Mike Ashley’s great charitable gesture to Newcastle United?

Posted on September 11th, 2011 | 130 Comments |

Mike Ashley.
"Greed is good. Greed is right."
Dear reader, my estteemed colleague Hugh has already touched on this story earlier today and presented his own viewpoint on the matter. However, I am so incensed that I also feel compelled to register my extreme displeasure at the latest utterings of our unesteemed Managing Director, Derek Llambias.

In case you are still wondering what I’m gannin’ on about, in the responses to Chronicle readers questions on Mike Ashley’s intentions for the club, Derek Llambias responded to “Is Mike Ashley considering putting the club up for sale?” with the quote below amongst other things. At the end of the answer, he wrote:

“I’d like to make a further point here. This club can’t support itself without the financial backing of Mike Ashley; we still rely heavily on the owner. To date Mike has invested over £280m into the club, including £140m in interest-free loans. For him to continue to support the club, he has to be interested and enthused to do so. He deserves credit for his financial support but a section of supporters don’t make him feel welcome at St James’ Park, or when he attends away games. Criticism is part and parcel of the job, abuse is not. This makes life uncomfortable and certainly doesn’t make Mike feel more inclined to put his hand once again in his pocket. That’s not stubbornness, it’s human nature. I think most of us would feel exactly the same.”

Does the sheer gall of this little cipher and his fat controller know no bounds?

From the picture Llambias attempts to paint, it was almost as if Ashley bought Newcastle United and as some kind of benevolent charitable gesture to save the club from the grip of the Byker Beelzebub for the Geordie people, and we have been mere ingrates who have failed to appreciate his wonderful and generous gesture. It is absolute tosh and completely dishonest, as is the norm for Ashley and his Owlheaded henchman. You just have to take one look at what the stadium is becoming to know that previous owner, Sir John Hall was right in what he said in a recent interview. When quizzed on the circumstances surrounding Mike Ashley’s takeover of the club he replied:

“I was told that the man behind the deal was Mike Ashley and I sat with his representatives over three days thrashing out a deal. I was keen to know why they wanted the club and they were quite honest. They wanted to market their sports goods in the Far East and would use the club to help do this.”

Mike Ashley is not a philanthropist by any stretch of the imagination, he is a vulture Capitalist who buys up respected but struggling brands to take them downmarket and distribute through his Sports Direct outlets, and is now using Newcastle United as a tacky billboard to promote Sports Direct to a worldwide audience through the Premiership. He also wants to develop other benefits for himself too besides the usual sources of revenue, ie TV money, gate receipts etc. He is developing a Footballer Farm, where livestock is bought cheap and developed for a few years before being sent to market once again for (hopefully) considrable profit, a Premiership “Feeder Club” in other words. However all of these point to some kind of gain for Ashley in the long term and his purchase was purely a business decision from all angles. This codswallop about Ashley not wanting to buy Newcastle to make money but because he loves football is just pure flannel for consumption by a, hopefully for them, gullible Geordie fanbase.

Vulture Capitalists, as immortalised by the Michael Douglas character ‘Gordon Gecko’ in the film “Wall Street”, see distressed businesses as a way to make millions for themselves, not as charitible projects. Such projects are usually high risk / high gain ventures and Ashley knows this. Yet his cipher wants us to see him as some kind of benevolent saviour, a “Messiah” even because he saved us from the clutches of big bad Freddy, failed to do due diligence on the club and got it relegated though his own mismanagement, ably assisted by his fawning little croupier of course.

He isn’t and if he doesn’t feel “comfortable” with the customers of his football club aquisition, he should know where the door is by now.

NUFCBlog Author: workyticket workyticket has written 1095 articles on this blog.

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130 Responses

  1. On the other side of the coin, if Mike Ashley wants be able to tout his gear to the Far East, Near East, and even the North East, he will need to make NUFC a leading Premiership club that is being watched by millions around the globe, and gain a reputation for playing attractive football with a few star players. Being lower down the league and possibly even a Championship side will not achieve his objectives. I am sure his savvy business nature is aware of this.

  2. You love your “Vultures” dont you WT ? :)

    I wonder how much NUFC receive, in terms of revenue, for all the Sports Direct marketing/propoganda adorning the stadium, the web site and and all the other associated outlets ?

  3. I’m sorry but this article is simply utter sh.te …for the want of a better phrase. The notion that ANY top club doesn’t have a money savey man at the top is ludicrous, never mind the implicit idea in articles such as these, that somehow ashley is especially different is just about mental and the way he’s painted to practically the devil incarnate is getting seriously tiring.

    I genuinely think the club is being run better than anytime in my life time (pre sir john) …but common people, if we win the next two games (possible if not probable) were top of the table for the day at least. I’ll say it again, top of the table.

    I think the most telling thing of the resent statement is the chairman pointing out that they’re criticised either way. All this article (and MANY like it) actually achieves is to prove this point.

    Some people really need to get a grip, and take a Good hard look and the talent we’ve signed, and stop f.kng moaning. If we pulled in the same direction for once, we might just achieve something. Sadly I think people blind hatred will undermine everything and we’ll end up with far worse than the current establishment. Personally I’d rather give it shot the way were doing it, than be a money bags chelsea or man city- every single things those clubs have achieved or do in the future are utterly hollow. Personally I think we should be proud of our club and stop f.ckng tearing it to pieces with all this bitching. Sick of it.

  4. jimmy3knees says:

    “Personally I think we should be proud of our club and stop f.ckng tearing it to pieces with all this bitching. Sick of it”

    Go support the makems then jimmy and take your three knees with ya mutant :)

    PS. I would have let you have the “rights” to this for your article WT :)

    http://imageshack.us/f/805/sjpn.jpg/

  5. Yet another uninformed load of drivel.

    Ashley is a prize tosser but the chances he will exit NUFC with a profit are extremely small. It was an “ego” purchase.

    Anyone wanting to make a quick buck wouldn’t pick the North East, and if he wanted to flog merchandise to the far east he could have sponsored MUFC for £20m a year.

    You again take the word of one of the biggest self interested winkers, SJH (£95m profit from NUFC thank you very much) as gospel truth.

