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Yorkie

by Yorkie
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Willow

Willow

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Posted

If this goes through, you're going to see a tidal wave of love in the toon. That pure excitement and fearless feeling we had in the mid-90s, the countless fans who've been let down time after time by Ashley considering returning, the potential new young'uns who have never walked into St James when it's been absolutely buzzing will get hooked. We're on the cusp of dreaming again and not just being satisfied with staying in this league year in, year out. Bring it on

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Rebellious

Rebellious

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Posted

 I went into work at 3 today. I coach at Ipswich Town Academy, 1 hour ago I was half getting the piss ripped out of me for supporting Newcastle and half shown pity by the other coaches. That`s going to change tomorrow. Stuck the radio on to hear the news, i`m actually in shock and the guilt of getting my daughter hooked on Newcastle is finally going to be lifted.

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Teasy

Teasy

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30 minutes ago, Fuckyougeordies said:

So basically you Geordies couldn't give a shit who owns the Club provided they buy you the League. After all the money Ashley has thrown at you. You are pathetic. 

 

Cheers, love that like ?

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David Edgar

David Edgar

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Posted

At last, it seems, Project Zebra is happening. The takeover of Newcastle United by the Saudi Arabian-backed bidders is suddenly back on and the landscape of the Premier League might just be about to shift again.

Project Zebra was the code name given to the takeover almost two years ago when it was hoped the deal, then valued at £340 million, would be completed in time for the January transfer window – the one in 2020, not 2022.

At that time, the buyers were looking at short-term options, such as possibly Olivier Giroud, then at Chelsea, to try to ensure Newcastle avoided relegation.

After that, a carefully laid plan would be rolled out to take Newcastle back into the elite of European football. That plan included: competing for major honours again; transforming the academy; improving the scouting network; unlocking Newcastle’s immense potential.

But it was not a short-term strategy. Crucially, though, it did not, and probably still does not, involve a spending spree on big-name players. The prospective owners want to grow the club organically, backed by the financial muscle they can provide.

It might change if the Saudis decide to “go for it” a bit more, and, certainly, the discussions when Covid-19 struck in March 2020 included whether they could capitalise on the situation, because they had cash available in a market that was desperate for it. But the deal fell apart. Once they own the club, that bug might bite, especially given the rivalry that exists with Abu Dhabi, who own Manchester City.

But an insight into how prudent the owners, led by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the UK property magnates the Reuben brothers, planned to be was offered in the money they were prepared to make available once the £305 million price was agreed.

Even that price might now be the subject of further discussion. It had already come down, with the buyers factoring in the delay, the fact that the deposit they made – believed to be at least £15 million – was held by Mike Ashley, and, of course, the effects of Covid on club revenues.

Amanda Staveley is expect to front the club CREDIT: PA

But the plan was for an initial £100 million to be earmarked for transfers over a four-year period, which sounds relatively modest, especially given the wealth of the owners. Fans dreaming of bids for the likes of Kylian Mbappe might be disappointed in that. But it is £100 million more than is being invested in Newcastle at present and they will know that further funds can easily be committed if necessary.

It showed prudence was important. Crucially, £50 million was to be devoted, in years two and three of the ownership, on either redeveloping the training ground at Darsley Park or moving to a new one.

A key part of the strategy is to tap into the potential of the “Geordie nation”, to borrow a phrase used by a previous owner, Sir John Hall, and invest heavily in youth development, making sure the best young players do not leave the region, and upgrading the facilities, including cutting-edge medical and sports science departments.

It is likely that a sporting director will be employed and that Newcastle will organise themselves with a football management committee, which may make some fans groan but is a modern approach to running a club.

It will certainly involve far more football and business expertise going into Newcastle and one aspect that interests the Reuben brothers in particular is the synergy they can provide with the development of the city and the North East. They already own Newcastle racecourse and have a property portfolio in the city.

It would be no surprise to see further Saudi investment pour into the area and the club. One obvious area to look at is sponsorship and it would be no surprise to see a lucrative shirt deal on the horizon. The Saudis are extremely enthusiastic about football.

Naturally, the future of manager Steve Bruce will come under scrutiny, and although it is understood he is due a significant pay-off if he is to be replaced, that may not save him. Newcastle are in the bottom three and the new owners will not countenance the prospect of a relegation battle, having fought so hard to take control of the club.

The prospective owners will be wise to surf the feelgood factor of Ashley finally going. There is a lot to tap into and not just the relief of a new regime and, with it, greater stability and ambition.

The rest of the Premier League will take notice. Rumours were that a number of leading clubs were opposing the Saudi bid partly because they feared that here was another big player coming over the horizon who might take one of their places at the top table.

It appears that the Saudis will not, for now, come in and make any big statement signings. For a start, they will want to survey the economics of football and assess what needs to be done at a club neglected for so long but that evidently has such great potential. But ambition might lead to far more once the takeover finally goes through.

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George Bailey

George Bailey

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, B-more Mag said:

Especially happy for all you that live in the area, knowing that the knock-on effects for the community ought to be pretty huge.

Oh man the pride in the city in the Sir John Hall and Keegan years was something to behold. If we get that spirit again, coupled with financial sound backing and (whisper it) success...the city and areas around it will be buzzing

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Guest

Guest

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Posted
13 minutes ago, CFlan said:

Pete making sure to tell us that Ashley is a sound lad. 


Must have missed that? He made a point when they put the graphic up of net spend that it worked out only £10m a year because on the face of it it might have looked a lot.

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