial situation.

 

 

 

Brazil wrote in The Sunday Post about Ashley and Rangers: “I hear he’s always thinking, always coming up with ideas for the next way to make his businesses more profitable.

 

“So maybe Rangers would do better to stop fighting the guy in court and start talking to him instead? That’s what I would be doing if I were in charge of the club.

 

“Their mission at the moment should be to get cash for Steven Gerrard to strengthen. Instead, they’re being ordered to fork out hundreds of thousands in legal fees.”

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In the aftermath of Last weeks Helicopter disaster he never attempted to say his surname once, despite it being the only show in town for most of early last week. This is, remember, reputedly a professional broadcaster / breakfast show anchor.

 

 

 

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Brazil is clueless and irritating so that story doesn’t surprise me at all.  When a certain game is the topic of conversation on his show he quite often admits that he didn’t see the game (you’d think that would be part of his job?) but still gives his opinion on it anyway.  I also can’t stand his constant bragging about his holidays, money, and the perks of his job, like if he’s broadcasting from Sydney while The Ashes is on or something.  He’s such a twat.

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Craig Hope claiming a fan tried to get to Mike yesterday, but was removed when he started getting verbally abusive.

 

I want more of this :lol:

We need to set up a rota to go to that curry house and have words. please declare your availability below

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Has had his plans to install an advertising screen above the entrance of his new Flannels store on Northumberland knocked back by Newcastle council.

 

No doubt he’ll appeal though.

 

I'm not surprised, it was a fucking monstrosity! I can't see the Planning Inspectorate allowing it if they do appeal.

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Has had his plans to install an advertising screen above the entrance of his new Flannels store on Northumberland knocked back by Newcastle council.

 

No doubt he’ll appeal though.

 

I'm not surprised, it was a fucking monstrosity! I can't see the Planning Inspectorate allowing it if they do appeal.

 

A few bribes will ensure it goes ahead

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Has had his plans to install an advertising screen above the entrance of his new Flannels store on Northumberland knocked back by Newcastle council.

 

No doubt he’ll appeal though.

 

I'm not surprised, it was a fucking monstrosity! I can't see the Planning Inspectorate allowing it if they do appeal.

 

A few bribes will ensure it goes ahead

 

I've seen cases with a strong whiff of behind the scenes political influence (much bigger stuff than an advertisement consent appeal, no chance that would happen here) but I very much doubt that bribery actually occurs, in appeals.

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On what grounds was it denied, anybody know?

 

Seem to recall a few years ago that the owners of the building currently occupied by Superdrug also applied for planning permission for a digital screen, and this was rejected.  Could be mistaken here, but I think Intu raised an objection and it was upheld.  Therefore, a precedent has been set already.

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