    Ashley is currently no better of worse than the seymours / mccaigs but BETTER than the Halls / Shepherds who nearly bankrupted the club. Get a sense of perspective.

  6. jimmy3knees says:
    September 11, 2011 at 9:32 pm

    “The notion that ANY top club doesn’t have a money savey man at the top is ludicrous”

    Where did I write that exactly jimmy3knees? I have no objection to “money savvy” people running football clubs, so long as they aren’t trash who are constantly attempting to mislead their customers, and cheapen something which has been a much loved local institution for well over a hundred years.

  7. Posts 8 and 10 – Agreed.
    Post 9 – Grow up fella. We’re happy to be patient and see if things work out. We’re actually being supporters, rather than just whinging because our sugar daddy didn’t get us the diamond ring he promised. Maybe you should go and joing the unwashed instead.

    3-0 tomorrow anyone?

  8. Christ, I remember the late ’70s/ ’80s, Bill Mcgarry, Willy McFaul, Jim Smith the exit of a zillion players better than Carroll.

    Did we moan? Yes. DId we criticise the board? Yes but not like some pseudo-Man United or Liverpool fans expecting constantly expecting success.

    Worky, most Chairmen since the year dot have been tossers. Man up, support the team, shut up about Ashley. Or go and support Man United, as you’re acting just like most of their fans.

  9. Moomoo says:
    September 11, 2011 at 9:43 pm

    “Ashley is a prize tosser but the chances he will exit NUFC with a profit are extremely small. It was an “ego” purchase.

    Anyone wanting to make a quick buck wouldn’t pick the North East…

    You again take the word of one of the biggest self interested winkers, SJH (£95m profit from NUFC thank you very much) as gospel truth. ”

    Aren’t you contradicting yourself a little there Moomoo?

    I don’t believe a great deal of what SJH says, but I do actually believe him in that instance. I was fairly convinced that was his real reason for buying the club well before he said it anyway.

  10. “Ashley is currently no better of worse than the seymours / mccaigs but BETTER than the Halls / Shepherds who nearly bankrupted the club. Get a sense of perspective.”

    Before WT gets to this inane “lesser of two evils” tripe, may I counter by saying that neither he (assumption) nor I nor anyone else who thinks Fatman is taking the supporters for a ride believe that SJH and Fat Fred were worthy of being considered “saviours” of this club.

    However just because the last owner was a “robber baron” doesnt mean that we have to accept a scheming, manipulative, megalomaniac as an improvement ?

    PS Before the newly acquired username jimmy3knees responds to my comments above let me say that I wrote that with tongue very firmly in cheek.

    If I had a pound for every comment I have made about Fatman on t’interweb where the response has been “well if you dont like it go support the makems”, I’d have enough money to buy the fat fecker out by now :)

  11. @jimmy3knees moomoo it’s so refreshing seeing something positive! At the eod some people are more concerned in abusing and critisising the board rather doing what actualy matters and that is to support the lads on the pitch! Further i realy like too see if any off them had they the money how much they would invest! On top i very much doubt that any of them neggars would take the verbal abuse say thank u and how many millions do u want me to transfer! Its about time that we actualy stand up for what newcastle united means and that is newcastle U N I T E D and not divided

  12. SJH succeeded in the era before Sky income went massive and players wages with it. So we COULD compete.

    And they walked away with £150m, leaving the stadium mortgaged to the hilt, 5 years season ticket revenue going straight to the bank & £30m owing on transfers.

    NUFC run properly could build revenues to over £100m, and be back in the top six. But the past had to be dealt with first.

    It has been, the future’s brighter. It would have been alot brighter alot earlier if SJH/FFS hadn’t rolled the FCB for £150 out of the club, whatever the cause (bad due diligence or whatever).

  13. flash says:

    “@jimmy3knees moomoo it’s so refreshing seeing something positive! At the eod some people are more concerned in abusing and critisising the board rather doing what actualy matters and that is to support the lads on the pitch!”

    WHERE THE FECK DOES WT’S ARTICLE STATE “WE WILL NOT SUPPORT THE CLUB WHILE FATMAN IS IN CHARGE ??????”

    Get feckin real will you mindless morons !!!!!!

  14. Everyone, no matter what their chosen view, is entitled to an opinion about the Fatman and his slimy sidekick.

    What that does not mean, if you are critical of the current board, is that you dont support the club or the players on the pitch.

    FFS stop making these puerile, immature knee jerk homilies.

  15. Thank god we’re not:

    Man United – them bloody Glazers n’all that debt..
    Chelsea – fecking Russian crook
    Liverpool – going bust
    Aston Villa – More Fecking Yanks
    Wigan – Cant even beat FCB in business
    Everton – they’re broke
    Arsenal – Yet more fecking yanks…
    Spurs – Squad of 300 and still shite
    QPR – the new retirement home for hasbeens needing dosh
    Fulham – the phoney pharoah
    Blackburn – down down deeper & down
    Norwich – Delia Smith, Come on….?!
    5under1and – hahahahahaha – Gyan – hahahahahahahahaha
    etc etc

    Be happy!

  16. Moomoo says:

    “Thank god we’re not:

    Man United – them bloody Glazers n’all that debt..
    Chelsea – fecking Russian crook
    Liverpool – going bust
    Aston Villa – More Fecking Yanks
    Wigan – Cant even beat FCB in business
    Everton – they’re broke
    Arsenal – Yet more fecking yanks…
    Spurs – Squad of 300 and still shite
    QPR – the new retirement home for hasbeens needing dosh
    Fulham – the phoney pharoah
    Blackburn – down down deeper & down
    Norwich – Delia Smith, Come on….?!
    5under1and – hahahahahaha – Gyan – hahahahahahahahaha
    etc etc

    Be happy!”

    ……………….and your point is ?

  17. @ AndyMac says:

    “What that does not mean, if you are critical of the current board, is that you dont support the club or the players on the pitch.”

    Articles on this blog about:

    Mike Ashley: 285
    Derek Lambias: 93
    Collocini: 50
    Cheik Tiote: 39
    Yohan Cabaye: 19
    Leon Best: 36

    So tell me, is this blog about SUPPORTING THE TEAM or slagging the management. QED.

