Article from the Times

[JUICE690 0]

Newcastle short of just about everything

 

For Newcastle United, nothing has changed yet everything is different. At 3pm today, the team relegated from the Barclays Premier League on the final, harrowing afternoon of last season will play a football match, their first of the summer.

 

Given the circumstances, it stretches credibility to describe their friendly fixture away to Shamrock Rovers, in Dublin, as heralding a new era. Yet, of course, it is precisely that.

 

It is only a game, but few people of a black-and-white persuasion at the Tallaght Stadium will be wallowing in good humour. Fewer still will be there; not Alan Shearer, the wannabe manager, who is yet to be appointed, nor Mike Ashley, the reluctant owner, whose calamitous tenure of the club limps on morosely.

 

Supporters will be present and so will the players. With the exception of those who have fallen out of contract, it is the same collection of underachieving misfits (with a limited number of exceptions) who dragged Newcastle towards oblivion two months ago, Joey Barton included. To quote from the title of the excellent play about the club, which completed its run at the city’s Live Theatre last night, You Really Couldn’t Make it Up.

 

The club specialise in low farce and if the sight of the team returning to action — the start of the Coca-Cola Championship is less than a month away — does not put a desperate situation into sharper focus, nothing will. But who is taking notice? Leadership at all levels at Newcastle, from the boardroom to the dugout, is non-existent and every day that elapses represents an opportunity squandered.

 

There are important points to be made, however, about the process of selling Newcastle, not all of which are downbeat.

 

The most obvious is that these things take time, no matter the frustration it breeds. When foreign bidders are involved, when millions of pounds are at stake, with financial and legal documents to be studied and agreed, the pace cannot and should not be forced. There is, of course, an exception to this rule — the bloke who used to sit in Newcastle’s directors’ box with an extra-large “King Kev” shirt plastered across his meaty frame.

 

When Ashley bought the club, he may have effectively ambushed Freddy Shepherd, the former chairman, but his failure to undertake due diligence left him confronting a mountainous debt. It was the first of many, many errors.

 

The groups attempting to buy Newcastle are not dealing with a normal business or a normal owner; little wonder that their inquiries are so exhaustive. Optimism that a deal may be completed by the start of next week has dipped but Keith Harris, the executive chairman of Seymour Pierce, the investment bank charged with conducting the sale, continues to work with diligence and discretion.

 

While the list of overseas locations linked with bids continues to grow at a tedious rate, it is a useful, if not cast-iron, rule of thumb that those who speak the loudest can be discounted most readily. Non-disclosure agreements are in place, substantive bidders simply do not need to make themselves heard — as opposed to publicity-seekers — and only Harris is aware of the full list of individuals involved.

 

In football terms, however, the danger is that decay sets in, that new owners will not have enough scope to revitalise a squad in urgent need of it; the majority involved against Shamrock are fully aware that they will not be on Tyneside when hostilities recommence.

 

Shearer has plans in position but can do nothing to implement them and while he remains eager to take the post, he is powerless.

 

Newcastle, meanwhile, are just rudderless.

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle6684349.ece

[peasepud 59]

Caulkin hits the nail on the head everytime.

[Kitman 2207]

In football terms, however, the danger is that decay sets in, that new owners will not have enough scope to revitalise a squad in urgent need of it; the majority involved against Shamrock are fully aware that they will not be on Tyneside when hostilities recommence.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle6684349.ece

 

I think that point is particularly well made. The situation is poisonous and I fear for our start to next season. Compare us to other clubs with a clue about what needs to be done to prepare for the CCC.

[Park Life 71]

Caulkin hits the nail on the head everytime.

[Rob W 0]

good article

[LeazesMag 0]

In football terms, however, the danger is that decay sets in, that new owners will not have enough scope to revitalise a squad in urgent need of it; the majority involved against Shamrock are fully aware that they will not be on Tyneside when hostilities recommence.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle6684349.ece

 

I think that point is particularly well made. The situation is poisonous and I fear for our start to next season. Compare us to other clubs with a clue about what needs to be done to prepare for the CCC.

 

 

we are in big danger of going down again unless something changes

[Acid 0]

Good read for once.

[Chaser 1321]

I've not made much comment on the plight of the club in recent weeks, but after seeing the last few weeks which have produced little to nothing, I fear the worst is yet to come. I certainly dont see us being promoted in the following season, and I think we will emulate Leeds. We had no quality when we were relegated, morale was at a low both on and off the pitch and we have very little assets with which we can cling onto hope with.

 

Over the next month I foresee very little activity on the takeover, we will be no further to appointing a new permanent manager and I think the few players who we could say could get us out of the mess will be moving onto pastures new. Other Championship teams have a march on us already, and we are a rudderless ship heading for rockier ground. The rot started with Shepherd and continued to greater depths with Ashley. This club has been decimated over the years by mismanagement and poor judgement, and if Shepherd was to return to the helm, we would be jumping back from the fire into the frying pan. Our plight seems currently the worst in the entire football league, and it is a disgrace to think that a club which a firm foot in the top 5 clubs and continues to be one of the biggest in the world is currently collapsing like a pack of cards from the inside out.

