Dix urges Ashley to offer Shearer “rolling” contract.

Posted on June 13th, 2009 | 87 Comments |

Malcolm Dix.
Malcolm Dix: Honorary vice president of NUFC
Newcastle United honorary vice-President, Malcolm Dix, has urged Mike Ashley to offer Alan Shearer a rolling contract as pre-season training approaches.

Dix, the founder member of the “Magpie” group which brought Sir John Hall to the helm at St James’s back in 1992 said yesterday:

“I have spoken to someone at the club and made the suggestion that Alan Shearer be offered a rolling contract, and that message is being passed on to Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias,” adding, “It would help Alan and help the club.

“I know Alan would love a four or five-year contract, but this way he’s not tied to anything should any investors come in. A new owner may want their own man – this way Alan wouldn’t need paying up.

“Sir Bobby (Robson) did it for a long time without a problem, and it’s not like Alan is short of money and needs the security of a long contract.”

“It would encourage Alan, and help him to dispose of players and get some in. It would also encourage people to buy season tickets. The club must send out a positive message.

“People want to see positivity. You have to give them a reason to part with £500 or £600. It’s a mess at the moment. When Mike Ashley announced he was putting the club up for sale 48 hours after being in discussions with Alan, I found it peculiar.

“I thought we were on our way, then this.

“It’s easy to point the finger and say ‘I told you so’. But there is a club to run. It’s like there’s been a death in the family, but we must move on.

“We have to get things moving forward.

“I would love to see Sir John (Hall) involved in some capacity. He wouldn’t do it directly, himself, but possibly with his family business, Cameron Hall. They could take over and run it, they know how it’s done. They have money and contacts.

“Remember though, this is our football club, irrespective of who runs it. That is very important.”

Bearing in mind the chaos the club is in at the moment, with pre season training and many other matters requiring managerial attention before our depressing descent to the lower leagues, It would seem to be a sound suggestion. However there has been no comments from Shearer or Ashley on the matter at the time of writing.

Comments welcome…

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87 Responses

  1. A voice of reason amongst the madness. Hopefully they will listen and act upon the suggestion regarding Shearer’s contract. I don’t like the idea of Cameron Hall becoming involved. The last I heard Cameron Hall were losing a lot of money, Douglas Hall was obviously involved then, finances a bit shady etc. Not keen on the Halls dipping their hands in to siphon off more cash.

  2. I was thinking about that before, Deb. As Dix says, it’s all Bobby Robson had. However, I was thinking about Martin O’Neill when Aston Villa was taken over by Lerner too; that’s what they did. I think that O’Neill is still on a rolling contract? Though I may be wrong.

    I have to admit that the one thing on my mind regarding Newcastle United is “nee Fat Freddy”. It’s driving me mad watching that … ……. skulking around in the background.

    As Joseph Conrad once wrote in “Heart of Darkness” (a good title for a Fat Freddy biography), The horror! The horror!”

  3. I don’t think I could bear it if FFS got his mitts on us again. My god, it doesn’t bear thinking about. However I’ve had that feeling for several months now as he and his mates have been increasing his profile in the media, such a sure sign that he’s up to something. When you posted that article earlier in the week regarding Fat Fred lecuring Ashley on dignity, I was incredulous. With his morals he has no right to lecture anyone especially on dignity LOL

  4. It would be interesting if O’Neill were still on a rolling contract.

    I think this is the right thing to re Shearer. We need something to be happening in the short term. It would be ridiculous if nothing happened between now and the sale of the club because the remaining time from the sale until the start of the season won’t allow us time to prepare and we’ll be miles behind. That asssumes a smooth transition. It could be weeks and months before it’s signed, sealed and delivered and the plans of the new regime are put into action.

  6. I agree with pretty much everything that’s been said.

    It’s important that, regardless of who takes over the ownership, we get prepared for next season.

    A rolling contract for Shearer sounds sensible.

    Maybe, though, they don’t even want to do that because if the new owners don’t want Shearer then whoever they do want as manager would want to bring in his own players.

    Although personally I think it’s better than doing nothing.

  8. No way big Al would have a rolling contract and be at the beck and call of ash until new owner comes in.

    Think he has already been told he is in if freddie and the dreamers get the nod

  9. would be a good move if shearer would accept. clubs already start playing pre season games next month and we have a wantaway owner, no manager and a squad full of overpaid players to be moved on. this would solve these problems as Shearer could get to work on preparations for next season.