  18. andmac wonder who the moroon is? Is it them who try to find something to moan about everything and anything or are the morons them who try to look on the bright site on dark days? U can stay negative and feel sorry for urself and keep moaning or u just get on with it and try to make best out of a misserable situation!

  19. How anyone allegedly purporting to be a “black and white” can take Fatman and Droopy seriously is way beyond me and this bloke …….

    “Premier League Arbitration Panel Verdict

    It has taken a Premier League Arbitration Panel to confirm what many Newcastle fans have thought for a long time.

    It has been confirmed that those in charge at St James’ Park have lied to the fans and they are quite happy for everyone to know this, Gerald Ratner, you have competition.

    The panel also found that “Kevin Keegan was constructively dismissed by Newcastle United Football Club.” Oh how times have changed since some moron at the club thought that it would be a good idea to make the “Fact” statement on the club website in an attempt to blacken the name of Kevin Keegan”

    What is it that makes some mags blind to the facts ?

  20. I don’t understand the negativity about Ashley. Some of it I’m sure is the xenophobic small minded local fans who cannot see beyond the Tyne at the reality of the world.

    Mike Ashley is a very successful business man who has decided to put his own money into the club. A club that has not won a domestic trophy for over 50 years. A club that is a byword for under achievement and expensive often futile spending on borrowed money. In the same way that the south bankrolls the North East so does Mike Ashley for the local club. Mike Ashley will make our club self financing.

    As Moomoo @ 10 said that if we wanted to make a quick buck there are ‘hundreds’ of ways to do it and the least attractive would probably be buying Newcastle United.

    Football in general and the premiership in particular is big business and every club needs to be financially hardnosed. Under Shepherd the club like the country borrowed money to sustain itself. Now that the bubble has burst, the club like the country (and others in Europe) have to start paying their way and reducing their debt. Fortunately, Mike Ashley is not charging interest on his loans. Nor is he taking money out of the club unlike the previous lot who robbed the club of millions. Oh but that was alright because they were Geordies and they loved football, the fans and the club. Rubbish, they were money grabbing shysters who lined their own pockets from money that was borrowed from the banks and from people who came through the turnstiles.

    In the future Newcastle United will be bought and sold by extremely wealthy individuals or consortiums not necessarily for football reasons but more than likely to support their other businesses which generate their personal wealth. These people will be no different to Mike Ashley. The owners of ManCity are doing it to promote their country. They are not interested in Manchester. The Blackburn owners want to sell more chickens in India. Fans need to get real.

    I’m sure there are fans who would like nothing more than see Ashley pull the plug. Like the Murdochs with the NOTW, Ashley can close the club down anytime he likes.

    Fans should think about that.

  21. moomoo says:

    “So tell me, is this blog about SUPPORTING THE TEAM or slagging the management. QED.”

    Q.E.D. is an initialism of the Latin phrase quod erat demonstrandum, which translates as “which was to be demonstrated”. The phrase is traditionally placed in its abbreviated form at the end of a mathematical proof or philosophical argument when what was specified in the enunciation — and in the setting-out — has been exactly restated as the conclusion of the demonstration.[1] The abbreviation thus signals the completion of the proof.

    So please tell me moomoo (appropriate user name btw and not a brand new one either) what exactly has been demonstrated ?

    I’m here all night :)

  22. andymac question for u have u evdr lied? If not then good on u but if yes why should we take any notice or shall believe what u are saying on here?

  23. flash says:

    “andymac question for u have u evdr lied? If not then good on u but if yes why should we take any notice or shall believe what u are saying on here?”

    Flash have you ever thought that the above tells me you’re happy to be treated like a mushroom ? Lets hope you’re missus or your boyfriend doesnt lie to you regularly :)

  24. Did you read the first line? A quote from you:

    “What that does not mean, if you are critical of the current board, is that you dont support the club or the players on the pitch.”

    Well, and I know this may be difficult for you to comprehend, a blog that spends the vast majority of its time slagging off the management rather than supporting an analysing the team seems to be choosing its priorities.

    You can, of course, slag the board and support the team, it just seems to me that the priority here is the former.

    Glad your google is working for you. Now go and look at the history of NUFC pre 1995, as I doublt you can have been a fan before that.

  25. Id say this site was a place to discuss ALL things Newcastle United …. If the fat one doesn’t like being called names he should muzzle his dog and do the right thing for the team….

  26. moomoo says:

    “Well, and I know this may be difficult for you to comprehend, a blog that spends the vast majority of its time slagging off the management rather than supporting an analysing the team seems to be choosing its priorities”

    Slagging off is your version Moomooooo – constructive criticism is mine !

    Fatman has been proved to be a liar just as Fat Freddie was before him. You may choose to be selective about your heroes whereas I, on the other hand, think they’re both bad for this club !

  27. AndyMac says:
    September 11, 2011 at 10:33 pm

    “It has been confirmed that those in charge at St James’ Park have lied to the fans and they are quite happy for everyone to know this, Gerald Ratner, you have competition.”

    Andy, Gerald Ratner’s downfall came from him telling the truth. I don’t think that will ever be the case with Mike Ashley. :-)

  28. Why can’t people see that Mike Ashley saved Newcastle United?? If he didn’t come along when he did, were would we be now? Sure the board has made some f*** ups over the years but I truly believe they are trying to wrong the rights. Every one who has a brain would have know the club were not going to spend the £35 million in transfers on 2 or 3 players with huge wages further cripple the club! That would be ludicrous! They are doing the right thing in brining in young exciting talent, yeah sure if down the line other clubs would want to buy our players, we would sell if the price is right, just like any other club. They players that we have bought over the past couple of years have outstanding talent and could potentially be world class, if we can prove to the world that Newcastle united is one of the best breading grounds for footballing talent, we would be respected the world over. This would he fantastic for the club. Why would Mike Ashley not want to increase the clubs popularity in the far east and asia? Every other big club in the world does it. Clubs want to increase their popularity the world over, because football is a business and there’s money to be made. The club is on the up no doubt about it, it’s time people got over it and supported the club!

