Do The Right Thing

[Redheugh 0]

Why Mike Ashley has to sell-up now to save Newcastle United

 

By Simon Bird

 

Last modified 15:57 10/08/09

 

 

 

Mike Ashley

 

Do the right thing Mr Ashley, and strike that deal. Sell up. Do us a favour and hand over control.

 

It is 77 days since Newcastle were relegated and precious little has changed. But hopefully this will be a pivotal week in the history of Newcastle.

 

Summer has been a confusing whirl of misinformation and lies. Trust with those at the top of the club has reached an all time low - and that is saying something.

 

We’ve endured weeks of mind-numbing analysis of overdrafts, due diligence, inflated player wages, and a procession of chancers, self-publicists and spivs claiming they want to buy the club.

 

But today Mike Ashley stands at a cross roads after returning from a holiday in Hawaii.

 

Option One: To accept a big loss and sell up to Tyneside businessman Barry Moat and his as yet unknown US backers, and therefore allow Alan Shearer to get on with the job he started.

 

Option Two: He is considering this seriously, take the club off the market, appoint a new boss (which won’t be Shearer), pump £40 million in to keep it afloat.

 

There can only be one word of advice from this column. Just go, Mike. We’ve had enough. It is time for a fresh start, and some direction and leadership.

 

Accept your reign has been a disaster than can be endured no longer by a Tyneside public who have stayed loyal to their club (25,000 season tickets sold this summer), and get out.

 

We’ve never known or understood why you bought Newcastle. You’ve never taken the time to connect with the fans and communicate your vision properly.

 

You’ve made a series of disastrous appointments that ruined relationships inside and outside the club, and you clearly have not got what it takes to be in charge. We’re sorry it’s cost you £258 million, but you’ve helped a city lose its pride and brought a club to its knees.

 

It is time for a fresh start, and the one good decision you can make it accept Mr Moat’s offer. Let him have a crack at rebuilding trust and restoring faith at St James’s Park.

 

A decision needs to be made this week, because the transfer deadline is approaching.

 

A permanent boss needs to be put in place. A plan, yes a plan, needs to swing into action to clear out players who are earning too much and who will not suit the Championship battle. And most importantly to bring new players in to a thin squad.

 

Another year of Ashley will only mean more of the same. A belligerent lack of communication, people we can’t trust in charge, and the frustrating prospect of next summer turning out just like this summer.... a club up for sale again and powerless to sort itself out.

 

And a word of advice for Mr Moat if he can push a deal over the line. Give Alan Shearer his head over the next few years. Let him build a club, ride the ups and downs of management.

 

And most importantly blow open the culture of secrecy, suspicion, paranoia that has dragged down St James’s Park for years.

 

Open up a couple of boardroom seats to elected representatives from the fan base. For every bed sheet-carrying nutter on the television there are hundreds of eloquent in touch Geordies who can provide a fans’ perspective at the highest level.

 

Immerse the club in the community again. Contractually oblige players to do a couple of hours of work on Tyneside every week so they understand more than the training ground and the drive back to their houses in Darras Hall.

 

Newcastle fans want to start believing again and only a new owner can start that process.

 

The week could herald an exciting new era at Newcastle. Or it could perpetuate the status quo, and I don’t think I can bare that much longer.

 

Do the right thing Mike, and strike that deal.

[Jimbo 175]

Along with George Caulkin, Simon "The Cunt" Bird, has been a rare voice of reason in the tabloids.

[snakehips 0]

I just found that a bit, I don't know, 6th form-ish tbh.

 

Ashley will sell when, and only when, it suits him.

[Acid 0]

Take off your wedding ring.

[Tom 14013]

Open up a couple of boardroom seats to elected representatives from the fan base. For every bed sheet-carrying nutter on the television there are hundreds of eloquent in touch Geordies who can provide a fans’ perspective at the highest level.

 

[snakehips 0]

Open up a couple of boardroom seats to elected representatives from the fan base. For every bed sheet-carrying nutter on the television there are hundreds of eloquent in touch Geordies who can provide a fans’ perspective at the highest level.

 

 

I've never really understood this desire for fans on the board. What could they possibly bring to the table? I'm not saying it's wrong, I just don't understand it.

[snakehips 0]

I just found that a bit, I don't know, 6th form-ish tbh.

 

Ashley will sell when, and only when, it suits him.

 

 

How do you know? Do you know Ashley?

He might just be spurred into a deal because the national media are telling him to fuck off.

 

You could well be right. My impression of Ashley is that he likes £££££££££££, and wont be deflected by anyone or anything.

 

EDIT: and yes I do know Ashley. I've not told anyone on here, but he was at my daughter's Bat Mitzvah.