  10. Waddles mullet says:
    June 13, 2009 at 8:20 pm

    “…Think he has already been told he is in if freddie and the dreamers get the nod”

    Waddles mullet,

    I’m a huge fan of wor Al as nearly all of us are. However, if he got into bed with the Geordie Satan, and had a hand in bringing him back to the club, I’d be very sad and disappointed.

  15. Toon_Factor says:
    June 13, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    “…Love the little pictures down the side lol”

    Cheers! There’ll be quite a few other nice little features coming soon, Toon. But as I wrote, it’s early days at the moment.

  16. Rolling contract sounds ok to me but will AS take it. Somebody would need to start making descisions now because we will be left behind. When its reported that we’re lookin at a player like say Kyle Ried who is actually lookin at him? Is there scouting going on?

  17. Workey Ticket

    ‘I’m a huge fan of wor Al as nearly all of us are. However, if he got into bed with the Geordie Satan, and had a hand in bringing him back to the club, I’d be very sad and disappointed’

    LOL love the term Geordie Satan – can you post a picture some time to reflect that?

  18. Deb,

    My favourite Satanic name for Freddy is “Diabolos”. It’s another word for the Devil, but it’s literal translation is “Slanderer”. After what he said about all those canny Geordie lasses, and the devoted Toon fans too, I think that it’s particularly appropriate.

    Wouldn’t you agree? ;-)

  19. Giving Shearer a rolling contract will solve nothing. No players will join with the club up for sale and a manager at the helm that could be gone tomorrow. Pointless.

  20. ‘Deb,

    My favourite Satanic name for Freddy is “Diabolos”. It’s another word for the Devil, but it’s literal translation is “Slanderer”. After what he said about all those canny Geordie lasses, and the devoted Toon fans too, I think that it’s particularly appropriate.

    Wouldn’t you agree?’

    Workey

    I didn’t know that was the literal translation, so yes it’s very apt for fat fred! I will never forgive him for mocking and treating with contempt the very people who were putting their hard earned cash into the club only for him to siphon it off into his fat greedy mitts. For a sleaze bag like him to call geordie women is laughable. I was more upset regarding his insulting behaviour towards the fans. I think us geordie women are a strong breed and more than capable of dealing with toerags like FFS

  21. Dragonera says:
    June 13, 2009 at 10:23 pm

    “Giving Shearer a rolling contract will solve nothing. No players will join with the club up for sale and a manager at the helm that could be gone tomorrow. Pointless.”

    Dragonera, I see your point about the players alone, but it’s about much more than that. Contrary to what many people believe, the players, including the ones we bought and sold weren’t the main reason for our capitulation last season, it was constant changes in management.

    At this moment, we need to hold on to as much consistency as we can, even though things are going to be completely chaotic anyway. I think that it’s a very good idea, and I’ve thought so ever since the issue of Shearer staying at the club, and Ashley selling it came up.

  22. geordie deb says:
    June 13, 2009 at 10:40 pm
    ‘Deb,

    “I was more upset regarding his insulting behaviour towards the fans.”

    Funnily enough Deb, for me it was the lasses, because I like lasses, Geordie or otherwise. The other thing that made my blood boil was the one that not so many people mention; “I divven’t like coloured lasses”. Ugh. As a Geordie, and of course, a Toon fan, I was absolutely mortified to hear that coming from the chairman of my club. It was so embarrassing.

  26. ‘Funnily enough Deb, for me it was the lasses, because I like lasses, Geordie or otherwise. The other thing that made my blood boil was the one that not so many people mention; “I divven’t like coloured lasses”. Ugh. As a Geordie, and of course, a Toon fan, I was absolutely mortified to hear that coming from the Chairman of my club. It was so embarrassing.’

    Workey, don’t get me wrong at the time I was incensed with what he said regarding geordie women but in my mind he clearly judges women in a certain way which is what you would expect from someone like him. I completely agree regarding his racist comments – again they showed him up for the uncouth, ill educated individual that he is, and someone who is racist, sexist and treats his paying customers with such a level of contempt is certainly not worthy of being in charge of this great club either then or most definetley in the future. Isn’t it sad though that some fans now seem to look back on him with some kind of misplaced affection and would welcome him back.

  27. “Isn’t it sad though that some fans now seem to look back on him with some kind of misplaced affection and would welcome him back.”

    Deb, stupid people are impressed by shiny things. Freddy knew that and that idiot, Perez at Real Madrid knows that too. Freddy made them look over there at the shiny things, while he looted and destroyed the stability and long term future of the club. I’m an expert on people like Freddy, my dad used to know T.Dan Smith ;-)

  31. Now T Dan Smith a really interesting subject, which also causes very polarised reactions from people. Obviously not a debate for this football blog sadly but nevertheless I can see why you draw parallels with FFS. Did you ever watch ‘Our Friends in the North’ I loved that programme?