  29. Well, I’m off to somewhere where they talk about football.

    1-2 tomorrow, Sammeobi from the bench for the winner!

  30. uh its getting personal! Is that all u got? Unlike i can answer a qustion i’m pretty sure she tels me the truth not that i m paranoid and question her since there is a thing caled trust! But so much to me u probably dont have a boyf or girlfriend since u are said u going to be here alnight!

  31. Moomoo says:

    “Well, I’m off to somewhere where they talk about football”

    Yep cos you sure didnt talk football on this blog :)

  32. Steady, Belly….!

    Its not quite that good…. remember the FCB and Lambyarse are after all still tossers (even if they have a good business plan) and may yet cock it all up completely again.

  33. AndyMac says:
    September 11, 2011 at 7:27 pm

    Yep some good points JB. However I too wouldnt risk 4-4-2 mainly because in QPR’s three previous games in the BPL Warnock has opted for 4-2-3-1 in all of them.

    Now with his new players, he’s suggesting he’ll give SWP freedom to roam and leave Taarabt on the left and presumably Joey on the right with DJ up front ?

    IMO 4-4-2 would be the wrong choice mainly because two strikers are a luxury we cannot afford at the moment. I’d prefer Tiote to partner Cabaye and use the three midfielders (Gosling, Jonas and Marveaux – if fit ??) to support Best or Ba up front.

    I saw Gosling put in a reasonable shift for the U21′s the other night and he put some decent crosses in from the right. If Marveaux is fit to play I’d see him on the left with Jonas adopting a central, roaming role just behind the striker as IMO he is the nearest player we have to HBA in terms of ability and thought process.

    However the benefit of a flexible midfield three is just that – flexibility. Marveaux can play as an AM and Jonas can play on either wing and Gosling is comfortable on the right or in CM. The key is not to isolate Best or Ba but to use the midfield to combine and become a “front four” when applicable.

  34. Yawn! To some extent I would side with Ashley/Llambias because looking at many blogs some Toon fans have to be the worst moaners in the country, even if a likeable bunch in other ways and 100 times better than the cocky section of fans from Man Utd/Spurs etc etc.

    Well, I’d probably be somewhere between Llambias’ answer and this article because probably neither is altogether correct.

    For any level-headed Toon fan, it’s probably best not to read these blogs because most of it is anorak-y angst and pure whingeing.

    I hope Pardew stays with us longer term, and don’t especially mind if Ashley does just so long as we don’t ever get owners like Chelsea and Man City.

  35. “However the benefit of a flexible midfield three is just that – flexibility”

    Deep man, deep.

    BTW I agree Gosling had a good game at U21, far better than his headless chicken vs Scunthorpe. Marveaux unknown but gotta be better than Lovenkrands…..

    He may well start with Raylor in MF… if Santon starts.

  36. Kamar@25 “The owners at Man City are doing it to promote their country”?
    Yes and they’ve already won one cup and look a good bet to challenge for the Premiership title this season (and the next. and the next..)
    Ashley, on the other hand, is doing it to promote his company and looks a knocking bet to win us bu***r all.
    I know which one I’d prefer.

  37. Twas reported earlier on blog.com.

    You kinda wonder how this has happened since CH left ? Ranger was potentially a future first team regular when CH was in charge and now…………….

  38. Sikovash says:

    “Kamar@25 “The owners at Man City are doing it to promote their country”?
    Yes and they’ve already won one cup and look a good bet to challenge for the Premiership title this season (and the next. and the next..)
    Ashley, on the other hand, is doing it to promote his company and looks a knocking bet to win us bu***r all.
    I know which one I’d prefer”

    http://www.badum-tish.com/

  39. @sikovash,

    Well thats how much SJH & FFS fecked things up for us. If the debts hadn’t been so bad, do you think these mega investors really would have gone for Man City etc over NUFC?

    They looked, said feck me what a mess no thanks and walked away.

  40. Soz, didnt realise it had been posted before, been to a charity do for most of the day and not long been in :D

  41. I think that the morons who support Mike Ashley are either wind up merchants, or they are his lackeys. Anyone can see what he is doing to the club.

    A list of questions put to him recently was a complete waste of time; we all knew the answers before he did.

    Actions speak louder than words – all of his actions to date smack of asset stripping prior to a sale. Let us all hope that it comes sooner rather than later.

  42. Moomoo says:

    “Well thats how much SJH & FFS fecked things up for us. If the debts hadn’t been so bad, do you think these mega investors really would have gone for Man City etc over NUFC?

    They looked, said feck me what a mess no thanks and walked away.”

    Nothing to do with Fatman then who happened to be in charge at the time ?

  43. Here’s a question for ya squabblers on the hierarchy, their motivations,and the best way to show our ‘appreciation’ of their efforts:

    Did anybody see the Bournemouth manager getting heckled by the fans as he walked across the pitch on sat? (they’re on poor form, despite a great season before)….He grabbed the tanoy mic and started shouting sh*t back at the crowd!!

    Now, if next home game, the fans all started shouting anti-ashley songs, possibly with even greater venom to show their voice wont be quelled, what would would happen is ashley grabbed the mic and told everyone to go f*ck off?

    There’d be a riot.

    The club suffers.

  44. @bill:

    I think that the morons who are obsessed with Mike Ashley are either wind up merchants, or they are sunderland fans. Anyone can see what they are doing to the club.

    A list of questions put to them recently was a complete waste of time; we all knew the answers before they did.

    Actions speak louder than words – all of their actions to date smack of glory hunting prior to a switch to supporting Man U. Let us all hope that it comes sooner rather than later.

  45. Regarding the debt MA inherited. A stadium the size of SJP costs money to build, and you pay it back over a number of years. The problem MA had was that he didn’t realise that once the place was sold the debt becomes payable just like buying a house, D’oh.

  46. Dont worry bill they probably dont care enough to comment after 11 pm. Too busy playing on their consoles, you know what kids are liike :lol:

  47. The club Is being run a lot better than most clubs in the prem. We are I’m good shape with some exciting players, we’ve had a great start to the season that will not continue with all this negativity towards the board.
    I hope Tiote breaks Bartons leg tomorrow, only joking. 2-1 to the toon. HWTL!

