Newcastle United: Club Sold To PCP - Official

[RobinRobin 11151]

7 minutes ago, Gemmill said:

 When have I ever been silent?

 

Dave, they've got you lashing out at me now, your bald brother in optimism.  Don't fall for their tricksy behaviour. 

[The Fish 10750]

Just now, Gemmill said:

 When have I ever been silent?

 

Dave, they've got you lashing out at me now, your bald brother in optimism.  Don't fall for their tricksy behaviour. 

(the plan was to drag you into the conversation and use you as meatshield)

[Howay 12496]

I was worried about relegation for sure, team bed wetter won me over. I thought we could pull ourselves out but it would take a dramatic upturn in form which thankfully we have done (and then some). 
 

Now I’m firmly team schlong waver, in fact now I’m asking the classic question of “where to park in London near Wembley?”

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_UEFA_Champions_League_Final

[Craig 6682]

[ohhh_yeah 2942]

 

    

 

Elon Musk       @elonmusk

 

The head of Saudi PIF committed unequivocally to take Tesla private with me, as witnessed by the Tesla CFO and several others. That is why I said funding was secured.

 

[Andrew 4720]

Tesla shirt sponsor next season?

[Ayatollah Hermione 13822]

A little mini Tesla to bring the ball out like it did in the Euros

[ohhh_yeah 2942]

2 hours ago, Ayatollah Hermione said:

A little mini Tesla to bring the ball out like it did in the Euros

 

 

[ohhh_yeah 2942]

State of Play: A Game of the People observation

The Road to Kingdom Come

Newcastle United are one of English football’s great underachievers. Their last major honour was won in 1969, so a revival is long overdue.

NEWCASTLE UNITED were taken over at the back end of 2021, ending a protracted sale process and a period of supporter unrest concerning the previous owner, Mike Ashley. Under Walsall-born Ashley, Newcastle won nothing but were run prudently, which arguably made the club uncompetitivein a market dominated by billionaires and oligarchs. The fans called for Ashley to sell Newcastle United, but his apparent lack of communication frustrated the fans still further and the eventual sale came at a time that suited him.

When a consortium headed by Saudi Arabian investors finally bought the club, there were joyous scenes in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, but the transaction was tinged with controversy and the sceptics are still concerned about an English football club being influenced by a country with a very questionable human rights record. Nevertheless, Newcastle United’s position in the game is on the brink of considerable elevation and the die-hards are anticipating a new, trophy-laden era for a club that has not lifted a domestic prize since 1955.

Turn a deaf ear?

Newcastle are now 80%-owned by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund (SWF) Public Investment Fund, one of the biggest SWFs in the world with assets under management of US$620 billion. The fund was formed in August 1971 and is controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of the kingdom. The Premier League refused to ratify the transaction, but after legal proceedings, they received “legally binding assurances that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control Newcastle United.”

The other shareholders are the Reuben Brothers, David and Simon, from the second richest family in the UK. The property developers have a 10% stake in the club. The other 10% is owned by PCP Capital Partners, the company owned by Amanda Staveley who was instrumental in putting together the takeover. Staveley has experience of Middle Eastern business and played a key role in Abu Dhabi and Qatar investing in Barclays Bank in the height of the 2008 financial crisis.

Not everyone is convinced about the new ownership structure, although many fans are happy to overlook the involvement of Saudi Arabian investment. Amnesty International have been fierce opponents all along and consider the acquisition a blatant attempt at sportswashing by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Amnesty International pressured Newcastle’s manager, Eddie Howe to speak up about human rights violations, notably the execution of 81 people over one weekend. Howe refused to talk about the situation in Saudi Arabia after a game, insisting that he was only concerned with football. Amnesty also commented about the link between the state and the PIF: “The relationship is extremely close and doesn’t hold up to scrutiny that there would be any kind of independence.” Furthermore, Saudi Vision 2030, which is bankrolled by the PIF, is to invest in sport inside and outside of Saudi Arabia. The discussion is set to rage on, with every success Newcastle enjoy questioned for its
validity. Football’s ability to shelve its values and morals was encapsulated in a survey conducted in the early stages of the Saudi interest in the club. An overwhelming 97% of Newcastle United fans polled welcomed the prospect of the takeover.

