Ashley: I'll run this club my way

[Jimbo 175]

MIKE ASHLEY dramatically broke his silence over the turmoil on the Toon and defiantly declared: "I had to act and now I'll do it MY way!"

 

Newcastle's' billionaire owner insists he is ready to step out of the background to run the club the way HE wants to from now on.

 

On Tuesday he will jet back from a Far East business trip to join forces with chairman Chris Mort as they strive to bring success to St James's Park.

 

And there will be times when he swaps his trademark Newcastle shirt and returns to civvies as he plots the way ahead in the wake of the departure of boss Sam Allardyce.

 

Today, in an exclusive News of the World interview, Ashley outlines his New Year vision for Newcastle including the qualities he's looking for in the club's next manager.

 

He said: "I want a team that will go all out to try to give Chelsea a walloping, that'll try to stuff Tottenham and that will be brave and bold enough to attack Man Utd.

 

"To date I have invested £250m to try and make it happen.

 

"And I'm not the only one who could see it wasn't working with things as they were.

 

"So when my chairman told me it was time for a change I knew it had to happen.

 

"I just knew it was time for me to become involved.

 

"After all I bought this club to make it a success and the harsh truth is there wasn't much prospect of that.

 

"I bought this club to have some fun and I wasn't having much fun at all. So I did what I should have done in the first place and decided it was time to run the club the way I wanted.

 

"I must admit that when I bought this club my gut instinct was to bring in my own team to run it straight away, including a new manager.

 

"That's no reflection on Sam, that's just the way I have always done things.

 

"But for once in my life I ignored my intuition and, looking back, that was a mistake.

 

"My instinct had never let me down in the past, in fact it's been one of my biggest strengths, one of the major reasons behind my success.

 

"Yet I went against that better judgement after buying Newcastle.

 

"Now is the time to put away my Newcastle shirt. I'm not saying I will never go back on the terraces but now I have to be in the boardroom — I have to be hands on."

 

Ashley was left desperately disappointed with the return on his massive investment.

 

A procession of poor performances, ropey results and off-field problems was a shocking reward for his massive outlay.

 

It was not Ashley's vision for the sleeping giants of English football.

 

Passion

 

He added: "I want a team that is going to be admired up and down the country because of our brilliant, attacking football.

 

"Like they did when Kevin Keegan was in charge here.

 

"In those days everyone in the land loved to watch Newcastle in action. I certainly did.

 

"And I am determined it will be like that again."

 

That sort of stylish, buccaneering football has only been rarely glimpsed at St James's Park this season and Ashley makes no apologies for demanding Newcastle play the way the loyal Toon Army desire.

 

He added:"People might mock me for that and reckon that's all pie in the sky.

 

"But this is a football club, remember — it's about passion, about dreams, about glory. If it's not, then why bother?

 

"Make no mistake I bother, I care and so I will try my hardest to make this club successful.

 

"And I know I don't stand alone — I stand at the head of the Toon Army.

 

"Remember this is a club with a real passion running through it — not least from all those Geordie fans.

 

"And I share that passion."

 

Yet Ashley has still taken a battering over events last week with Allardyce elbowed after just eight months in charge of the Magpies.

 

But those pundits who would have you believe Ashley's a mug punter who does not know what he is doing should beware.

 

After all this is a guy who built his Sports Direct business empire up from nothing.

 

A man who at just 41 years of age boasts a fortune of £1.6billion — put it another way that's one thousand six hundred million pounds.

 

Some mug, then!

 

Yet Ashley is big and brave enough to accept some of the blame, even though he sees positives in his controversial decision to take a back seat so far.

 

He explained: "My thinking was to come into Newcastle United and examine the club from every angle and from every aspect. I wanted to see how it ran, how it worked, what the staff could offer and what the supporters were all about.

 

"I wanted to understand what made this club tick, I wanted to find its soul.

 

"I have done that now and taken a lot of flak along the way.

 

"People have complained I have been in the background too much, not done enough. Are you sure?

