ASHLEY STAYING FOR ANOTHER YEAR!!!!

[Guest furlong79]

Mike Ashley, the Newcastle United owner, is paving the way to retain possession of the relegated club for at least another year.

 

The Times has learnt that Ashley and Seymour Pierce, the investment bank charged with handling the sale of the club, has set the two consortiums still involved in substantive negotiations an informal deadline of Friday to buy Newcastle.

 

The consortiums have already missed a deadline of July 31. However, it is understood that Ashley views the the beginning of the Coca-Cola Championship season this weekend as a crucial time.

 

Once it has passed — although a sale would still be possible — the chances of a deal being completed will rapidly diminish, with the closure of the transfer window at the end of the month preventing a prospective new owner from buying or selling players.

 

If he cannot secure a sale at or near his asking price, the sportswear retailer intends to recommit himself for another 12 months in the hope that a return to the Barclays Premier League will be achieved at the first attempt.

 

“It all depends on how much the consortiums are willing to pay and how much they are willing to subsidise the club,” a source said. “Mr Ashley might take the view he would be a better owner.” A source in the City said the chances of a sale proceeding now stand at no better than 50-50.

 

Since announcing his intention to sell Newcastle in the immediate aftermath of their demotion, Ashley has refused to appoint a new manager, in spite of stating that attracting Alan Shearer to St James’ Park for the final eight games of last season was his “best decision” on Tyneside.

 

His logic has been a desire not to impinge upon the potential plans of new owners, but that, as well as a reluctance to buy players, has contributed to a state of limbo at the club. Shearer, who is on holiday in Portugal, remains eager to lead his home-town club on a permanent basis, but has not been briefed by the Newcastle hierarchy.

 

Sources close to Ashley confirmed that, should he stay on, his priority will be to hire a manager — Newcastle have ruled out the prospect of Joe Kinnear returning, but Alan Curbishley has also been linked with the role — and retain as many players as possible. He would pump about £40 million of his own money into the club to cover their wage bill and help them in their attempt to secure promotion.

 

At present, Newcastle are operating with a Barclays Bank overdraft of about £40 million, while their annual wage bill stood at £67 million in their most recent published accounts. That figure has been reduced by the departures of Michael Owen to Manchester United, Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins, who joined Wolfsburg last week for a fee of £9 million.

 

The identity of the two consortiums remains a tightly kept secret — both signed confidentiality agreements when they provided proof of funds to begin the process of due diligence — although it is understood that at least one is from the Middle East. A group based in the United States has also been involved in talks in some capacity.

 

Ashley and Seymour Pierce are believed to have dismissed the viability of a consortium involving Freddie Shepherd because the former Newcastle chairman is reluctant or unwilling to raise enough money. Ashley invited bids of £100 million through the club website this summer.

 

Senior figures at St James’ Park have consistently denied that Ashley is considering putting Newcastle into administration, a move that would lead to them being deducted 12 points by the Football League.

 

Keith Harris, executive chairman of Seymour Pierce, expressed optimism last night that a sale could still be completed by the end of the month, but that the prospective buyers wished to see further evidence of the wage bill being reduced before committing themselves. :omgwank:

Edited August 4, 2009 by furlong79

[Ayatollah Hermione 14048]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Amir 0]

If the fatass really wants to sell he really has to appoint a manager and bring new players capable of promotion asap.

[Matt 0]

Administration here we come? Not if he's putting in a further £40m it isn't.

 

Tbh if the sale isn't going anywhere we might as well get on with the season.

[Guest furlong79]

Administration here we come? Not if he's putting in a further £40m it isn't.

 

Tbh if the sale isn't going anywhere we might as well get on with the season.

 

 

When did Mike Ashley ever do as he said he would.

 

Better still when did he ever spend some cash of that amount. 40m ha ha my arse, more like £40 on some pies and pints

[peasepud 59]

Its a fair point like, he was supposed to put in £20m last year which he didnt, he was then going to put in £10m this year and he hasnt so to assume hes really going to put in £40m for the Championship season is how do you say? a tad optimistic?

[bawan 0]

Administration here we come? Not if he's putting in a further £40m it isn't.

 

Tbh if the sale isn't going anywhere we might as well get on with the season.

 

 

When did Mike Ashley ever do as he said he would.

 

Better still when did he ever spend some cash of that amount. 40m ha ha my arse, more like £40 on some pies and pints

 

Welcome to the board

[Guest furlong79]

Its a fair point like, he was supposed to put in £20m last year which he didnt, he was then going to put in £10m this year and he hasnt so to assume hes really going to put in £40m for the Championship season is how do you say? a tad optimistic?

 

 

 

 

I can see JFK making a shock return!!! or should i say expected return

[PaddockLad 17646]

No one wants to buy a club for 100mill that could be worth less than half that in a years time.....thats what you get for naming your asking price in the national media...for a gambler I'd say Ashley would be a fuckin joke at the poker table.

 

Still think he's pushing those who want to leave into a corner so they slap transfer requests in and he doesnt have to pay up their contracts.