Winning the game

Newcastle’s golden age was before the first world war, in fact the heyday of North-East football very much belongs to the post-industrial revolution era. In the period from 1888 to 1939, the North-East won 10 league titles, the last secured by Sunderland in 1937. Newcastle’s last league championship was won in 1927. The great depression took more out of the North-East than most other regions of Britain and it was no coincidence that the football clubs also suffered. Newcastle and Sunderland, fierce rivals they may be, have certainly fallen from their Victorian and Edwardian highs.

It is the status acquired during their trophy winning years that made them highly popular clubs, but Newcastle are, in effect, a football institution waiting to reclaim its place among the big clubs. This is not achieved through enjoying healthy match attendances, it is the combination of success, finance, influence and commercial appeal. As it stands,
Newcastle United’s ranking across all of these criteria has diminished over the years, although the club’s brand is just outside the top 20 in European football (source: Brand Finance). What is remarkable is the fans who have stood by Newcastle United and ensured St. James’ Park remains one of the game’s most vibrant grounds.

There can be no doubting Newcastle United has a very strong regional identity and the club, its crest/logo, home ground and colours are indelibly linked to the city of Newcastle and the immediate surrounding area. The challenge for Newcastle United and their new owners is to make the club into more European and global.

The very big clubs in England have embarked on expansion programmes that have increased their visibility in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, the US and Africa as well as less mature markets in Europe. In the digital age, a club’s footprint can be monetized significantly, via the internet and social media, even if the vast majority of newly-acquired fans will never actually step foot inside the home stadium of their adopted club.

Newcastle’s social media presence lags behind many of their rivals. For example, the club has 2.4 million followers on Facebook and, across the three main platforms (FB, Twitter and Instagram), a total of 5.6 million followers. Manchester United, by contrast, have 75 million on Facebook alone.

We can swing together

St. James’ Park is one of the most passionate football venues and Newcastle United’s supporters are among the most long-suffering among the 92 Premier and EFL clubs. This is a club that has always represented the people and the city of Newcastle. At times, the relationship between club and fans has been strained, as evidenced when Mike Ashley
finally sold his asset to the Saudi Arabian-led consortium.

Newcastle’s crowds started to rise in the Edwardian era when they attracted over 30,000 to every home game. In the post-WW2 boom, Newcastle were, for a while, the best supported club once more, with an average of more than 56,000 in 1948. The decline of the club that extended into the late 1980s and early 1990s saw crowds plummet and
in 1981-82, they could barely encourage 20,000 to watch the “Magpies” at home.

The club’s renaissance began with the arrival of Sir John Hall as chairman and Kevin Keegan as manager. Newcastle’s crowds rose to around 36,000 and the club went close to winning the Premier League. Newcastle were not only a richly entertaining side full of expensive stars, but they became popular on a national scale and “everyone’s second
favourite side”. Ultimately, they were denied by Manchester United’s greater experience of winning.

Newcastle’s position in the game is underlined by their consistent ability to draw healthy gates. Over 76 million people have watched their home games, an average of almost 33,000. That makes them the fifth most popular club in the country by average crowds since 1888. Little wonder that everyone knows one of their calling card songs, “Blaydon Races”.

The club’s income from matchday has been as consistent as the gates themselves, although in 2019-10, the pandemic impacted on revenues and Newcastle suffered a 30% drop to £17.4 million. This is around half of the amount generated before Mike Ashley took over. They may have the eighth highest matchday income, but compared to the so-called “big six”, they are trailing behind. The average of the six for 2019-20 was £72 million.

The money game

Newcastle have focused on producing positive bottom line results, not an unreasonable quest but one that is arguably out-of-sync with the football industry’s strategy. In eight of the last 10 years, Newcastle have reported a profit, the exceptions were 2020 (due to Covid) and 2017 (Championship season following relegation). Over the past decade, Newcastle have the fourth highest combined profit (£94 million), a figure bettered only by Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal in the Premier League.

One of the main complaints about the Ashley era was a lack of ongoing investment made in the club, but Newcastle appeared to be run prudently in this period. But Newcastle United’s growth trajectory has been far more modest than the biggest clubs in the Premier League. Their revenues have increased by 72% from £88.5 million to £152.6 million in 2020. Compared to the fastest growing clubs, such as Chelsea (+188%), Tottenham (+246%), Liverpool (+275%) and Manchester City (+322%), their earnings have been rather lack-lustre.

