The Perfect Job! – Graham Carr Signs on for 8 Years
Posted on June 7th, 2012 | 81 Comments |
And of course when you’re not away on United business, you can watch the mighty Magpies – without having to buy a seasons ticket!
Graham Carr has just signed a new contract with Newcastle United for the next 8 years! This is excellent news for Newcastle United fans everywhere. Graham, of course, has been digging up diamonds for the Toon ever since he came here. Apparently, he got a phone call from Derek Llambias asking if he could pop in and chat to Mike Ashley about transfer targets. This invitation turned into numerous chats over a few days, then Graham was hit with the contract offer! According to the NUFC Official website, he signed on the spot!
There is an interview with Graham on the Official Site here – Graham Carr – Here For The Long Haul”, and Graham’s delight at being offered the contract is there for all to see. One thing that has worried United fans recently has been – never mind which players might be leaving – what happens if one of these so-called big clubs comes in for Graham Carr? Well, read the interview in the link folks – it’s clear that Graham loves his present job and he’s going nowhere! It’s also clear that he has excellent working relationships with Mike Ashley, Derek Llambias, Lee Charnley and Alan Pardew.
One of the key messages that comes out of Graham’s interview is that, not only is he “here for the long haul”, but he seems to think that so is Mike Ashley. But the key message is that there is a plan, a strategy for keeping United at the top table of the English Premier League. Quote from Graham’s interview:
“I think he wants stable staff at the club. He wants them to hopefully be here for the long haul.
And I think that’s really important. A stable manager – because Alan has a long-term contract here too – his staff, and my staff too, all staying together and taking the club forward.
Last season we finished fifth and that might not be possible every year, but with continuity and stability hopefully we can keep on that circle.”
Presumably stability also means the playing staff, which translates into no massive turnover of players, especially where they are key to taking the club to where the owner wants to be.
That might come as a surprise to some fans. We never really know what is in the mind of our owner as he rarely speaks publicly to fans or the media to give any indication of his views or intentions. But in some ways, that’s part of his style. As Newcastle United fans we have, over the years, been subjected to all sorts of promises about where various people were going to take us, and have then been crushed as things collapsed. I exclude the Hall/Keegan era from that statement because we went so, so close – and Sir John left us the legacy of this massive, modern stadium, St James’ Park.
These days, we have an owner who says little, but quietly goes about his business. Ever heard the old adage “Judge them not by their words but by their actions”? Well in the early days of the current regime we judged their actions to be appalling. The appointment of Dennis Wise – a figure of hate with many United fans, the admission of lying to the fans, the treatment of Sir Kevin Keegan, the treatment of Sir Alan Shearer etc, etc.
But maybe, just maybe, Mike Ashley & chums learned from those mistakes. Their actions in the last two years have bounced us back to where we belong as one of the biggest clubs in the country. And the award of this contract to Graham Carr, and the views expressed by Graham himself about where he believes our beloved club are heading, means we should maybe just sit back and enjoy the ride :)
Poll
“Presumably stability also means the playing staff, which translates into no massive turnover of players, especially where they are key to taking the club to where the owner wants to be.”
Why? Wouldn’t it be more likely to be the opposite? ie signing a chief scout for another eight years to keep finding replacements for all the players moving on.