 

Stand by for a repeat of last season,only without the draw at manu.

 

Cunt.

 

[Tom 14013]

Why 'we' by the way?

 

You're clearly a mackem.

[Ketsbaia 0]

If he can't find a buyer than I do want him to appoint a manager give them some funds and allow us to just get on with the season.

 

It would be more disastrous for the club if he were to sit on his hands and keep chasing these potentially fictional figures who are looking to buy us come the start of the season. We're not really in a position where we can afford to dick around and if three or four games into the season we're still rudderless I fear for our safety.

 

I believe that some of Ashley's mistakes last season were based on pure arrogance. He never thought that a club like NUFC could or would get relegated regardless of the circumstances hence the reason he was a miserly fucker in the transfer windows. I don;t believe for a second he'll be willing to put in anything like £40 million but he'll probably try to put some figure, no matter how small, on the table if he thinks it'll take this club back to the Premier League and increase the price.

[Matt 0]

Its a fair point like, he was supposed to put in £20m last year which he didnt, he was then going to put in £10m this year and he hasnt so to assume hes really going to put in £40m for the Championship season is how do you say? a tad optimistic?

 

There's no evidence he did or didn't, bearing in mind how much goes out of the club on wages before transfer fees are even contemplated.

[Marko 0]

Id have thought Ashley is of the opinion that the players we have are good enough to take us back up so if there is any truth in this then he will get rid of those on high wages and put minimal funds (if any) back into the transfer kitty for us to buy players.

 

It's going to be a hard season, I'd actually welcome the appointment of Curbs at the moment :s

[Tom 14013]

After last seasons hard season it seems we are in for a few in a row!

[trophyshy 7084]

He will use funds from sales to pay wages, keep it ticking over and hope for the best. I don't expect any signings.

 

Dropping like a stone.

 

It was fun while it lasted.

[Jimbo 175]

Why 'we' by the way?

 

You're clearly a mackem.

 

 

He can be from the planet Zannusi, I think he's right.

[OTF 7485]

I've been resigned to this for some time. Bring on the season so we can just concentrate on the football rather than all this pointless speculation/shit.

[Norbert Colon 0]

I've been resigned to this for some time. Bring on the season so we can just concentrate on the football rather than all this pointless speculation/shit.

 

Exactly - If he is gonna stay then fine just appoint a manager and allow him to get rid of the high earners and bring some new players in - common sense - a rare commodity at NUFC.

As for a manager I originally thought Shearer with some momentum and a bit of cash would have been a great idea, however, now i think somebody with a shit load of experience who isn't over the hill maybe Curbishley or Boothroyd would be a decent shout

[snakehips 0]

Mike Ashley, the Newcastle United owner, is paving the way to retain possession of the relegated club for at least another year.

 

The Times

 

“It all depends on how much the consortiums are willing to pay and how much they are willing to subsidise the club,” a source said. “Mr Ashley might take the view he would be a better owner.”

 

'is paving the way'

 

'might take the view'

 

A person would be forgiven for thinking this shite is just made up.

[Giraffidae 0]

if MA stays then I hope he’s at last clicked that he needs people in (and NOW!) who know how to run a football club – not just his mates from his favourite casino.

 

Highly doubtful though.

[Barney 0]

Our wages must have been cut by around £250k per week.

 

Owen, Viduka, Martins, Edgar all out, including Shearer who was on great money.

 

I'm sure if a new owner wanted to come in and cut the wage bill, he'd do it himself, ith his own team and then decide who they want to cut.

[Guest alex]

if MA stays then I hope he’s at last clicked that he needs people in (and NOW!) who know how to run a football club – not just his mates from his favourite casino.

 

Highly doubtful though.

There's no evidence to suggest he's learnt from his mistakes as far as I can see.

[The Fish 10963]

Concentrate on the footbal? Bollocks, this thing will hang over the club like a thunderstorm all season. Until we have a new owner don't expect us to be in the papers for anything but bare results and unbearable rumours, stories and conjecture.

 

I'm fed up with this season already.

[trophyshy 7084]

Anyone ever seen a cat play with a dying mouse?

[Fop 1]

No one wants to buy a club for 100mill that could be worth less than half that in a years time.....thats what you get for naming your asking price in the national media...for a gambler I'd say Ashley would be a fuckin joke at the poker table.

 

Still think he's pushing those who want to leave into a corner so they slap transfer requests in and he doesnt have to pay up their contracts.

 

Stand by for a repeat of last season,only without the draw at manu.

 

Cunt.

 

 

 

We're not worth the debt Assley is saddling any new owner with, never mind the £100m "price" on top.

 

 

The man is a complete fool though, it was his utter stupidity last season that got us relegated (by making decision after utterly stupid decision that kept the club unsettled for all but 1 fucking week of the season) and now it looks like he's going for the same again.

 

He genuinely seems to be retarded as decision after decision not only undermines the club as a football playing entity (and therefore a money generating one), but also further ruins his chances of selling the club.