  33. No, I didn’t Deb. Do you remember Vince Landa?

    Toon, that News of the World thing doesn’t sound right, it has one generic quote from “a source”.

  34. Toon Factor

    Thanks for the info. Well it’s NOTW so more likely than not it’s complete and utter tosh, however could you imagine the fans reaction if Ashley appointed Curbishley instead of Shearer before walking away? Lets hope the bit about an american consortium and an announcement early next week at least is true.

  37. Alan Curbishley would have to be mad or desperate or both to join this circus, however you’re right he may be a good appointment especially to help get us out of this division as he has the necessary experience.

  39. Deb, about Alan Curbishley, I meant in a parallel universe where he wouldn’t be lynched for taking over from “wor Al”, and being a Cockney too.

  40. Workey, it would have to be in a parallel universe as I cannot see a significant proportion of our fans accepting an Ashley appointment who isn’t AS, and who is another cockney. We know it shouldn’t matter but the poor guy would not be given a chance.

  41. Deb, a good, highly experienced manager who brings stability and is good at getting cheaper teams promoted, then punching above their weight in the Premier League. That would be the kind of decision a normal, sane team would make. Not in Newcastle though, because he wouldn’t “understand”. So we’d boo him if he lost two or three games in a row.

  42. Workey, agree. One day this madhouse has to stop. I don’t know how or when but a new owner has to have the b*lls to stand up to and ignore the fans. They must show faith in the manager over the longer term and not react to the first sign of crowd unrest if results aren’t going our way. We need a plan and we need to stick to it, and the fans need to believe it and get behind it.

  47. It looks awful Deb! He looks like he’s about to hold his head in his hands in despair because he woke up and found himself in a Toon shirt. It’s so bad, surely it can’t be real? If it is real, he should have got me to do it! :-)

    It looks like something done in a NOTW office in five minutes.

  48. LOL – you’re right I didn’t really look at it. Also it has a nice image of him lying on the ground just to remind potential buyers of his penchant for getting injured! The image of him obtaining his OBE/CBE could equally be him enjoying a day at the races in case they need to be reminded of his other great interest. Whoever charged him for this should be shot – no wonder he hasn’t got a buyer!!!

  49. I’m sure I know why he gets some of his big injuries, but surely some sports experts would have fiured it out before me! He doesn’t seem to jump properly, and he nearly always seems to land quite badly.

  52. In principle, I’d have no objections to Curbishley. I think he did a decent enough job with Charlton (although it took a while).

    Whether he’s the right man at the moment is another matter.

    Not that the NOTW article has much merit. No direct quotes from anyone who counts about Curbishley.

  54. what a great scouting system we have then. whoever did that should never get a job in football again.

  55. and just seen barton gets paid £675k per year by the club for his image rights. what a mess we are in.

  56. Hugh and ESAMIM

    Makes you wonder what dodgey dealings were going on over in Spain with these transfers. Yet our ex DOF had a nice handsome pay off for royally screwing this up with our so called top notch scouting system and lumbering the club with debt and long term lucrative player contracts.

    Just to add insult to injury, you mentioned we are paying Barton £675K per year to use his image rights! We’re tey the one’s of him behind bars, doing community service, two footed tackles etc? I can see how we could enhance the club’s image by using them!! Bloody hell, when you think it can’t get any worse, these new snippets of info make you realise who desperate a state we are in.

  57. geordie deb says:
    June 14, 2009 at 1:05 pm

    “…Makes you wonder what dodgey dealings were going on over in Spain with these transfers. Yet our ex DOF had a nice handsome pay off for royally screwing this up with our so called top notch scouting system and lumbering the club with debt and long term lucrative player contracts.”

    Deb, it was “Diabolos” Shepherd, not the “Cockney mafia” who gave us the wonderful contracts for people like Owen and Biffa Barton, not to mention all the other wonderful players signed by Fat Sam.

    Your missing a chance to stick the knife into Fat Freddy again here. lol :-)

    I never miss a chance.

  58. Personally, I don’t blame all our woes on the La Liga players mentioned in that Mirror report. I think Gonzalez could have been a very good player for Newcastle, Gutierrez was no Alan Smith or Crapapa. Wise had nothing to do with Enrique.