 

"Let's get this straight. I paid £140million to buy this club.

 

"I've also paid off £100million worth of debt so today this club doesn't owe a buck to anyone.

 

"And I also gave Sam funds for new players.

 

"Yet I've been hammered by certain people and for what?

 

"Yes, wearing my Newcastle shirt and sitting with the fans.

 

"The critics were suggesting in some way that this was just a cheap trick that would boost sales of shirts in my own stores.

 

"But anyone who knows anything about Newcastle knows all the fans already have their shirts so it's all nonsense, just unbelievable.

 

"And do you know something? I don't regret those days with our supporters at all.

 

"I might own the club but they are the heartbeat and I had a lovely time with them.

 

"And I guarantee that you haven't seen the last of me out there with the lads and lasses.

 

"I will do it again from time to time. That's because among the fans he felt at home but when he sat in his own directors' box he was condemned as unconventional.

 

He explained: "I can't stand this self-imposed etiquette in the boardroom and directors' box.

 

"You're supposed to wear a suit, a shirt and tie and behave like a headmaster.

 

"Why? It's like one of those , snobby, snooty golf clubs where they have rules for this and that. It's nonsense and I won't go along with it.

 

"I want to go to football and enjoy it.

 

"I want to celebrate when my team scores, when my team wins.

 

"It's a game of drama and emotion — of highs and lows, of highlights and heartbreaks. And I want to live it.

 

"So from now on it's all down to me.

 

Dream

 

"I am here because I want to be here and because I want to win trophies.

 

"That's it — period — to get trophies in the cabinet and have a ball doing it. I can't see anything wrong with that at all.

 

"Buying a football club is something I've always wanted to do so it's living a dream.

 

"I always said I bought this club to become part of its passion.

 

"I'd like to think I've done that. Now I want to channel that passion into bringing success and I just can't wait until it happens."

[JawD 99]

While many even on here might slate him, personally I find it quite refreshing. We're fucking low at the moment, but I just hope he considers these words when making the main appointment.

[Happy Face 29]

Love the bloke.

 

Just that sports direct advert and 'arry being the heoght of ambition have got on my goat.

[Ken 119]

I'd love to see us beating Chelsea and Tottenham and giving Man United a fair fuckin' game. But talk is cheap. Tell me a fan who wouldn't want to see these things. Ashley has done nothing yet (discounting paying off the debt). Wake me up when he has.

 

Fantasy and reality at Newcastle are universes way off.

[paddy 17]

i think he was engulfed by the euphoria of the away games, now he has been away he has had time to reflect on the past 7 months and tbf i think he's spot on, lets hope his next step is the right one

[jaythesouthernmag 0]

I'd love to see us beating Chelsea and Tottenham and giving Man United a fair fuckin' game. But talk is cheap. Tell me a fan who wouldn't want to see these things. Ashley has done nothing yet (discounting paying off the debt). Wake me up when he has.

 

Fantasy and reality at Newcastle are universes way off.

 

£250m is nothing?

 

He gave fatty money to buy players, granted most are proving to be shit BUT thats not Mikes fault

 

Fired Allardyce as it became apparent he was doing fuck all and we were making zero progress

 

Now he is going to roll up his sleeves and get stuck which means putting more money in, he has a dream for the club which he aims to fulfill

 

Dont ask for much do you ????

[Happy Face 29]

He gave fatty money to buy players, granted most are proving to be shit BUT thats not Mikes fault

 

Gave fatty some money, but he had to make do with Viduka, Geremi and Rozenhal when he wanted Anelka, Dunne and Modric.

[tinofbeans 91]

the next stage of us showing our ambition is to get a anager with TOP credentials and give them enough money to get on with it and create a side that can play proper football!.

 

i hope we are targeting the right managers, not the mediocre rubbish thats been offered up in the papers.

[jaythesouthernmag 0]

He gave fatty money to buy players, granted most are proving to be shit BUT thats not Mikes fault

 

Gave fatty some money, but he had to make do with Viduka, Geremi and Rozenhal when he wanted Anelka, Dunne and Modric.