  48. i personally agree ashley is running the place as a business venture, but that should a t least make us financially stable in the future…and as long as we have a good scout in Carr, good manager in Pards, then hopefully it’ll all come together alreet on the pitch.

    as to monday, love to see Marv start, in a 4-2-3-1, with Best up top.

    previous article has Santon as defo bench starter, really? i guess it helps to sit the 1st one out, but i’d love to see him play.

  49. Belly says:

    “The club Is being run a lot better than most clubs in the prem. We are I’m good shape with some exciting players, we’ve had a great start to the season that will not continue with all this negativity towards the board”

    What is it with you fecking people :)

    Continual criticism of the Fatman will lead irrevocably to relegation ???? I never knew that :)

  50. Not a problem for me to support ManU; I’ve lived in Manchester for most of my life, and my family have always supported ManU, but I used to travel to Newcastle until this arsehole took over and sacked KK. I will return when he leaves.

    Unlike a lot of people I don’t hate other clubs as I’m a football fan, and in my opinion clubs should be owned by their fans, thats why I support fans trusts, no matter which club they are from.

  51. bill says:

    “in my opinion clubs should be owned by their fans, thats why I support fans trusts, no matter which club they are from”

    One day bill, one day !!!

  52. “Another important question relates to stadium sponsorship; Llambias originally stated in the 2009/10 season that the club would “showcase Sports Direct until the end of the season” and that any money from stadium sponsorship would go “straight to the team”. Two years on and St. James’ Park has become increasingly covered in Sports Direct logos, while another transfer window has passed with zero net expenditure on transfers.”

    http://flair20.com/2011/09/11/debt-liars-and-derek-llambias/

  53. The perfect word for Mike Ashley is “Huckster” which is someone who sells cheap and shoddy goods, often using aggressive, showy, and sometimes devious and dishonest methods to promote or sell his wares.

  54. Milner says:
    September 12, 2011 at 12:12 am

    “worky, at least we dont have a Jacko statue out the front.”

    Wait until we get the Mike Ashley statue Milner. They’ll need alot of bronze like!

  55. @andymac
    I seem to remember Barton trying to f*** up our season by getting on side of the moronic Newcastle fans by slaggin off the club on twatter, what must the new recruits think of their new employers after his ridiculous out bursts. He was just a bitter man because the club didn’t give him the stupid contract he wanted. If people carry on supporting and agreeing with these rediculous articles and carry on with negativity towards to board it will transmit to the players and disrupt our season.

  56. Workyticket- so u agree having an owner that’s financially savey is a Good thing for any football club with a future? It’s just that “so long as they aren’t trash who are constantly attempting to mislead their customers, and cheapen something which has been a much loved local institution for well over a hundred years” is what ur problem is with ashley? Is it safe to boil ur argument down to that?

    Ok- so beyond the mass hysteria of perceive knowledge that is all over this and several other blogs, where exactly is the concrete evidence that the board has mislead the fans? I’ve read enough conjecture already in the last 5 years on this already so spare me that, PLEASE… wheres this terrible damning evidence that going end our tiny little geordieworld? (Good idea for a theme park?!) And quoting the premier league board of arbitration like their some agenda free last word on everything, just isn’t enough mate. The only evidence I see is the morons mantra that- if enough people say it’s true, often enough and with enough emotion and hatred, then it has to be true and every fecker actually believes it- Madness. Proper madness.

    The only thing the truly cheapens our club at the minute is this very arguement, and it causing a really ugly split between the fans.

    The real problem I think is people are so entrenched in their hatred for this guy, that they’re just not seeing anything rationally. It Good to see some people starting to question this mentality though. And who knows, if ice melts just a bit more with the board, there could be a bit more dialogue and communication. Personally I wouldn’t if I was them to be honest… too many articles like this one and too many stubborn idiots with their heads desperately jammed squarely between keegan cheeks. And I love the man …but not that much … ashley didn’t get it right with kev, after that I’m really not sure what the f.ck the fuss is about. Give it a rest ffs.

  57. Mike Ashley saved us… :-)

    Nope, don’t think he did. Even if Newcastle had gone under, the club would still exist, no matter how much Llambias says otherwise.

    Mike Ashley is not a hero, he really should start communicating with fans and he and Llambias need to stop acting like fcking children because “the fans are critical of us”… They’re like a pair of little 10 year old girls.

    It’s so obvious the club was bought to promote Sports Direct, why else would their logos be everywhere around the ground. I doubt he purchased the club because he “loves football” either. The stadium re name has also been a load of bollocks, I thought they were only ‘showcasing’ it?

    Once his debt has been paid off, he’ll be gone and we will most likely have another owner to bitch about.

    I thought Ashley actually has made the debt worse overall? Also, how the fck has our wage bill have increased by 7%?

  58. jimmy3knees says:
    September 12, 2011 at 12:26 am

    jimmy3knees, in the world of logical fallacies, your last comment is something which is known as a “Straw Man argument”

    You seek to simplify and distort my real position, ascribe quotes and other points to myself which I didn’t make, then seek to attack that position instead of the real position. It’s a poorly set trap and it doesn’t work.

  59. Wage bill went up 7% coz Shola was given a massive pay raise because he outscored Torres, Defoe and Crouch in the last 6 month of last year.

  60. Workyticket- I asked u a direct question. Is that a straw man’s argument? As for misquoting u I refer u to reply 11 …It’s a direct copy and paste, if I’ve made a mistake somehow in that then ill humbly apologise …but It’s no trap, I’m trying to cut the through all the sh.t, not create more.

  61. Also interestingly, some moan about people not talking about “the football”, yet they have not saw fit to comment or write about the up coming game tomorrow… Hmmm.

  62. Jimmy3knees, for a start, where did I quote the Premier League Board of Arbitration? And where did I write that Mike Ashley was “going to end our tiny little geordieworld?”

    And where is the direct question which isn’t “loaded” in some way?

  63. And Jimmy3knees, where did I suggest that the Premier League Board of Arbitration were an “agenda free last word on everything”?

    I seem to recall that the board of Abitration I suspect your referring to were Judges anyway if you referring to the Keegan tribunal?

