Mike Ashley (former owner)

[loki679]

I think Hughton has too much integrity to come back and work for Ashley again.

[Gallowgate End]

It's looking more and more likely Ashley will still be here come August and Rafa won't be, I think Hughton will be manager to pacify the fans.

 

[Stal]

Has Caulkin deleted his twitter account?

[gdm]

Has Caulkin deleted his twitter account?

 

No

[JH]

If the takeover is "in the bag" then why would Mike Ashley care if Rafa Benitez signs a contract or not? it's not really his problem any more is it?

 

Why would he even offer a transfer budget at all?

 

He doesn't care a great deal about the club, whether or not he is trying to sell the club.. his cronies are out in force trying to wind fans up to the max.

 

If Mike Ashley leaves the club he wont do it easily.. he is a vindictive b******.

 

Why would he inflate the prices of our shirts?

 

Why would he increase ticket prices?

 

Bring in Shola?

 

Redfern?

 

 

Maybe Odin knows?

 

Well we knew about Shola and Redfearn for weeks, maybe months.

 

And the other stuff is irrelevant. Those decisions would have been made months ago. It’s cheeky as fuck to charge that for a shit design top but that’s life. It’s 5p more expensive than the next 3 most expensive in the league. And then just a few pounds for most of the rest. I don’t see the big deal in moaning about something you won’t buy.

 

The seasons tickets would piss me off more. But those decisions were made ages ago.

 

Absolutely no relevance to the takeover.

 

Well exactly. I’m not making any comment on whether I think a takeover is on or not, but do you think everything stopped at HoF when Ashley took over? Or Asda stopped selling bananas when Sainsbury’s were looking to take over?

 

Of course not. New product lines continued, tills were ringing, shops opening, staff hired etc. It’s business as usual until anything is confirmed (or collapses).

[Decky]

If we make it until the first day of the season and this still hasnt happened Ashley has played a blinder. No matter how genuine all this is in that scenario it'll be another transfer window wasted because of a potential takeover. Ridiculous. Watch it disappear and come back again in January.

[JP]

The only thing that’s changed since Monochrome Acquisitions Ltd was created is time. What the hell is everyone flapping for?

[Shearergol]

The only thing that’s changed since Monochrome Acquisitions Ltd was created is time. What the hell is everyone flapping for?

 

I think Rafa's contract and the close proximity to the start of pre-season (no clear management team, planned transfer targets etc) are the cause of concern.

[Guest chopey]

The only thing that’s changed since Monochrome Acquisitions Ltd was created is time. What the hell is everyone flapping for?

 

I think Rafa's contract and the close proximity to the start of pre-season (no clear management team, planned transfer targets etc) are the cause of concern.

 

Someone to put the cones out on the first day of pre season will do.

 

[gdm]

The only thing that’s changed since Monochrome Acquisitions Ltd was created is time. What the hell is everyone flapping for?

 

We don’t have time. Rafa will be gone next week and the players start preseason next week

[nufcjb]

I still dont understand. If everything was fake why did BZG say they are buying us in the first place? I believe they do want to buy us. What I don't trust is Fat Mike. Somehow, he is going to try and scupper the deal.

[Guest]

I was just driving the car and listening to Absolute Classic Rock "Are You Gonna Go My Way" was playing. Now, I don't know if you know this (but I know this), it is a well known fact that Rafa loves a bit of Absolute Classic Rock, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that this song was playing today of all days. This is a clear message. Take that for what it's worth.

[Happinesstan]

My morning dump, today, looked like a churro. Churros are Spanish so I think we'll probably hear something today.

[maze]

If anything were to happen before the end of this month I expect it to come «out of the blue». Also, in the event nothing happens, we are heading for disaster.

[Wilson]

If we make it until the first day of the season and this still hasnt happened Ashley has played a blinder. No matter how genuine all this is in that scenario it'll be another transfer window wasted because of a potential takeover. Ridiculous. Watch it disappear and come back again in January.

 

How is it wasted because of a potential takeover?  Takeover story or not the window wouldn't have went any different.

[Wilson]

I still dont understand. If everything was fake why did BZG say they are buying us in the first place? I believe they do want to buy us. What I don't trust is Fat Mike. Somehow, he is going to try and scupper the deal.

 

Sounds like you do understand.

 

Basically what the more sensible lot have thought all along.  Genuine takeover attempt (not an MA/KB masterplan), fat mike to pull the rug at some point.  Basically it.

[HawK]

I still dont understand. If everything was fake why did BZG say they are buying us in the first place? I believe they do want to buy us. What I don't trust is Fat Mike. Somehow, he is going to try and scupper the deal.

 

Sounds like you do understand.

 

Basically what the more sensible lot have thought all along.  Genuine takeover attempt (not an MA/KB masterplan), fat mike to pull the rug at some point.  Basically it.

 

 

I still genuinely think there's a strong chance this has been engineered, I don't know the BZG or anyone from it, and I'd rather go with my gut when thinking about what MA and KB would be willing to do.

 

I wholeheartedly agree that takeover rumor or not, the end result in terms of the financial outlay/investment in the club is the same regardless. However, this is Mike Ashley, a man seemingly hell-bent on deliberately misleading and downright antaognising the fan base. With cronies in Sky Sports to peddle whatever plan of the day he wants to peddle. I think he's had it in us for a long time, remember that letter he wrote to the fans about not being able to bring his family because he didn't feel safe at the ground? The guy is willing to bet huge sums on a whim in casinos, what's a hypothetical 5-10m kicker to a previously unknown figurehead Arabian investment company to him to further annoy us even more. It seems to be pretty much his mission in life to antagonise and do whatever he can to the club to 'get back' at the people of Newcastle.

