Board state the obvious as the transfer window slams shut early for Toon?
Posted on August 24th, 2009 | 42 Comments |
Toon Army Tsunami on release, had us all exhaling in disappointment at the progress report announcing that….well there is no progress really, just another extension on the deadline. But we’re used to it by now, right?
Nothing to report then? Well not strictly true, depending on how you interpret the message and it still managed to get tongues wagging. The statement reads as follows –
NEWCASTLE United Football Club confirms that it has extended its deadline to Barry Moat to table an offer for the Club.
The extension has been granted in order to allow Barry Moat and his advisors to conclude funding arrangements with Barclays, current bankers, for the continuation of last season’s £39m facility.
This would allow a formal offer to be tabled
So what does it mean exactly?
Well crucially, it potentially means Moat can’t be too far away from the finishing line if his business plan has enough credibility to get to this stage. The key word in the second paragraph is conclude, which suggests there is merely a decision left to be made by Barclays on whether or not they will continue to allow the overdraft facility based on Moat’s business plan.
One of the things which seems to worry fans is the fact that a bid hasn’t yet been tabled but these guys will know each other pretty well now and I’m fairly confident should Moat get the green light from the bank that he will thrash it out efficiently with Ashley. Surely, neither man would let this drag on without knowing there is a way out and wouldn’t let it go this far without knowing realistically what is required to get what they both want or at least as near as dammit?
Of course this implies it’s a one-horse race, which probably contradicts LLambias’ continued assertion that there have been other interested and viable suitors all along. Regardless of personal feelings towards a man who manages to be discernibly unlikeable in both his mannerisms and facial expressions, it’s difficult to know how much to believe because so many of his statements have been contradicted in the past.
So what else is left for debate? Well, the small issue of our depleted squad for a start and the likelihood that in order to satisfy the bank manager we may well sacrifice our chances of promotion. Whether Ashley ends up staying or Moat comes on board, it’s looking increasingly likely that we will be left with a paper-thin squad simply in order to rectify the financial issues at the club and because we will once again be reactive rather than proactive in the transfer market, with little or no time left to arrange and finalise deals.
The transfer deadline has been extended to next Tuesday but it seems that an extra 24 hours is a moot point so far as new permanent signings go up at St James’. Surely, if we’re struggling so badly to cut the costs, then it’s extremely unlikely that we’ll be bringing new blood in unless they’re on loan? So that transfer window can slam shut for me right now as we hold on dearly to what players we have left.
There is already concern that if Moat is having such difficulty now in financing a takeover, where does that leave us in the short to medium term? Well probably no better off immediately than we are at present but I believe a fresh start that everyone can get behind will increase income for one thing and even at worst, having somebody else with the passion and appetite for running a football club is something which we can look forward to. Of course, there is the risk of failure but can he really fair as badly as Ashley and Co did?
Being the optimist that I am, I’m reading good things into that statement and despite seeing the steady stream of departing players yet dry up, we can but hope that Ashley et al are also making an exit by the end of the week. Did that statement tell us anything that we hadn’t already summised? Probably not but we can hope and pray that it lets us know that maybe this isn’t some horrible nightmare we’re unable to wake from. That bright awakening is hopefully not too far away now!
NUFCBlog Author: bowburnmag
bowburnmag has written 234 articles on this blog.
i am extremely worried by moat owning our club dont get me wrong he seems to love the club and he seems inteligent enough and extremely passionate but i doubt he has the finances
on a lighter or orange note should i say its reported in the sun that phill brown denies using fake tan or sun beds “ive never been on a sunbed in my life-its just natural” they must get more sun in hull than people think
also duff claims that he felt SUICIDAL after we were relegated
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=goal_fulham_recruit_damien&prov=goal&type=lgns
im sorry but thats far fetched i admit we arent the best club to play for at the minute but gettin paid 50 k a week to play football is a pretty good life by mine and most peoples standards