 

How long will the fans continue to put up with this? Apathy seems to have been taken to a new level in the last few months, with relegation occurring with little but a whimper. I dont want to see scenes of mongs on Sky Sports but it seems that they are a by-product of some kind of action to prompt those in the know to tell those who provide this club with a base with which it functions what is going on. The contempt with which the current regime have treat the fans is un-disputable.

 

Malaysian investors? I do worry where football is going with all of these takeovers from consortiums and mega rich foreign businessmen. Clubs like Man City and Madrid are spending foolishly far beyond what other clubs could compete with and in the world of modern football it is only money that talks. Competition is dying and FIFA seem to be doing very little to reign these clubs in. In little over 10 years we have seen top earners increase tenfold, with clubs paying £200k after tax!?? One bloke to kick a ball around for 90 minutes a week, train a few times etc whilst we have poor sods like those 18yr old kids going to war to fight for £200 a week. Where is the justification in what these clubs provide? They are about as far away as the average football fan could be. I digress...

 

I dont envisage any light at the end of the tunnel come August and think we are in for much of the same come kick off for the new season.

[beardieman 0]

I've not made much comment on the plight of the club in recent weeks, but after seeing the last few weeks which have produced little to nothing, I fear the worst is yet to come. I certainly dont see us being promoted in the following season, and I think we will emulate Leeds. We had no quality when we were relegated, morale was at a low both on and off the pitch and we have very little assets with which we can cling onto hope with.

 

Over the next month I foresee very little activity on the takeover, we will be no further to appointing a new permanent manager and I think the few players who we could say could get us out of the mess will be moving onto pastures new. Other Championship teams have a march on us already, and we are a rudderless ship heading for rockier ground. The rot started with Shepherd and continued to greater depths with Ashley. This club has been decimated over the years by mismanagement and poor judgement, and if Shepherd was to return to the helm, we would be jumping back from the fire into the frying pan. Our plight seems currently the worst in the entire football league, and it is a disgrace to think that a club which a firm foot in the top 5 clubs and continues to be one of the biggest in the world is currently collapsing like a pack of cards from the inside out.

 

How long will the fans continue to put up with this? Apathy seems to have been taken to a new level in the last few months, with relegation occurring with little but a whimper. I dont want to see scenes of mongs on Sky Sports but it seems that they are a by-product of some kind of action to prompt those in the know to tell those who provide this club with a base with which it functions what is going on. The contempt with which the current regime have treat the fans is un-disputable.

 

Malaysian investors? I do worry where football is going with all of these takeovers from consortiums and mega rich foreign businessmen. Clubs like Man City and Madrid are spending foolishly far beyond what other clubs could compete with and in the world of modern football it is only money that talks. Competition is dying and FIFA seem to be doing very little to reign these clubs in. In little over 10 years we have seen top earners increase tenfold, with clubs paying £200k after tax!?? One bloke to kick a ball around for 90 minutes a week, train a few times etc whilst we have poor sods like those 18yr old kids going to war to fight for £200 a week. Where is the justification in what these clubs provide? They are about as far away as the average football fan could be. I digress...

 

I dont envisage any light at the end of the tunnel come August and think we are in for much of the same come kick off for the new season.

 

well put

[Acid 0]

I've not made much comment on the plight of the club in recent weeks, but after seeing the last few weeks which have produced little to nothing, I fear the worst is yet to come. I certainly dont see us being promoted in the following season, and I think we will emulate Leeds. We had no quality when we were relegated, morale was at a low both on and off the pitch and we have very little assets with which we can cling onto hope with.

 

Over the next month I foresee very little activity on the takeover, we will be no further to appointing a new permanent manager and I think the few players who we could say could get us out of the mess will be moving onto pastures new. Other Championship teams have a march on us already, and we are a rudderless ship heading for rockier ground. The rot started with Shepherd and continued to greater depths with Ashley. This club has been decimated over the years by mismanagement and poor judgement, and if Shepherd was to return to the helm, we would be jumping back from the fire into the frying pan. Our plight seems currently the worst in the entire football league, and it is a disgrace to think that a club which a firm foot in the top 5 clubs and continues to be one of the biggest in the world is currently collapsing like a pack of cards from the inside out.

 

How long will the fans continue to put up with this? Apathy seems to have been taken to a new level in the last few months, with relegation occurring with little but a whimper. I dont want to see scenes of mongs on Sky Sports but it seems that they are a by-product of some kind of action to prompt those in the know to tell those who provide this club with a base with which it functions what is going on. The contempt with which the current regime have treat the fans is un-disputable.

 

Malaysian investors? I do worry where football is going with all of these takeovers from consortiums and mega rich foreign businessmen. Clubs like Man City and Madrid are spending foolishly far beyond what other clubs could compete with and in the world of modern football it is only money that talks. Competition is dying and FIFA seem to be doing very little to reign these clubs in. In little over 10 years we have seen top earners increase tenfold, with clubs paying £200k after tax!?? One bloke to kick a ball around for 90 minutes a week, train a few times etc whilst we have poor sods like those 18yr old kids going to war to fight for £200 a week. Where is the justification in what these clubs provide? They are about as far away as the average football fan could be. I digress...

 

I dont envisage any light at the end of the tunnel come August and think we are in for much of the same come kick off for the new season.

 

Great Post!