The club’s matchday income is just one sixth of Tottenham Hotspur’s £95 million in 2019-20, a disappointing figure for a club with near-50,000 gates. Similarly, commercial earnings are just 10% of Manchester United’s overall total. Under Ashley, the club’s commercial activity created a 5% increase in revenues, compared to huge growth at the “big six”. One area that has plenty of upside for Newcastle is European football – in Ashley’s time, they qualified just once. The income that can be derived from competing even in the Europa League can be significant.

Newcastle’s wage bill in 2019-20 rose by 25% to £121 million, representing a wage-to-income ratio of 79.4%. In 10 years, salaries have gone up 225%, from £53.6 million in 2010-11. With Newcastle now in the hands of new owners with, it would seem, limitless funds for investment, the club has to keep ahead of Financial Fair Play rules. This may mean the expected mass outlay of cash on new players will need to be staggered, but the manner in which the club was run under the previous owner – regular profits and strict contract management - will arguably assist that process.

Fog on the Tyne

The past decade has been bitterly disappointing for Newcastle United and their fans. The lack of success on the field extends back beyond Mike Ashley’s time and, despite brief flickers of hope under Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and Ruud Gullit, the club still awaits its first piece of major silverware since 1969. Certainly, in 1996, there would have been no more popular champions than Keegan’s team of cavaliers. “Skill and finery run through the side, but not always the tactical strategy to knit it together,” said Nigel Clarke of the Daily Mirror after Newcastle had missed out on the Premier title.

Since those halcyon days, 25 seasons ago, Newcastle have finished in the lower half of the Premier League 15 times and have spent two years in the Championship. Only seven times have they secured a place in the top 10. The club’s last FA Cup final was in 1999, when Manchester United beat them 2-0 at the old Wembley stadium. The most recent
European campaign was in 2012-13, a Europa League run that ended at the quarter-final stage against Benfica.

Since being taken over, Newcastle have recovered from a poor first half of 2021-22 and, under new manager Eddie Howe, their place in the Premier League looks fairly safe. This should provide the platform the new owners need to begin the transformation that will create a new contender on the biggest stage.

Dealer’s choice

The January 2022 transfer window provided an early opportunity for the new regime at Newcastle to flex their financial muscles and £90 million was spent on a cluster of reinforcements. These included experienced players who were hired with a very specific job in mind, ensuring Newcastle avoid relegation to the Championship.

Among the new signings were Burnley’s Chris Wood (30) for £25 million, Kieran Trippier (31) from Atlético Madrid for £12 million, and Dan Burn (29) of Brighton for £13 million. Over the last 10 years, Newcastle have been the 10th biggest spender in England football with a gross outlay of £542 million. In that time, they recouped £251.3 million, so their net spend was under £300 million – again, the 10th highest net figure in the Premier League.

The club has made £185 million from player sales over the decade and in 2019-20, delivering a profit of £26.3 million, the third highest figure from the 2010-20 period. Among the biggest player sales were Andy Carroll to Liverpool for £35 million, Giorginio Wijnaldum, also to Liverpool for £25 million, Fulham’s purchase of Aleksandar Mitrović for £22 million and the sale of Ayoze Pérez to Leicester City for £30 million.

With the market fully aware of Newcastle’s new-found financial power, selling clubs are likely to push them all the way in agreeing transfer fees over the coming year. However, it may not be a spending spree such as those we have seen in the past with Chelsea and Manchester City. Financial Fair Play will make it difficult for the club to embark on a
supermarket trolley dash around Europe’s top clubs. In the past, a club was permitted to make combined losses of £105 million over a three-year period. A new system linked to revenues – a club will not be able to spend more than 70% of income on wages, transfer and agent fees – may also delay the revival. Doubtless there will be loopholes such as expenditure on academy, which is exempt from the FFP calculation.

It's not just top players that Newcastle will be seeking in the market. Eddie Howe, once predicted to become England manager, was hired to replace Steve Bruce, and so far, the signs are encouraging. Newcastle have often been seduced by big managerial names – Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit, Graeme Souness, Sir Bobby Robson – but the most successful coach, by win rate, was Chris Hughton, whose spell between 2009 and 2010 (admittedly in the Championship) amounted to 59.38%. Kevin Keegan’s first stint in charge, between 1992 and 1997, ended with a win rate of 54.98%.