 

Would be ecstatic to be proved wrong, but 10+ years of experience of having takeover after takeover fail when he's 'trying' to sell the club has me pretty much entrenched in not believing a single word written about, let alone from the club. Until I see a press conference at SJP with someone saying they are the owners of the club, I won't believe in literally anything.

 

So whilst I do consider myself sensible, I just have a different viewpoint based on my own values. I woudn't label people who disagree with your point of view as 'unsensible' by inference, forums are for debate and discourse FWIW, I think you're one of the more sensible posters on here.

 

[nufc4eva]

I still dont understand. If everything was fake why did BZG say they are buying us in the first place? I believe they do want to buy us. What I don't trust is Fat Mike. Somehow, he is going to try and scupper the deal.

 

Sounds like you do understand.

 

Basically what the more sensible lot have thought all along.  Genuine takeover attempt (not an MA/KB masterplan), fat mike to pull the rug at some point.  Basically it.

 

Exactly, it is a genuine attempt by 1 or more parties but then Ashley will change the parameters and label them all as time wasters. Would love this to be the end game but feel we have been here before.

[Guest The Little Waster]

We should all remember this fact : He does not want to sell ...

[nufc4eva]

We should all remember this fact : He does not want to sell ...

 

He makes too much money from it to want to sell and it's a great advertising vehicle for next to nothing. The club value will keep going up as long as in the league / bounce back and the fans will most likely put up with it all. He will sell eventually but wouldn't even trust him to put us in the hands of a decent owner

[r0cafella]

I think the interest is genuine but Ashley has absolutely no incentive to sell.

 

The revenue generated by NUFC is great he just needs to keep us in the Premier league.

[Montey]

I think the interest is genuine but Ashley has absolutely no incentive to sell.

 

The revenue generated by NUFC is great he just needs to keep us in the Premier league.

 

Which is why the various protests and the like don't mean anything to Ashley or have any impact on Ashley's actions unless they impact the revenues of NUFC or the marketability of NUFC.

 

Take a look at the few times Ashley appeared to do something in reaction to fan unrest - it was only when the fan action could impact the club's profits or impact the advertising value of the club to Sports Direct.  Any action that doesn't achieve one or both of these things is a complete waste of time.

 

For example, pre-game and post-game protests don't have any impact because they are not broadcast on TV - but in game walk-outs and large banners do have an impact because they're seen on international television alongside the Sports Direct advertising.  Singing against Ashley has no impact because the television broadcast barely picks it up, but large scale protests outside of Sports Direct stores with news-media in tow does have an impact because it targets his primary business.

[Shearergol]

We should all remember this fact : He does not want to sell ...

 

He makes too much money from it to want to sell and it's a great advertising vehicle for next to nothing. The club value will keep going up as long as in the league / bounce back and the fans will most likely put up with it all. He will sell eventually but wouldn't even trust him to put us in the hands of a decent owner

 

He (Ashley) isn't really making any money from the club according to the accounts though. If the loans were high interest, or he was taking out large sums every year I'd get it.

 

How long would it take SD to get a return of £350m from advertising?

[Wilson]

I still dont understand. If everything was fake why did BZG say they are buying us in the first place? I believe they do want to buy us. What I don't trust is Fat Mike. Somehow, he is going to try and scupper the deal.

 

Sounds like you do understand.

 

Basically what the more sensible lot have thought all along.  Genuine takeover attempt (not an MA/KB masterplan), fat mike to pull the rug at some point.  Basically it.

 

 

I still genuinely think there's a strong chance this has been engineered, I don't know the BZG or anyone from it, and I'd rather go with my gut when thinking about what MA and KB would be willing to do.

 

I wholeheartedly agree that takeover rumor or not, the end result in terms of the financial outlay/investment in the club is the same regardless. However, this is Mike Ashley, a man seemingly hell-bent on deliberately misleading and downright antaognising the fan base. With cronies in Sky Sports to peddle whatever plan of the day he wants to peddle. I think he's had it in us for a long time, remember that letter he wrote to the fans about not being able to bring his family because he didn't feel safe at the ground? The guy is willing to bet huge sums on a whim in casinos, what's a hypothetical 5-10m kicker to a previously unknown figurehead Arabian investment company to him to further annoy us even more. It seems to be pretty much his mission in life to antagonise and do whatever he can to the club to 'get back' at the people of Newcastle.

 

Would be ecstatic to be proved wrong, but 10+ years of experience of having takeover after takeover fail when he's 'trying' to sell the club has me pretty much entrenched in not believing a single word written about, let alone from the club. Until I see a press conference at SJP with someone saying they are the owners of the club, I won't believe in literally anything.

 

So whilst I do consider myself sensible, I just have a different viewpoint based on my own values. I woudn't label people who disagree with your point of view as 'unsensible' by inference, forums are for debate and discourse FWIW, I think you're one of the more sensible posters on here.

 

 

Fair enough, I'm under no illusions as to what fatty is capable of doing, however I really don't think MA/KB have enough clout to pay off BZG to release statements, imagine it somehow came out?  What would happen to BZG?  Just to string along a fan base for Mike Ashley?  I just don't see it.

 

To me they are genuine buyers, fatty is seeing what he can squeeze from them, if he can't get what he wants (which will be a massively over inflated price) he'll close the door.  Think we're getting closer to that point now (murmurs of him moving goalposts etc).

 

 

 

 

[Matt]

How long would it take SD to get a return of £350m from advertising?

 

The most recent figure was that SD spent £12m in total on advertising and promotion for 2017, so I would say longer than Ashley has left on the planet. With SD supposedly now paying for the advertising (could of course be a total lie), will be interesting to see what appears under 'related party transactions' in the next set of accounts.