Edited August 10, 2009 by snakehips

[Ketsbaia 0]

Open up a couple of boardroom seats to elected representatives from the fan base. For every bed sheet-carrying nutter on the television there are hundreds of eloquent in touch Geordies who can provide a fans’ perspective at the highest level.

 

 

I've never really understood this desire for fans on the board. What could they possibly bring to the table? I'm not saying it's wrong, I just don't understand it.

 

I think a fan elected representative or two should be on the board of every football club, for accountability more than anything.

[snakehips 0]

Open up a couple of boardroom seats to elected representatives from the fan base. For every bed sheet-carrying nutter on the television there are hundreds of eloquent in touch Geordies who can provide a fans’ perspective at the highest level.

 

 

I've never really understood this desire for fans on the board. What could they possibly bring to the table? I'm not saying it's wrong, I just don't understand it.

 

I think a fan elected representative or two should be on the board of every football club, for accountability more than anything.

 

I still don't get it. I just don't think any board of any football club takes a blind bit of notice what the fans think - other than lack of paper in the bogs, or the temperature of the meat pies at half time.

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

I used to like this back in the day:

[Jimbo 175]

I used to like this back in the day:

 

Loved the track, I even had the album on vinyl, fuck it was shite

[AmericanMag 0]

I just found that a bit, I don't know, 6th form-ish tbh.

 

Ashley will sell when, and only when, it suits him.

 

 

How do you know? Do you know Ashley?

He might just be spurred into a deal because the national media are telling him to fuck off.

 

You could well be right. My impression of Ashley is that he likes £££££££££££, and wont be deflected by anyone or anything.

 

EDIT: and yes I do know Ashley. I've not told anyone on here, but he was at my daughter's Bat Mitzvah.

 

MAZEL TOV!!!

[JonTheMag 4]

Take off your wedding ring.

 

 

That would be do the BAD thing

 

Love the Arctic Monkeys, saw them last weekend live actually. They were incredible.

[Kitman 2207]

I just found that a bit, I don't know, 6th form-ish tbh.

 

Ashley will sell when, and only when, it suits him.

 

I have to agree, it's plainly been dashed off over in the ad break of his favourite telly programme. He should hang his head in shame over the phrase "belligerent lack of communication" in particular, that's terrible.

[peasepud 59]

Open up a couple of boardroom seats to elected representatives from the fan base. For every bed sheet-carrying nutter on the television there are hundreds of eloquent in touch Geordies who can provide a fans’ perspective at the highest level.

 

 

I've never really understood this desire for fans on the board. What could they possibly bring to the table? I'm not saying it's wrong, I just don't understand it.

 

I think a fan elected representative or two should be on the board of every football club, for accountability more than anything.

 

I still don't get it. I just don't think any board of any football club takes a blind bit of notice what the fans think - other than lack of paper in the bogs, or the temperature of the meat pies at half time.

 

And thats where you're missing the most important point. The call for fans representation at board level isnt one where we get a chance to tell them what we think once every six months. Not a case of being able to tell them about the state of the beer or give us a chance to talk about the new yellow strip.

 

Its a seat on the board, its to be there as part of the decision making process, its a chance to say what the fans feel and think and do at every meeting, with every decision, every step of every board meeting would involve the fans. No, you dont have enough power to force things through, after all it would only be one or two voices but at the end of the day, that board would involve fans. If the board never listens to the fans then its the fans not listening to the fans, if things (as now) are permanently being done which frustrate and mystify the fans then they can ask what the hell is going in because they will always have somewhere to go to find out and those people would be obliged by their position to tell it like it is, no bullshit, no ignoring the questions they'd have to tell us fans what was what.

 

Because of that, the football club would not and could not make decisions that it knows are not for the best of the club, yes they can and will at times make wrong decisions but thats life but they couldnt do things that are clearly not in the best interests of the club.

 

This football club would not be in anything like the position it is now if we'd already had fans representation. Yes, we may have been relegated, yes, we may still be losing money hand over fist but we wouldnt have the misinformation, lies and downright incompetence that we have now. If the board were making decisions that the fans representatives werent happy with then they'd make it clear to the rest of the board, more importantly, if they werent listened to then they'd tell the rest of us.

 

No more would the board be able to use ignorance as their excuse, not realising the strength of feeling for a particular decision as at least one of them would be one of us, would be used to sitting on a coach for 6 hours to get to Birmingham. Would know what its like to sit in the pissing rain in January and watch your dreams evaporate as another FA Cup fizzles out before its even started. People who can clearly see that two shades of yellow do not make a winning strip, that refusing to sell your players until the last minute while the rest of football knows how skint you are is not good business sense.

 

More importantly than all that though, never again would this football club be able to treat its fans as pieces of meat that turn up blindly week after week, ignored, laughed at and abused until the next time the club needs something only to then be treat like some clueless idiot who will pay up, shut up and take it on the chin. If that continued to happen then we'd only have ourselves to blame.

