Hughton: "Nothing in it".Newcastle United manager, Chris Hughton, has reacted to specious tabloid stories stating that Newcastle United players were to be rewarded with a pay cut if the club achieve promotion at the end of the season.
Somewhat ironically, the interview appeared in Newcastle rag, the Journal, which is a sister paper of one of the tabloids that were spreding the false story in the first place, The Mirror. The club’s Managing Director, Derek Llambias also came out to scotch the rumours, saying that there was “no truth whatsoever” in the story.
Hughton meanwhile, who as most Newcastle and Tottenham fans know is usually a very calm and measured character, was reported to be “clearly annoyed” by the media guff, and his words indicated that it was a distraction that he would not allow to affect the squad as they chase a return to the Premiership. He said:
“That financial story is not particularly helpful,” (more…)
Llambias: Stiff defence.Newcastle United’s Managing Director, Derek Llambias has once again mounted a stiff defence of the club’s owner, Mike Ashley. He reiterated that the club has now moved well away from the ‘trophy’ signings of the Shepherd era, and more towards the development of younger talent. Llambias also raised the spectre of Portsmouth’s current financial situation as a warning once again, heavily hinting that Newcastle may have gone the similar way if the decadance of the Shepherd years were allowed to continue.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Llambias made comments on a this theme recently, and he he seems to be on some kind of ‘counter offensive’ on behalf of Mike Ashley, himself, and their current stewardship of Newcastle United. He elaborates further in this interview though, and he began by contrasting the old model with the new, saying:
“We have to take a realistic view. Hopefully we will be there (in the Premier League) and we will have to have a squad that will keep us there. But that needs to grow.”
Hinting at the decadence of the Shepherd years and many previous, poorly negotiated contracts for players, he went on: (more…)
Llambias and Ashley the "Saviour".Newcastle United’s Managing Director, Derek Llambias has hit back at what he described as “a small and very negative group” who “insist on chanting ugly and abusive comments” directed at the club’s Southern owner, Mike Ashley. He also added that “If it wasn’t for Mike’s continued input, we would be in a similar position to Portsmouth.” Of course, Portsmouth are a club who are currently under Administration, and have even faced the threat of complete extinction in recent weeks.
Indeed, Newcastle United did find themselves in a very difficult financial situation after years of financial mismanagement and misappropriation of funds by previous chairmen, Sir John Hall and Freddy Shepherd, with the situation coming to a head when Ashley found over £100 million of hidden debt after taking over the club without performing adequate “Due Diligence” on the club’s accounts. (more…)
Brrrr...Derek Llambias, our much-maligned Managing Director, has been running his mouth off again and has revealed that Newcastle United are no longer for sale and claims fans are beginning to come around to owner Mike Ashley’s way of thinking.
It’s a somewhat surprise statement really as surely any hint of a sale was ended back in October when the club was taken off the market for a second time after again failing to find a buyer, but Derek Llambias believes Ashley is now beginning to show just how committed he is to the Newcastle cause.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, PR disaster Llambias had this to say about Ashley’s commitment to the team: (more…)
Howay the New Year!This time ten years ago, we were staring into a brand new millenium and the late great Sir Bobby Robson was halfway through the first season of his popular reign as manager at Newcastle United. The slightly uninspiring capture of Diego Gavilan was the only January transfer that Robson made and the little Paraguayan never made the impact he would have hoped for at St James’. Sir Bobby, conversely, went on to create one of the most exciting sides of a Toon generation.
Despite falling short as Keegan had done back in the ’90s, with his wealth of experience, Robson played a brand of football that the supporters could once again get behind. And the football wasn’t just good to watch but effective as we flirted with European and domestic success. But of course, the end of his reign was somewhat soured by it’s nature as many fans welcomed the decision feeling he’d lost the dressing room, and he was unceremoniously dumped by Freddy Shepherd.
2000 actually saw Robson get rid of one of our most infamous and old-fashioned bad-boys, Duncan Ferguson, but the new millenium brought the advent of a new type of bad-boy. The ‘noughties’ became the decade of the ‘naughties’ as Robson built his side around ‘bling boys’, such as the likes of Keiron Dyer, Jermaine Jenas, Titus Bramble and Craig Bellamy. (more…)