  59. workeyticket says:
    June 14, 2009 at 1:59 pm
    Personally, I don’t blame all our woes on the La Liga players mentioned in that Mirror report. I think Gonzalez could have been a very good player for Newcastle, Gutierrez was no Alan Smith or Crapapa. Wise had nothing to do with Enrique.
    <<<<aye thats why enrique turned out to be half decent

  60. @Deb, it was “Diabolos” Shepherd, not the “Cockney mafia” who gave us the wonderful contracts for people like Owen and Biffa Barton, not to mention all the other wonderful players signed by Fat Sam.

    Your missing a chance to stick the knife into Fat Freddy again here. lol

    I never miss a chance.’

    Workey

    Yeplol, I was a bit slow off the mark there. I blame him for most things including swine flu etc which is quite apt. Don’t know if you’ve seen the ramblings apparently reported in the Sunday Sun, that he is supposed to be using his money to front a bid with his son and brother – how horrific a thought is that? If it’s true, cant see him getting enough cash together to buy let alone spend money on players. We just have to hope that he is outbid

  61. batty,

    Enrique turned out a decent player, but you know that he had a few problems settling in to start with. Gonzalez never had that chance because he got knacked straight away. That wasn’t his fault and it wasn’t the fault of Wise either. Gutierrez was hardly the worst player, he was galloping up and down those wings non-stop and showed some spirit. Xisco is a mystery, I’ll ask my mate, Joe what was wrong there next time I see him! :-)

    Whatever the pluses and minuses of individual players, it was lack of consistent leadership that made the team look clueless and uncoordinated.

    Deb,

    Of course, “ramblings” is a good word for the garbage that they write in the Sunday Sun. I really do hope that they’re just carrying on their proud tradition of made-up guff there.

    If Shearer gets into bed with fat Fred, I’ll cry.

  62. I really don’t think Fat Fred will be our new owner. He’ll need considerable financial backing and anyone who looks at the books will know about the mess he left the club in.

    And would the banks be happy to lend to him in these frugal times based on his previous history?

    Maybe, just maybe, he can persuade his family to raid their piggy banks or maybe there’s a mug somewhere who’ll loan him the money, but I think it’s very unlikely.

    Furthermore, despite Ashley’s claims of a first past the post system, I can’t imagine he’ll want to sell to Fat Fred after all the grief he’s taken from him.

    Fat Fred makes a lot of noise in the press but I honestly think the Minogue sisters have more of a chance of owning the club than him. I suspect they could so a better job of it too.

  63. Hugh, of course you make good points, but for myself, even the THOUGHT of Fat Freddy coming back is enough to make me lose all hope and scream. People like him damage the reputation of the region and Newcastle United so badly.

  64. That’s true Workey – the mere thought of it is enough to cause palpitations.

  65. worky

    when did ffs say “I divven’t like coloured lasses”

    youre right in what youre saying it doesnt get much worse or embarrising than that fat *******

    about curbs i think he would be great he could buck the trend and prove you dont have to have an affiliation with our club to make us succesful

    though an interesting point is i can understand (though not agree with) how some fans react that way the most succesful managers i can think of have had some sort of connection previousely

    sir bobby
    harvey
    roeder
    kk

  66. beyethegreat says:
    June 14, 2009 at 6:03 pm

    “worky

    when did ffs say “I divven’t like coloured lasses”

    Same time as the “mugs” and “dogs” Beye; in the Spanish bordello. He said he liked “lesbians in handcuffs” but hastily added, “I don’t like coloured girls”. I admit that the Geordieisms were my own little piece of dramatic license. :-)

  71. ok worky

    i just cant believe that didnt get more attention

    what ever happens that man can not buy our club

    toon toon black n white army

  73. I feel obliged to get an article done workey.
    Been busy with parental responsibilities today.
    Just seems like a lot of unsubstantiated rumour in the papers as per though.

  74. its 4-0 after 30 minutes! Torres got a hatrick inside the first 15 lol

  75. i hope the score reaches double figures it will be the 1 st time i have ever seen a match finish in double figures

    btw what is the record scoreline

  76. That Confed Cup game was pretty embarrassing for the first half hour.
    Hard to tell which is playing the biggest part, New Zealand being so limited or Spain being so awesome.
    I suppose a combination of the two.

  77. did you see that forward who stopped his own team scoring? he would fit in well here.

  82. Toon Factor

    Have just checked and it looks like they are definetley
    released 17th June

  84. How weird will that be to see the fixtures on Wednesday and still have no idea who our owner, manager, assitant manager, coaches or playing staff are likely to be or what pre season friendlies we will be playing with the new season only 7 weeks away – it’s almost surreal

  85. I’m hoping for Cov away for the 1st game of the season. I live in Warwick so it’s only 10 minutes drive to cov for me.
    Oh dear, how far we have fallen, looking forward to cov away. :-(