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Mike Ashley (former owner) (still alive)

Disco

by Disco
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Happinesstan

Happinesstan

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The sixth floor of Academy House, Sports Direct’s latest headquarters in London’s Oxford Circus, is packed with City folk, and a respectable number of journalists - perhaps too many for Mike Ashley’s liking. The gathering is an update on how the business is doing.

 

Of late, Ashley appears to have been making a concerted effort to say as little as possible during such meetings, a sign perhaps that the efforts of his new-ish PR to moderate his outbursts are working.

 

Known for his colourful diatribes against a range of people who doesn’t align to his world view, the retail magnate visibly tries to rein it in when his top team are answering probing questions.

 

When he does, his answers are tentative, conciliatory even.

 

“I’ve got to be very careful here before I answer.”

 

“I’m not trying to be difficult but…”

 

When he can’t get away with evasive answers, he resorts to repetition, like a broken record, hoping the message will sink in. 

 

“I don’t think we should get tied down to specific numbers.”

 

And again.

 

“I don’t think we want to get stuck on specifics numbers, it’s very dangerous, it’s the sort of thing I did in the past.”

 

When he goes rogue, this time about share price predictions, a discreet glance from his minders keeps him in check.

 

“I’m getting nodded at not to say the share price. But an enormous share price…"

 

He looks again.

 

“I’m not allowed to use the word ‘enormous’. No. A lot higher than it is now, how about that?”

 

Another glance.

 

“OK, so we’re clear. A lot higher than it is now.”

 

The Sports Direct tycoon’s relationship with the media has always been fraught, emotional even. He fears being vilified in the press, so keeps everyone at arm’s length. At one point, he bemoans being made “a panto villain”, then tells everyone they are clueless about business rates.

 

Ashley is no stranger to unorthodox behaviour, which has earned him the 'Mad Mike' moniker. In September, he banned journalists from the annual general meeting with shareholders without giving a reason for it. Listed companies do not have to allow journalists into their annual general meetings, but most generally do. Two years ago, he cancelled an open day for media and investors after “conflicting demands” for time.

 

After an animated meeting with shareholders in 2016, he invited the press over to the company's Shirebrook warehouse in Derbyshire, to show them around, during which he unloaded a wad of £50 notes as part of a security check. Back in 2013, his executives banned some local papers from attending Newcastle United matches if they continued to write negative coverage of the team and the club, which he also owns.

 

Half way through the conference, the masks slips, he loses his cool and goes off-script as soon as a hack asks a follow-up question.

 

His main gripe is that “due diligence” related to his recent buying spree has come up.

 

The mood shifts. He doesn’t smile anymore.

 

“No, enough now. You are going to ruin it for the media. Why do you want to ruin it for the media?”

 

They talk over each other.

 

“Why are you going to ruin it for the media? It’s an investment day, it’s not a media day. Okay? Get the balance and be fair.” 

 

He becomes a bizarre version of Lord of the Rings’ Gandalf, confronting Balrog, the demon, and threatens to ban journalists from Sports Direct towers if they don’t behave - ‘you shall not pass’ style.

 

“Press are dominating the results a little bit too much, maybe it wasn’t the greatest idea to invite the press to the half year results. We’ll probably limit it to full year results.

 

“As I say, this isn’t a panto and I’m not a panto villain. If from the investors we can have some more serious business questions.”

 

Journalists appear to be a nuisance to him. He does not cope well with criticism and anyone questioning his business decisions.

 

He answers a few more. Then, looking like someone who has just remembered how to solve an algebra equation in a maths exam, he reverts to being jovial, and invites journalists to ask “positive” questions. As if his little outburst never happened and all is forgotten.

 

With a bit more finessing from his minders, he might get it right next time.

 

Sounds just the ticket to win the next election as Labour Party leader.

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Guest reefatoon

Guest reefatoon

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He absolutely hates anything negative and always reacts.  It's a good job nobody fell for the "free half season tickets" isn't it to keep the pressure on...oh wait.

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geordie john

geordie john

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He absolutely hates anything negative and always reacts.  It's a good job nobody fell for the "free half season tickets" isn't it to keep the pressure on...oh wait.

 

 

Agree. That absolutely has to be the way forward in driving the bastard out. Lots and lots and lots of criticism. Business, personal, anything.....by the bucked load in every form of media known to man.

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mrmojorisin75

mrmojorisin75

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that must have surely been when they were developing one of the stands, when the kop was out?

 

same for that manyoo crowd?

 

EDIT: aye

 

"Liverpool's all-time Premier League low attendance is 22,519 against vacuum icons Wimbledon in October 1994 but this was a) against Wimbledon and b) in a period when the Kop was being turned into an all-seater stand."

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Wallsendmag

Wallsendmag

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that must have surely been when they were developing one of the stands, when the kop was out?

 

same for that manyoo crowd?

 

Man Utd capacity was 32k when they got 29k v Crystal Palace. They also posted a crowd of 19k at Old Trafford that season but that was for a UEFA Cup game. Liverpool's capacity never dropped anywhere near as low as 22k either, even during the Kop redevelopment.