 

If you still dont believe that having fans representation makes a difference to how you feel as a fan then ask any fan of any of these teams whether they are happy with what they see coming out of the boardroom. Yes they may not be the most successful clubs in the world but they should all tell you that they are happy their boards are working for the best for the football club.

 

Carlisle, Dumbarton, Brentford, Lincoln (fully owned by the supporters), Bristol City, Halifax, Northampton Town, Dundee, Morton, Exeter, AFC Wimbledon (fully owned by the supporters), Telford, Enfield, Sheffield Wednesday or any of the other 46 clubs that either have representation or are fully owned by the fans.

 

You may not think these are big clubs but so what? they are clubs with a strong history and chances are you'll see that most of the Supporters Trusts and fans representation came about because of a problem the club were having. Many of those that have been bailed out by the fans were once big name clubs. The trouble is that people only look to start this when things go tits up, just as we have done. Liverpool, Man United, Arsenal, Villa, all have strong Supporters Trusts, all are looking to become part of the boardroom and all are sitting there waiting to help the club out when the shit hits the fan. Manchester City did have a strong Supporters Trust which has now been disbanded following the sale of the club, that to me is a bad move, if things go wrong for them then they will need to start again from scratch.

 

No matter how big, how successful or how rich your football club is, Supporters Representation on the board can only be a good thing.

[Acid 0]

Take off your wedding ring.

 

 

That would be do the BAD thing

 

Love the Arctic Monkeys, saw them last weekend live actually. They were incredible.

 

No shit, and cool there at Leeds so they should be good.

[Guest Stevie]

Along with George Caulkin, Simon "The Cunt" Bird, has been a rare voice of reason in the tabloids.

To be fair I've met Simon a few times stretching back 15 years, and he's as passionate about the toon as anyone on here. Good lad he is.

[Guest alex]

I just found that a bit, I don't know, 6th form-ish tbh.

 

Ashley will sell when, and only when, it suits him.

 

 

How do you know? Do you know Ashley?

 

He might just be spurred into a deal because the national media are telling him to fuck off.

Just about everything he's done since he arrived suggests to me he's a bloke who does what he likes and doesn't really give a fuck what anyone else thinks. I'd even go as far as to say it might make him decide to stay out of pig-headedness. Not that I have a problem with the tone of the piece, it's just that it relies on Ashley having any feeling for the club beyond recouping as much of his outlay as possible which isn't the case and is unrealistic in its idealism.

[snakehips 0]

Open up a couple of boardroom seats to elected representatives from the fan base. For every bed sheet-carrying nutter on the television there are hundreds of eloquent in touch Geordies who can provide a fans’ perspective at the highest level.

 

 

I've never really understood this desire for fans on the board. What could they possibly bring to the table? I'm not saying it's wrong, I just don't understand it.

 

I think a fan elected representative or two should be on the board of every football club, for accountability more than anything.

 

I still don't get it. I just don't think any board of any football club takes a blind bit of notice what the fans think - other than lack of paper in the bogs, or the temperature of the meat pies at half time.

 

And thats where you're missing the most important point. The call for fans representation at board level isnt one where we get a chance to tell them what we think once every six months. Not a case of being able to tell them about the state of the beer or give us a chance to talk about the new yellow strip.

 

Its a seat on the board, its to be there as part of the decision making process, its a chance to say what the fans feel and think and do at every meeting, with every decision, every step of every board meeting would involve the fans. No, you dont have enough power to force things through, after all it would only be one or two voices but at the end of the day, that board would involve fans. If the board never listens to the fans then its the fans not listening to the fans, if things (as now) are permanently being done which frustrate and mystify the fans then they can ask what the hell is going in because they will always have somewhere to go to find out and those people would be obliged by their position to tell it like it is, no bullshit, no ignoring the questions they'd have to tell us fans what was what.

 

Because of that, the football club would not and could not make decisions that it knows are not for the best of the club, yes they can and will at times make wrong decisions but thats life but they couldnt do things that are clearly not in the best interests of the club.

 

This football club would not be in anything like the position it is now if we'd already had fans representation. Yes, we may have been relegated, yes, we may still be losing money hand over fist but we wouldnt have the misinformation, lies and downright incompetence that we have now. If the board were making decisions that the fans representatives werent happy with then they'd make it clear to the rest of the board, more importantly, if they werent listened to then they'd tell the rest of us.

 

No more would the board be able to use ignorance as their excuse, not realising the strength of feeling for a particular decision as at least one of them would be one of us, would be used to sitting on a coach for 6 hours to get to Birmingham. Would know what its like to sit in the pissing rain in January and watch your dreams evaporate as another FA Cup fizzles out before its even started. People who can clearly see that two shades of yellow do not make a winning strip, that refusing to sell your players until the last minute while the rest of football knows how skint you are is not good business sense.