  64. Worky- I apologise for the prem board of arbitration reference not being urs. The actual quote I used was yours though. And the question was simple- where is the actual evidence that the board deliberately mislead everyone so badly? How is that loaded? B’cos u and I both know there isn’t anything concrete and its meerly opinion when u strip away the emotion of the argument? …maybe …just guessing ;)

  65. Paul in Hollywood says:
    September 11, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    “On the other side of the coin, if Mike Ashley wants be able to tout his gear to the Far East, Near East, and even the North East, he will need to make NUFC a leading Premiership club that is being watched by millions around the globe, and gain a reputation for playing attractive football with a few star players. Being lower down the league and possibly even a Championship side will not achieve his objectives. I am sure his savvy business nature is aware of this.”

    Paul, sorry I didn’t get back to you earlier. I had to go out for a minute, then I got caught up in something else.

    It’s an interesting question. I’ve been to several countries in Asia, and all the Premier League teams are featured at home at some time or another, for a start, they all have to play the Man Us and the Chelseas etc.

    Of course it would be much better to gain exposure through one of the big four, five or six teams who also play in Euro competition. However the amoounts they invest in their teams nowadays is huge in comparison, so where does the line end in terms of return on investment?

  66. jimmy3knees says:
    September 12, 2011 at 1:16 am

    “Worky- I apologise for the prem board of arbitration reference not being urs. The actual quote I used was yours though.”

    Aye Jimmy, one was, but in that you are trying to “boil my argument” (to use your own expression) down to one simple sentence before adding adding a load of other false presumptions. Thankyou for the apology though. If I could have boiled it down to one sentence, I wouldn’t have written the ‘blog, and quite a few others too!

    There are so many examples of the Ashley and Llambias misleading the fans, I hardly even know where to start!

  67. i just hope ashley doesnt grab the mic like the Bournemouth boss, and start getting verbal with the crowd:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M5B0DurSAg

    Those are some ugly scenes i’d not like to see at SJP.sports.direct.com/asia_casinoworld=savethechildren.co.net.profit/striptease.toon

    i also think ashleys a dangerous c*nt, who’d run the club into the ground if pushed too hard.*

    *maybe i’m just a coward!

  68. my mate told me a story once about ashley, doing just that kind of petulant cash bashing of those that he sees as peasants, and it’d make ur tits shudder.

    all i care about now is Carr, Pards, The Team.

  69. How are you all awake this late? I am in Chicago where it is only 8pm.

    Born in Newcastle and will follow NUFC through thick and thin and Ashley, or whoever comes next.

    Will watch the match at a “soccer” pub around the corner with a couple of Yank NUFC fans – why they would choose NUFC is beyond me.

    There Jimbob, that was sort of about the game, but mainly about me!

  70. Milner says:
    September 12, 2011 at 1:45 am

    “i just hope ashley doesnt grab the mic like the Bournemouth boss, and start getting verbal with the crowd:”

    He looks like he could be Pardew’s dad Milner. I could imagine Pardew deein’ that when Newcastle United finally sends him radgie!

  71. GS says:
    September 12, 2011 at 2:04 am

    “How are you all awake this late? I am in Chicago where it is only 8pm.”

    There does seem to be quite alot of Geordies over there GS.

    As for myself, my Broadband was down earlier due to “maitainence issues” so I’m catching up now.

    Were George Washington’s parents Geordies or Mackems?

  72. Worky:

    I don’t know, isn’t Washington about half way between the two cities?

    Nobody over here knows what a worky ticket is though. Or a clart.

  73. GS says:
    September 12, 2011 at 2:25 am

    “Worky:

    I don’t know, isn’t Washington about half way between the two cities?”

    Aye GS. Heather Mills was from Washington, but she’s definitely a Mackem! :-)

    I was born in Gosforth but raised in Durham City mostly, a beautiful, historic city which is renowned as a seat of learning, so I count that as Geordie! Some Geordie fundamentalists say that you have to be born on the north side of the Tyne to be a “true” Geordie, but we claim Joseph Swann, the inventor of the electric lightbulb, even though he was born in the very oldest part of Sunderland. He had his shop in Newcastle and he lived in Gateshead though.

  74. Worky:

    I lived in Newcastle ’til I was 20 then Munich, London, Chicago. I know a bit about the heritage of the North East – even been to Beamish (sp?) Museum and the Bagpipe Museum in the New-Castle (school trips).

    I lived in Seaton Burn, 6 miles North, and was back there last year when it snowed.

    My bestest friend from College is from Weshington and I saw her in London when I was back.

    I miss Newcastle sometimes, but where I grew up is dead. Old mining village and anybody with any get-up-and-go, got-up-and-went.

    It is good to have this sort of thing to stay connected, so thanks for doing it.

  75. GS says:
    September 12, 2011 at 3:01 am

    Aye, I’ve been in London since the ‘nineties and I certainly travelled a bit. The first local I met in India was a mad Toon fan! I’ve even met Cambodians who followed the lads.

    I’m a grumpy old man now, I despair of the modern world sometimes, but my favourite memories of Newcastle was being taken to meet Supermac by my brother in law when he had his shop in the Newgate Arcade. I loved the old city by the river and the Central Arcade. It was like the big city for me back then. I really love Durham City too, it’s such a beautiful and interesting place. I still get up for games but I don’t take much in apart from that really. I love London though because the whole world is here and I agree with Samuel Johnson:

    “When a man is tired of London he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”

    Nee botha GS. I wish we got more feedback like that!

  76. Please shut up YOU MORON! You have taken, not even, half an answer and used it to exaggerate your side of the story (like every monekey brained jurno out there)!!!

    I’m 22 and believe i have more common sense than you have ever have or ever will do in your life. This article SHOULD, but unfortunatley doesn’t, emmbarrase every member of the TOON ARMY.

    Personally I do not have 280 MILLION quid to invest in the club but if i did i would rather have spent it on having your mouth sown up and your fingers for typing “dissappered”.

    OMFG FMA wants to expand his BUINESS’S sports direct AND NUFC into a global market, you mention ASIA (the biggest market for the Premiership outside Europe) PlEaSe get a grip?!?!?!?!