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Guest Howaythetoon

Guest Howaythetoon

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As admirable as our gate size is, the loyalty of Geordies and Toon fans in general has always been something owners and directors since day one have regularly gotten away with taking the piss out of, because they knew no matter what, fans would always go and turn up to see those in black and shite play and pay to do so.

 

Right now, for thousands, you’d have to pay them to go which is effectively what Ashley is doing and that for me is the ultimate piss take, because NUFC like every single other club from formation could only exist and survive because people of their towns and cities were more than willing to even pay to watch their team play if that’s what it took and that wasn’t some clever business strategy to commercialise the sport and clubs. It was an essential co-operative deal to survive.

 

Paying to watch footy all stemmed from fans more than happy to pay their subs so to speak originally so they had a club to go and watch at least which was worth shelling out on to have rather than not having a clubs at all, whatever the cost. You couldn’t put a price on how much people would pay to support their club. Even today thousands spend half their weekly wage on supporting their team every week and the last time I went with my two boys, it cost me close to £100 for tickets, food, beverages and programmes and that was to watch a 3rd round FA Cup game at home to Luton, which 40k others also paid to see their team in action.

 

All of which, in a commercial sense as a business places the cost of having a Newcastle United to follow a high price worth paying at figures higher than the cost most pay to go to work and back each week, or the cost of a weeks worth of shopping, gas and electric, or what some pay to rent their homes.

 

That’s the real commercial value of NUFC or used to be, now the value of a going to watch a game is worth, well fuck all. Well done Mike, you genius businessman, you’ve successfully turned something people would be prepared to spend half their wages on just to watch their team managed by Alan Pardew lose at Craven Cottage to Fulham or could sell an extra 10k tickets so people could join in and sing We want you to stay to some fat Spanish waiter who couldn’t stop their club being relegated, into a club that can’t sell 10k tickets for even 1 pence.

 

Honestly, I’d want paid for 90 minutes of my time to watch that pile of crap, and I’d want a lot more than I can earn in 90 minutes at work.

 

Before Ashley, you couldn’t buy my 90 minutes of my time off of me from watching the Toon. Supporting your team is priceless, spending the same money on something else just couldn’t compare.

 

To think right now, what I’d be willing to pay just to watch us home and away for the 5 years of KK’s 92-96 team. To be there every game, for all of it, I was lucky enough to be there for a few games, to be around the city, the fans and to watch us almost every game on telly, to see them train in person a few times, to get the kit, programmes, videos, magazines, to be in there first with I’m Andy Cole when playing singles or doubles. Even if my mum had the money for a season ticket, I don’t think I’d have got one as I’d be in a lottery with thousands of others.

 

I was just happy to get the odd ticket to watch a beam back at the Odeon who themselves were selling season tickets and sold out every game shown. The club could have sold season tickets for strips and they would have sold out.

 

And now, every single person who has paid for a season ticket, you mugs, all you had to do was wait a few months and you’d get it for free. I bet you’d be able to get a free Sports Direct Mug thrown in too if you told them you’d have to reconsider otherwise.

 

Desperate, embarrassing, free ticket Mags. Sell Out? It’s not the owner who is cheap, but fans who Ashley can buy out for nowt, what cost to your club though. They have lost all rights to ever complain, because they value the club even less than Ashley, it’s worth nothing to them all, but worth something to him at least as long as he can buy people for nowt. Is that how much you value yourselves, is that how much your club is only worth to you, if it’s not costing you anything? Selfish bastards who have cost our city and people and fans the world over the loss of what money can’t put a value on, our beloved club. It’s dead now, that’s it, if the only way to keep those seats warm and get people to go is by charging nothing, the message need not be any more clearer, not that anyone needs reminded.

 

I’d want half my money back at least and I guarantee if you threaten to not renew next season, they’ll give you a full season ticket and half a season ticket for the price of a full one just to keep your custom.

 

It’s getting harder to work out who is the most thickest, the owner or the fans, I’m calling it a draw for now with 0 zero shots on target. But 53k fans went home happy enough.

 

How many times did they leave unhappy when Rafa was in charge. 600 quid gets you a tiny extra number of points more after the same number of games from this time last year, Andy Carrol on a free, higher up in the table than at the same point of last season and a Geordie manager. Ashley is giving tickets away at that price given what fans get in return.

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Guest Howaythetoon

Guest Howaythetoon

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Slowly drip feeding the for sale/in talks with a buyer shite again. I watched the game on Bein Sports at the weekend and the two former disgraced anti Rafa Bruce loving pro Ashley Sky employees were hinting the sale of the club is ongoing and that someone is at the data room stage of negotiations. Fuck off! In reality, an Ashley hush hush appointed Kenyon is hawking the club around to anyone daft enough to pay the asking price and accept Mike’s conditions, which Kenyon is hoping he’ll be at the head of it all and if not, he’ll have his golden handshake off of Mike anyway. He’s that desperate, he’ll loan anyone the money to buy the club off him...

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