Nothing but the marvellous is beautiful

The next 12 months will be very interesting for Newcastle United and their followers. Expectation has always been present at the club, but they have never had a prolonged period of stability that allows them to build something long-lasting. Now is their chance to truly revive a great club, but the current structure of football may not allow a “just add water” approach, they may have to exercise patience, and football clubs are never good at displaying that quality. And then, of course, there’s the ownership issue, which may come to the fore again soon, especially as there are stories of a conflict of interest in the investigation and approval of the takeover. Newcastle United are destined to become the next emerging power, but how rocky will the road become for the club and its ownership model?

https://gameofthepeople.com/2022/04/28/state-of-play-newcastle-united/

 

[Howmanheyman 32794]

Stopped at 'ran the club prudently'

[Christmas Tree 4702]

30 minutes ago, Howmanheyman said:

Stopped at 'ran the club prudently'

Stopped at a block of white writing. Should implement twitter rules  

[Howmanheyman 32794]

14 years of Ashley not just limiting the first team.....

 

 

[Howay 12496]

Spot on, always the weirdest part about him. It doesn’t take a massive investment, comparatively, to have a big impact. Especially for a bloke who wanted nothing more than money out the club, watched Carroll go for a £30M or so gain (if you factor in wages given to him) and never bothered trying to improve the youth set up.

 

It was like he was always on the verge of selling the club so he was trying to be as short term as possible. 

[Monkeys Fist 42106]

2 minutes ago, Howay said:

was like he was always on the verge of selling the club so he was trying to be as short term as possible. 

 

 

[Howmanheyman 32794]

It's a fucking disgrace to be honest but also a massive hint towards the owners about the gulf which already exists at all levels. We must be on it as it'll help the club immeasurably regarding FFP as well as having home grown talent busting a gut to play in a successful first team.

[Alex 34877]

2 hours ago, Howay said:

Spot on, always the weirdest part about him. It doesn’t take a massive investment, comparatively, to have a big impact. Especially for a bloke who wanted nothing more than money out the club, watched Carroll go for a £30M or so gain (if you factor in wages given to him) and never bothered trying to improve the youth set up.

 

It was like he was always on the verge of selling the club so he was trying to be as short term as possible. 

I’ve said similar, ie him always just looking to get through the next season unscathed without any long term plan. It would also probably have killed him to think that any future owners might benefit from any good infrastructure he had in place. As well the academy it applies to first team training facilities, the stadium, a scouting network etc. 

[Howay 12496]

 

 This is one of the Delaney types that’s had the “you should turn your back on the club” type craic. So Newcastle fans are a bunch of pricks for supporting their club, but it’s totally fine if it aligns with something you feel passionate about, cheers Adam. 

[Rayvin 5186]

You also get the feeling that he thinks Newcastle is on similar levels of deprivation to Sunderland or Hartlepool. He's probably never been up this far. Also don't understand his point unless he imagines that the British government could have bought us and invested in the women's team. Patronising cunt.

 

SA haven't invested a great deal into the region yet, although it'll come. The only difference so far is that we aren't owned by a penny pinching Southern fuck.

[Christmas Tree 4702]

Apparently “Amanda” or someone at the club have ended up hiring Sunderland builders to move Shearers statue  

 

This guy is quite good for all sorts of stuff on Tyneside as well as NUFC (History etc).

 

 

 

[Alex 34877]

Was it Kevin Phillips? 

[Polarboy 2311]

Revealed! Details of Newcastle United’s training ground upgrade - and how it will actually look | NewcastleWorld

 

Encouraging to hear that they aren't happy to wait until the new training ground is built, and prefer to make Benton as good as it possibly can be until said training facility is built. 

Edited May 6, 2022 by Polarboy

[wykikitoon 19943]

Work has started back up on Strawberry place now from what I've heard so that's a no goer for any extension to the ground.

[wykikitoon 19943]

3 hours ago, Polarboy said:

Revealed! Details of Newcastle United’s training ground upgrade - and how it will actually look | NewcastleWorld

 

Encouraging to hear that they aren't happy to wait until the new training ground is built, and prefer to make Benton as good as it possibly can be until said training facility is built. 

I'll be honest.  That looks wank  but we have to start somewhere. This will be a short term plan IMO

[Christmas Tree 4702]

Just now, wykikitoon said:

I'll be honest.  That looks wank  but we have to start somewhere. This will be a short term plan IMO

Yeah, they’ve said it’s just a short term fix.

[Sonatine 11322]