    You try, pathetically may i add, to blame relegation on Ashley? Are you and any other mis-guided soul out there in touch with the real world??? I doubt it severely! Probably the people who stand out side St James’ when the SKY camera’s are rolling!

    The Fat Controller has control of the club and is going to run it the way he wants weather it is the way you, I, or any other fan may want it run. But he is keeping us from going under (any idea how much longer it would have taken Hall and Shepherd to run our beloved club into the ground) selling off older players…

    E.G.
    Nolan [(c)at Bolton] < Cabaye [(c) Lille a double winning squad last year and in the CL this year]

    … for better younger players.

    There is NOTHING we can do as fans but support the team 200% as per usual. And until you, or anyone else who reads your tripe, have the money to dislodge Ashley, and change the way things are run, please keep your moronic, idiotic opinions to yourself!

    Gullible Geordie fan base? I believe we are mental and we are mad, but you are as deluded as your comments very prove you to be!

    END OF RANT

  77. Worky:

    been back to London more times than Newcastle. I always notice how busy it is even though I live in a very big city.

    I enjoy the back and forth on here and Ed’s blog. I have said on Ed’s blog that everything about Newcastle is not black and white. Everything seems to get polarized on blogs, but usually in the end people can appreciate the other point of view and be civil, except for that BELLEND Mr. Marley.

    What I don’t get are the articulate and interesting posters who just disagree a bit but resort to namecalling.

    I think it is just the passion that the club generates causes people to get carried away now and again.

    I hope Mr. Marley gets the irony, but I doubt it.

  78. I think the sooner we accept Mike Ashley as our owner and show him some appreciation, albeit reluctant, albeit a token, the better things will be for NUFC. I agree with those on this post who understand that it’s Time Out for those who are constantly hurling abuse at Mike Ashley. Guys, it’s futile and it’s over. Recognize that things aren’t too bad on Tyneside. Whatever Mike Ashley’s real motives and intentions are, he knows full well that he needs a successful team on the pitch and he is doing what he believes it takes to bring that about without going broke in the process. If, for saying such a thing, brands me a Mackem…. well, you’re wrong. I am not a Mackem. I am NUFC through and through and have been for 40 years. HWTL!

  79. Worky @ 101

    I was born in the North East but left when I was 19 to seek fame and fortune elsewhere neither of which I achieved but your post made me think (dangerous I know) about what is the percentage of people on this blog who live in the North East and those like myself who are Geordie expats.

    From what I have read of those who say they no longer live in the North East I get the impression that they tend to have a slightly different view of the club.

    BTW, I lived in London for 10 years and loved it. This year I had a holiday in London and it was brilliant. It is without doubt the greatest city on the planet. The last time I went back to the North East I couldn’t get away quick enough. The places I knew as a lad now looks run down and the people look poor and shabby. Very sad.

  80. I lived in Suffolk for five years and returned recently. I thoroughly enjoyed my time down their but coming back home is like winning the pools. No way is the place run down it has flourished over the past ten years and the people are worth coming home for. From what I read Kamar you have forgotten your roots. I did extremely well job wise but I will never forget my roots, who I am and where I come from. My accent never changed and people took me for the person I was a fanatical Geordie who loved Newcastle.

  81. Freddie @ 108

    You make wild unfounded assumptions. You have lived for 5 years outside of the North East whereas I have lived 43 years outside. Not alot changes in 5 years unlike 43 years.

    The North East town I lived in for 19 years is now a run down dump. Perhaps it always was but I never noticed it when I lived there. Once you live in many places around the world you cannot help but compare it. Newcastle itself has improved beyond belief compared to the 60s when I used to go to the A Gogo.

    I agree with GS @ 100 that anybody with any get-up-and-go, got-up-and-went. I am now happily retired in my villa overlooking the Med.

    But once a Geordie always a Geordie.

  82. worky every body has an angle, even you, throw in an inflammatory article watch the blog fill up- get over it your boring and devisive!!

  83. @Kamar – I’ve lived outside Toon for last 26 years, first in London and then on the South coast. I love going back to the toon, how can you say it looks run down compared to what it was – don’t you remember the old quayside!! the shitty co-op building etc etc
    London looks a lot more run down than when I moved here and there are def more no-go areas, if you want to see a run down city come to Brighton, great place to live but it looks shabby as fook

  84. btw: don’t agree with the article, Ashley and Llambias are complete twats but they were right to get rid of Nolan, Barton and co, we have a much younger and quicker squad, if we’d bought a decent striker I would have said it was the best transfer window in 10 years – be interesting to see what happens with Collo and Jonas next season, we could poss survive without Jonas but Collo is a rock and deserves his wages

  85. Nice one Mr Marley!

    Worky- To continue to accuse me of over simplification is frankly hilarious and down right hypocritical. Re-read your own article mate, it’s riddled with half-truths and massive simplifications.

    You still haven’t answered a direct question, and sadly i fear your ‘examples’ will be the usual non-fact based opinion that I’m talking about. I’m sorry mate, but i stick by what i said- when you take the emotion out of the argument, there’s isn’t any definitive evidence that PROVES MA & DL have mis-lead the fans.

    I’d like to ask this question- When does the witchhunt get called off and go back to a more healthy rational and logic based critque of how our club is run? B’cos surely there has to be a point when people such as yourself (or vice versa in my case if it really doesnt work in the next few year) will hold there hands up and say ok, maybe Ashely is actually quite good for this club …

    A top 8 finish?

    A top 6 finish?

    Champions League?

    Sadly i suspect we’d have to actually form a ‘geordie nation’ and win the world cup before some people moderated there views and start to begrudgingly admit that MA might, just MIGHT know what he’s doing …

    Ill say it again. Utter madness.

    Calm down, support the team AND the club and rip it out any mates you have that are hard line MA haters.

  86. I think everything that can be said by pro and anti- Ashley supporters has been said on this and many other blogs to the point of boredom.
    Unfortunately, and ultimately, it comes down to the pro- Ashley fans just accepting whatever crap he wants to throw at them and a team that has no chance of ever winning anything as opposed to the anti-Ashley fans (of which I count myself as one) who want the team to be attractive and competitive in the Premiership.
    I would have thought the last option was what ALL NUFC supporters want but it seems that some just want “balanced books” and reassurance from Uncle Mike that we’ll still be here long after all those nasty big teams have gone under. FAT CHANCE!!