 

Did they want us???

 

Why did he have to make do? he signed them no-one held a gun to his head did they?

[Happy Face 29]

He gave fatty money to buy players, granted most are proving to be shit BUT thats not Mikes fault

 

Gave fatty some money, but he had to make do with Viduka, Geremi and Rozenhal when he wanted Anelka, Dunne and Modric.

 

Did they want us???

 

Why did he have to make do? he signed them no-one held a gun to his head did they?

 

Who knows, we never approached them.

 

He had to get someone in if he'd been refused those kinds of funds didn't he.

 

Our net spend was lower than it's been for a few years.

[Ken 119]

I'd love to see us beating Chelsea and Tottenham and giving Man United a fair fuckin' game. But talk is cheap. Tell me a fan who wouldn't want to see these things. Ashley has done nothing yet (discounting paying off the debt). Wake me up when he has.

 

Fantasy and reality at Newcastle are universes way off.

 

£250m is nothing?

 

He gave fatty money to buy players, granted most are proving to be shit BUT thats not Mikes fault

 

Fired Allardyce as it became apparent he was doing fuck all and we were making zero progress

 

Now he is going to roll up his sleeves and get stuck which means putting more money in, he has a dream for the club which he aims to fulfill

 

Dont ask for much do you ????

I'm a realist mate. As opposed to a fantasist.

See the part in bold?

That's the amount he's spent to reach the £250m, and you can add that to what he paid for the club and you get the total, minus £12 million which he spent on players. He's sacked the manager half way through the season, and we aren't too far off relegation battle to be able to breathe easy. His first preference as new manager was 'arry Redknapp which he couldn't persuade. The problems under Allardyce still persist now without him, and we got raped in our last game.

 

No mate, I don't ask for much...

Edited January 13, 2008 by Ken

[jaythesouthernmag 0]

I'd love to see us beating Chelsea and Tottenham and giving Man United a fair fuckin' game. But talk is cheap. Tell me a fan who wouldn't want to see these things. Ashley has done nothing yet (discounting paying off the debt). Wake me up when he has.

 

Fantasy and reality at Newcastle are universes way off.

 

£250m is nothing?

 

He gave fatty money to buy players, granted most are proving to be shit BUT thats not Mikes fault

 

Fired Allardyce as it became apparent he was doing fuck all and we were making zero progress

 

Now he is going to roll up his sleeves and get stuck which means putting more money in, he has a dream for the club which he aims to fulfill

 

Dont ask for much do you ????

I'm a realist mate. As opposed to a fantasist.

See the part in bold?

That's the amount he's spent to reach the £250m, and you can add that to what he paid for the club and you get the total, minus £12 million which he spent on players. He's sacked the manager half way through the season, and we aren't too far off relegation battle to be able to breathe easy. His first preference as new manager was 'arry Redknapp which he couldn't persuade. The problems under Allardyce still persist now without him, and we got raped in our last game.

 

No mate, I don't ask for much...

 

"NEWSFLASH"!!!!!!

 

Everything you read in the papers isnt true. Harry was a candidate for the job but how do you know he was offered it? Was he the only person approached??. My view is that talks broke down and Harry decided to stay put. I will reserve judgement until he appoints a new manager, although unless it`s Mourinho or another massive name most people will not be happy

 

As for last nights result the blame rests with Pearson for his Samesq formation/tactics and the slack arse majority of the players, Not Mike Ashley

 

What I think that will do is spark Mike into action and start heads rolling

[peasepud 59]

I'm a realist mate. As opposed to a fantasist.

See the part in bold?

That's the amount he's spent to reach the £250m, and you can add that to what he paid for the club and you get the total, minus £12 million which he spent on players. He's sacked the manager half way through the season, and we aren't too far off relegation battle to be able to breathe easy. His first preference as new manager was 'arry Redknapp which he couldn't persuade. The problems under Allardyce still persist now without him, and we got raped in our last game.

 

No mate, I don't ask for much...