 

More importantly than all that though, never again would this football club be able to treat its fans as pieces of meat that turn up blindly week after week, ignored, laughed at and abused until the next time the club needs something only to then be treat like some clueless idiot who will pay up, shut up and take it on the chin. If that continued to happen then we'd only have ourselves to blame.

 

If you still dont believe that having fans representation makes a difference to how you feel as a fan then ask any fan of any of these teams whether they are happy with what they see coming out of the boardroom. Yes they may not be the most successful clubs in the world but they should all tell you that they are happy their boards are working for the best for the football club.

 

Carlisle, Dumbarton, Brentford, Lincoln (fully owned by the supporters), Bristol City, Halifax, Northampton Town, Dundee, Morton, Exeter, AFC Wimbledon (fully owned by the supporters), Telford, Enfield, Sheffield Wednesday or any of the other 46 clubs that either have representation or are fully owned by the fans.

 

You may not think these are big clubs but so what? they are clubs with a strong history and chances are you'll see that most of the Supporters Trusts and fans representation came about because of a problem the club were having. Many of those that have been bailed out by the fans were once big name clubs. The trouble is that people only look to start this when things go tits up, just as we have done. Liverpool, Man United, Arsenal, Villa, all have strong Supporters Trusts, all are looking to become part of the boardroom and all are sitting there waiting to help the club out when the shit hits the fan. Manchester City did have a strong Supporters Trust which has now been disbanded following the sale of the club, that to me is a bad move, if things go wrong for them then they will need to start again from scratch.

 

No matter how big, how successful or how rich your football club is, Supporters Representation on the board can only be a good thing.

 

As I said, I have no problem with it I just don't understand it.

 

If it actually does have some benefit, then I'd be all for it. I just think that fans will be concentrating on their (often) irrational feelings for their club, and wont always be voicing their opinions based on sound economic realities (not that NUFC has a great history of that, like). Would the fans on the board voice their own feelings or the fans' ? It should be the latter, and, as such, how often would the fans be consulted? However, this would have to result, at times, on the fans on the board going by their 'gut feeling' as there is no way every decision could be a fans consulted one.

 

Aren't minutes of football club meetings private and confidential, meaning the fans on the board not being able to divulge information?

 

If it does have benefits (and there is no one here - or anywhere else - who has anything but the utmost respect for any football club, regardless of their size, than me), then I would be all for it - and I would support it fully. I just need convincing. If it does come to happen at NUFC and is a success I would be the first to thank everyone connected for making it happen; as I said, I'm not against it, I just don't get it.

[Fop 1]

I just found that a bit, I don't know, 6th form-ish tbh.

 

Ashley will sell when, and only when, it suits him.

 

 

How do you know? Do you know Ashley?

 

He might just be spurred into a deal because the national media are telling him to fuck off.

Just about everything he's done since he arrived suggests to me he's a bloke who does what he likes and doesn't really give a fuck what anyone else thinks. I'd even go as far as to say it might make him decide to stay out of pig-headedness. Not that I have a problem with the tone of the piece, it's just that it relies on Ashley having any feeling for the club beyond recouping as much of his outlay as possible which isn't the case and is unrealistic in its idealism.

 

 

He has a pocket roulette wheel with which he makes all his decisions, including when and where to go for a .

[Park Life 71]

Supporters should have by law a rep on the board (who has a vote). It will happen in the near future as football more and more moves out of the reach of the common man.

[peasepud 59]

Simple benefit is you know that at least one person on the board loves the club and wants what is best for it regardless of monetary gain, share price or how they look to the chairman over the road. This person can't be bought because they report to the fans and would have to justify what was done.

 

I have to admit to being totally confused how anyone can't see the benefits of that especially after the shit we've gone through the last two seasons

[Park Life 71]

Simple benefit is you know that at least one person on the board loves the club and wants what is best for it regardless of monetary gain, share price or how they look to the chairman over the road. This person can't be bought because they report to the fans and would have to justify what was done.

 

I have to admit to being totally confused how anyone can't see the benefits of that especially after the shit we've gone through the last two seasons

 

It will happen. Football isnät about how many shirts you sell in Malayasia or sponsorship from Singpore and the Emirates. The wheel will come full circle. The center will hold.

[Guest alex]

Nice twist on Yeats there P.

[Kitman 2207]

Simple benefit is you know that at least one person on the board loves the club and wants what is best for it regardless of monetary gain, share price or how they look to the chairman over the road. This person can't be bought because they report to the fans and would have to justify what was done.

 

I have to admit to being totally confused how anyone can't see the benefits of that especially after the shit we've gone through the last two seasons

 

Can't see why any owner would want to do it though. What's in it for them? All I could see if I was an owner would be disruption, arguments and loss of secrecy. Why would they be interested in being accountable and justifying their decisions to a fan representative?