  87. fourfouroneone @ 111

    I lived in West Sussex for 20 years and worked in Brighton for 8 years. I liked the place. Lots of character. Great pubs and restaurants especially down the Lanes. There are some rough places I agree but also some nice places, but I didn’t want to live there choosing a lovely village in the Downs instead.

    I am being very specific by saying that the town I was brought up in is now a complete dump. That cannot be said about all the North East. Some places have improved beyond belief like Newcastle itself but other places have remained depressed and rundown.

    Fortunately Northumberland is still wonderful and a treasure.

  88. @kamar – think thats old age catching up with you mate – if you’re idea of heaven is living somewhere like Ditchling or the like, great for a visit for Sunday Lunch but dull as fook to live there

  89. btw – 2004 was the last time we had an attractive team that could qualify for champions league – we’ve been less than mediocre ever since

  90. I gotta say, we are the best fans in the world. We argue about this club, because we care. We are all right, and all wrong, we only want the best for the stars in stripes. Personally Im torn. I think ashley has intentions that are more self preservation with his own company than the club which disturbs me a lot. He has put money into the club and changed the wage structure which is financially sensible, considering what we all pay to watch at SJP but it bothers me. However I am worried. His lack of Correspondence is very dodgy indeed kind of secretive,. Also, Love him or hate him , Getting KK shifted out by Transfers and Wise..etc was a big mistake and sneaky he didn’t understand. Because he just doesn’t get it. SBR, KK, JH, and even Chris H. Understood this. I hope Pard sticks up for himself , his hands are tied its a shame. Gotta remember though, these are not the 70s 80s when we stood there at our crappy ground with depression, but unfortunately even though we hate it, Its Modern business making money. Thank God we are still here in the Prem. Keep the Faith..

  91. worky wheres my last blog gone ? As said get a life everybody has an angle yours is this blog and the utter trip yo

  92. worky whats wrong with telliin you your standards are slipping eg repetative and unimaginative stop editing the blog let people see all comments

  93. Never sure if I love your opinions or hate them Worky. But this time I think you’ve taken words out of my mouth with this blog, (I’m not accusing you of plagiarism, mind.)

    For Jimmy3legs to ask when he’s been proven to lie, and then disregard the fact that a panel of her majesty’s judges that proved the Ashley regime of systematically failing to tell the truth at every opportunity is a bit strange. However if you choose to take that fact out of the equation the evidence is blurred but still there in my opinion.

    If I had one cockney sports shop owner saying one thing about Newcastle United, and Kevin Keegan and Alan Shearer, who I don’t despute may be be regarded as disgruntled former employees, I still going to side with the latter two. I’m sorry! Maybe that’s my media manipulated messiah syndrome creeping out.

    Or maybe.. just maybe, it’s my sense of judgement in siding with two of the most honourable men I’ve ever had the pleasure of being associated with the club I love.

    I’d love to proven wrong at the end of the season. But balance books aside, who really believes the club is in a better position going into this season than it was last season? And who thinks we are in a good boat to jump from to push for trophies in the next 3-5 years?

    I can’t see any hands going up from where I’m sitting.

  94. fluke says:
    September 12, 2011 at 1:51 pm

    “stop editing the blog let people see all comments”

    fluke, I don’t have a clue what’s happened with your comment.I looked for it and it wasn’t in any of the usual places.

  95. Toonie1949 @ 123

    ‘…Kamar – Please explain how the ‘South’ bankrolls the North East….’

    The Office of National Statistics figures in 2011 show that the north-east had the highest percentage of workless households, with a quarter of homes in the area falling into this category.

    There are more people in the North East receiving government hand-outs than any other place in England.

    The North East as an area that cannot support itself financially because there are too few commercial enterprizes generating wealth and paying taxes and too many people paying little or no taxes and needing money from central government to live.

    The opposite is true of the south which pays more taxes than anywhere else and without which the North East (and other deprived areas of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) couldn’t survive. This is the argument against Scottish independence because Scotland is heavily subsidized by the UK government and without this English money things over the borders would look a lot different, mainly poorer.

    Hope this helps.

  96. Funny how we have a thread with a topic of “Fatman and vulture capitalism” with 125 posts on it. Yet Jimbobs equally well thought out review of the QPR game has a measly 15 comments.

    Almost every single article on this blog, that chooses to take a stand against the Fatman, results in long absent posters crawling out from behind their usual haunts just to disparage and denigrate.

    Good news is at least on this blog you get the opportunity to say whatever you like – however ill conceived it may be. Whereas a certain other site, not too far away from this one, bans people like me for daring to choose an opposing view :)

    The fact that so many new user names appear so rapidly on these threads could be down to the wide reach of this blog or could be linked to the Fatman’s spin team who never cease to stop trying to tell us what we should be thinking :)

    I spent almost ten years in opposition to the last twatttt who failed to run this club properly. People tried to convince me that I was the one out of step because Freddie always backed his Manager’s with money and Hollywood signings. Yet now, strangely, there are almost no FFS and SJH supporters around to take up the fight on their behalf ?

    So ten years on the name has changed but the misguided ones still rant away arguing that criticising the board is akin to dumping on the pitch and spitting in the eye of each and every player. I suppose when the Fatman finally departs the pro Ashley supporters will disappear into the night just as quickly ?

    As I said earlier there are NUFC blogs where “toeing the company line” is the norm. Maybe you guys should try seeking those places out so you can all join hands together and sing the praises of the Fatman and his worthless assistant until the cows come home. Ah but there’s no point in that because they’ve already been “converted” haven’t they ?

  97. Andymac three questions

    1. Name a Newcastle chairman in the last 50 years you respect and admire.
    2. Name another club chairman you respect and admire.
    3. Name the last month when you weren’t critisising the board.
    4. Explain the point of all your incessant shite (in less than 100 words, with usual bollox about allother fans being clueless, how much you actually support the team etc.
    5. F*** off and get a life!