 

so paying off the ridiculous debts isnt a good start? as for sacking the manager half way through the season when were heading towards the bottom well do you realistically think we were going in any other direction under the fat man?

 

As for being raped yesterday, we would have been anyway and frankly I reckon it could have been more.

 

No, for me hes only made two mistakes so far, the first being to not go with his gut and boot Sam out on day 1 and secondly as HF said "that fucking advert on the Gallowgate", I'll excuse him that if he gets us on the right track.

[Ken 119]

I'd love to see us beating Chelsea and Tottenham and giving Man United a fair fuckin' game. But talk is cheap. Tell me a fan who wouldn't want to see these things. Ashley has done nothing yet (discounting paying off the debt). Wake me up when he has.

 

Fantasy and reality at Newcastle are universes way off.

 

£250m is nothing?

 

He gave fatty money to buy players, granted most are proving to be shit BUT thats not Mikes fault

 

Fired Allardyce as it became apparent he was doing fuck all and we were making zero progress

 

Now he is going to roll up his sleeves and get stuck which means putting more money in, he has a dream for the club which he aims to fulfill

 

Dont ask for much do you ????

I'm a realist mate. As opposed to a fantasist.

See the part in bold?

That's the amount he's spent to reach the £250m, and you can add that to what he paid for the club and you get the total, minus £12 million which he spent on players. He's sacked the manager half way through the season, and we aren't too far off relegation battle to be able to breathe easy. His first preference as new manager was 'arry Redknapp which he couldn't persuade. The problems under Allardyce still persist now without him, and we got raped in our last game.

 

No mate, I don't ask for much...

 

"NEWSFLASH"!!!!!!

 

Everything you read in the papers isnt true. Harry was a candidate for the job but how do you know he was offered it? Was he the only person approached??. My view is that talks broke down and Harry decided to stay put.

Jesus, talk about being a pedant. Harry was a candidate. The club approached him. Is that not as good as being offered the position?

[Tooj 17]

He gave fatty money to buy players, granted most are proving to be shit BUT thats not Mikes fault

 

Gave fatty some money, but he had to make do with Viduka, Geremi and Rozenhal when he wanted Anelka, Dunne and Modric.

When did we want any of them?

[NobbySol 7]

I'd love to see us beating Chelsea and Tottenham and giving Man United a fair fuckin' game. But talk is cheap. Tell me a fan who wouldn't want to see these things. Ashley has done nothing yet (discounting paying off the debt). Wake me up when he has.

 

Fantasy and reality at Newcastle are universes way off.

 

£250m is nothing?

 

He gave fatty money to buy players, granted most are proving to be shit BUT thats not Mikes fault

 

Fired Allardyce as it became apparent he was doing fuck all and we were making zero progress

 

Now he is going to roll up his sleeves and get stuck which means putting more money in, he has a dream for the club which he aims to fulfill

 

Dont ask for much do you ????

I'm a realist mate. As opposed to a fantasist.

See the part in bold?

That's the amount he's spent to reach the £250m, and you can add that to what he paid for the club and you get the total, minus £12 million which he spent on players. He's sacked the manager half way through the season, and we aren't too far off relegation battle to be able to breathe easy. His first preference as new manager was 'arry Redknapp which he couldn't persuade. The problems under Allardyce still persist now without him, and we got raped in our last game.

 

No mate, I don't ask for much...

 

"NEWSFLASH"!!!!!!

 

Everything you read in the papers isnt true. Harry was a candidate for the job but how do you know he was offered it? Was he the only person approached??. My view is that talks broke down and Harry decided to stay put.

Jesus, talk about being a pedant. Harry was a candidate. The club approached him. Is that not as good as being offered the position?

 

And Harry was on skysports live stating he had been made a fantastic offer, with peter storrie there nodding. He's not going to lie and say he wasn't made an offer.

[Ken 119]

I'm a realist mate. As opposed to a fantasist.

See the part in bold?

That's the amount he's spent to reach the £250m, and you can add that to what he paid for the club and you get the total, minus £12 million which he spent on players. He's sacked the manager half way through the season, and we aren't too far off relegation battle to be able to breathe easy. His first preference as new manager was 'arry Redknapp which he couldn't persuade. The problems under Allardyce still persist now without him, and we got raped in our last game.

 

No mate, I don't ask for much...

 

so paying off the ridiculous debts isnt a good start? as for sacking the manager half way through the season when were heading towards the bottom well do you realistically think we were going in any other direction under the fat man?

 

As for being raped yesterday, we would have been anyway and frankly I reckon it could have been more.

 

No, for me hes only made two mistakes so far, the first being to not go with his gut and boot Sam out on day 1 and secondly as HF said "that fucking advert on the Gallowgate", I'll excuse him that if he gets us on the right track.

Of course plying odd the debt was a good start. But paying a net total of £12m on players was chicken feed comparing to 7 or 8 other teams. Especially when you consider the squad wasn't strong to start with.

 

Sacking the manager half way through is absurd. Sure we were struggling under Allardyce but now we have nobody to take responsibility and to make things worse, Ashley doesn't have anyone to step in. There's only one direction now, and with every day that passes this month is one less we can bring anyone decent in (in terms of players and manager) to get us out of the shit. A relegation dogfight isn't out of the question in this moment in time.

 

We were raped yesterday, and yes we would have lost under Allardyce anyway but that's no excuse for trying and failing to get 'arry and having nobody to lead us out of the mire.

[smoggeordie 0]

[@yourservice 67]

I'd love to see us beating Chelsea and Tottenham and giving Man United a fair fuckin' game. But talk is cheap. Tell me a fan who wouldn't want to see these things. Ashley has done nothing yet (discounting paying off the debt). Wake me up when he has.

 

Fantasy and reality at Newcastle are universes way off.

 

I used to think like that when i was watching SJH spouting his dreams for the club

[NJS 4385]

Of course plying odd the debt was a good start. But paying a net total of £12m on players was chicken feed comparing to 7 or 8 other teams. Especially when you consider the squad wasn't strong to start with.

 

Sacking the manager half way through is absurd. Sure we were struggling under Allardyce but now we have nobody to take responsibility and to make things worse, Ashley doesn't have anyone to step in. There's only one direction now, and with every day that passes this month is one less we can bring anyone decent in (in terms of players and manager) to get us out of the shit. A relegation dogfight isn't out of the question in this moment in time.

 

We were raped yesterday, and yes we would have lost under Allardyce anyway but that's no excuse for trying and failing to get 'arry and having nobody to lead us out of the mire.

 

I think the "low" amount of spending was a symptom of not fully being behind Sam and as he says in the article possibly not taking enough control from the start - this interview is an attempt to say "Right, no more messing around".

 

I agree we could be involved in the relegation fight - I said before xmas that the fixture list wasn't our friend - thats why sacking the manager wasn't absurd - the way things were going could you see 5 or 6 probable wins under Allardyce? - I couldn't.

 

From what he's saying now we will have someone to lead us out of the mire - and I think it'll be someone decent.

[ewerk 30610]

"So when my chairman told me it was time for a change I knew it had to happen.

 

So Mort was the catalyst behind the sacking rather than Ashley?

[NobbySol 7]

"So when my chairman told me it was time for a change I knew it had to happen.

 

So Mort was the catalyst behind the sacking rather than Ashley?

 

Mort's a genius

[Big TRon 0]

I'm a realist mate. As opposed to a fantasist.

See the part in bold?

That's the amount he's spent to reach the £250m, and you can add that to what he paid for the club and you get the total, minus £12 million which he spent on players. He's sacked the manager half way through the season, and we aren't too far off relegation battle to be able to breathe easy. His first preference as new manager was 'arry Redknapp which he couldn't persuade. The problems under Allardyce still persist now without him, and we got raped in our last game.

 

No mate, I don't ask for much...

 

so paying off the ridiculous debts isnt a good start? as for sacking the manager half way through the season when were heading towards the bottom well do you realistically think we were going in any other direction under the fat man?

 

As for being raped yesterday, we would have been anyway and frankly I reckon it could have been more.

 

No, for me hes only made two mistakes so far, the first being to not go with his gut and boot Sam out on day 1 and secondly as HF said "that fucking advert on the Gallowgate", I'll excuse him that if he gets us on the right track.

Of course plying odd the debt was a good start. But paying a net total of £12m on players was chicken feed comparing to 7 or 8 other teams. Especially when you consider the squad wasn't strong to start with.

 

Sacking the manager half way through is absurd. Sure we were struggling under Allardyce but now we have nobody to take responsibility and to make things worse, Ashley doesn't have anyone to step in. There's only one direction now, and with every day that passes this month is one less we can bring anyone decent in (in terms of players and manager) to get us out of the shit. A relegation dogfight isn't out of the question in this moment in time.

 

We were raped yesterday, and yes we would have lost under Allardyce anyway but that's no excuse for trying and failing to get 'arry and having nobody to lead us out of the mire.

 

 

Reminds me of the line in the Queen song:

 

"I want it all...I want it NOW!!"

 

If Ashley doesn't back HIS manager in the summer then you'll have a right to whinge. At the moment no one else is lining up to spend £millions on wiping out debts or buying players so it's not like we are in a position to carp anyhow. I thought it was a great interview.

[Ken 119]

I'm a realist mate. As opposed to a fantasist.

See the part in bold?

That's the amount he's spent to reach the £250m, and you can add that to what he paid for the club and you get the total, minus £12 million which he spent on players. He's sacked the manager half way through the season, and we aren't too far off relegation battle to be able to breathe easy. His first preference as new manager was 'arry Redknapp which he couldn't persuade. The problems under Allardyce still persist now without him, and we got raped in our last game.

 

No mate, I don't ask for much...

 

so paying off the ridiculous debts isnt a good start? as for sacking the manager half way through the season when were heading towards the bottom well do you realistically think we were going in any other direction under the fat man?

 

As for being raped yesterday, we would have been anyway and frankly I reckon it could have been more.

 

No, for me hes only made two mistakes so far, the first being to not go with his gut and boot Sam out on day 1 and secondly as HF said "that fucking advert on the Gallowgate", I'll excuse him that if he gets us on the right track.

Of course plying odd the debt was a good start. But paying a net total of £12m on players was chicken feed comparing to 7 or 8 other teams. Especially when you consider the squad wasn't strong to start with.

 

Sacking the manager half way through is absurd. Sure we were struggling under Allardyce but now we have nobody to take responsibility and to make things worse, Ashley doesn't have anyone to step in. There's only one direction now, and with every day that passes this month is one less we can bring anyone decent in (in terms of players and manager) to get us out of the shit. A relegation dogfight isn't out of the question in this moment in time.

 

We were raped yesterday, and yes we would have lost under Allardyce anyway but that's no excuse for trying and failing to get 'arry and having nobody to lead us out of the mire.

 

 

Reminds me of the line in the Queen song:

 

"I want it all...I want it NOW!!"

 

If Ashley doesn't back HIS manager in the summer then you'll have a right to whinge. At the moment no one else is lining up to spend £millions on wiping out debts or buying players so it's not like we are in a position to carp anyhow. I thought it was a great interview.

Aye, a real rallying cry wasn't it?..

He says he's doing it his way yet it was Chris Mort who instigated the dismissal of Allardyce according to quotes. Dismissing Allardyce now in the middle of a transfer window and only 6 points away from relegation without a swift plan to bring in a better manager. I think my right to be worried if not whinge right now has some weight behind it tbh.

[Jimbo 175]

A quote from .com

 

Interview:

Ashley quotes denied

 

Sunday's edition of The News of the World included an exclusive piece supposedly penned by Newcastle owner Mike Ashley setting out his own "sexy football" agenda.

 

However it's now become clear that Ashley has not spoken to that newspaper and the source of the quotes is therefore dubious in the extreme.