Is Mike Ashley Harder Than Alan Sugar?
So Mike Ashley is close to completing his takeover of Newcastle United and a new era at St James's Park is dawning or breaking, whatever.
Here comes the financial bit - Ashley has, through his company St.James' Holdings, acquired just over 77% of the club's shares. That now provides Ashley with the platform to buy all the shares and de-list the company from the Stock Exchange, with a date of July 18 circulating around the City.
Good job, I've never believed football and the City belong together and neither, it seems, do the billionaires buying their way into the game to take clubs back into private ownership.
We don't know much about Ashley, other than he is a hugely successful businessman with a history in sport manufacturing and retail. It would be nice if we knew a bit more and, once the takeover is complete, hopefully he will use the local media to communicate his ideas to the club's fans.
For example, what power does chairman Freddie Shepherd still have? Has Sam Allardyce now got the same sort of financial muscle as Chelsea and Manchester United? Will he expand the stadium? Whose his favourite player? Will he consider a pink away kit like Juventus?
Did he play football as a kid? If so what position? Does he like other sports? What does he make of Lewis Hamilton?
Where does he go on holiday? Why didn't he appear in the Dragon's Den? Is he a better businessman than Alan Sugar? Could he beat Alan in an arm wrestle? Has he got a spare couple of million to invest in Leyton Orient as well?
But for now, I'd just like to say hello and good luck. I think the vast majority of supporters welcome the takeover and are excited about what it means for the future of the club.
It feels like a good time to be a Newcastle supporter again, let's just hope the feeling is right this time because I reckon United supporters have suffered more false dawns than anyone.
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Luke Edwards - is Chief Sports Writer of The Journal and uses his blog to give a unique and entertaining insight into events at Newcastle United and Sunderland.
Lets face it Luke he can't be as useless as the present lot can he.
We have already heard through the grapevine that he intends to increase the stadium capacity ( l would prefer a new 80,000 seater stadium with decent parking and road/metro links in place, and lower prices to attend.)
It would also be reasonable to expect some leg and arm room, not crammed in like sardines.
If Ashley takes it steadily and does not get caught up in the player's inflationary wage cycle ( £80,000 a week for average player) and lower prices to get the kids in, he will be on a winner.
It is shocking our national sport is being hi-jacked unintentionally by players inflated wages when it could be diverted into better facilities for supporters at lower costs.
Luke, I know you don't support Newcastle but instead prefer the once mighty Leyton Orient and I am an ardent follower of the theory that sports journalists should support the team that they write about.
This is mainly because it gives that extra biasism towards the team, which in an area like this, with the limited success we have had, biasism can only be beneficial. It only adds a bit of spice I think.
I know you will respond with 'journalists are supposed to be objective' but hand on heart I have never met any who actually are.
I don't mean this post to detract from your writings as you really are an extremely good writer.
But Please, please, please don't even mention 'pink away shirts' even in jest.
One would envisage that it would be very difficult for Freddie to be an underling after so many years of running his own "successful"
companies, NUFC apart, cannot imagine him taking orders from anyone for very long. I would estimate that he will last 6 months max, especially as David Dein has been mentioned as a possible "overlord" at St James.
Luke could you please remove the picture of Scott parker thats next to your picture! As for journalists supporting lesser teams, its brilliant just look at Geff Stirling, the funniest man in sport!
Note From Luke
Oliver, thank you for reminding me about Scott Parker's picture at the top of the site! I'll have to decide who to choose next.
I'm sure Mike Ashley will have to come out soon and tell us exactly what his intentions are. While most of us are very pleased that he has taken over, we would like to know what the future holds.
Something usually happens when you are on one of your numerous jaunts so hopefully MA will make some pronouncements this weekend! (By the way, don't miss the Saw Doctors at Glasto - they'll knock you bandy kidda!)
Note From Luke
Glad you remebered I'm away, travel down tomorrow, weather forecast is terrible so I've just purchased an England waterproof jacket from the cricket. Missed a wicket buying it, just don't tell my sports editor!
Does Oliver Newton mean Jeff Stelling Sky Saturday anchorman?
It concerns me slightly that we don't know very much about Mike Ashley, but those concerns vanish when I remember how happy I am that, while he remains as a puppet chairman for now, Freddie Shepherd's day's are numbered at SJP.
Dear Luke, as a NUFC supporter for 40 years I personally think it is good that you don`t lose your roots and passion for your first love (Leyton Orient). We all know where Alan Oliver`s heart lies, but often he does not stick the knife in when clearly it is needed, so journo`s do have to be objective. Keep up the good work.
Roll on future !
Whilst conducting some Busker business regarding my single, '' Goin' Up '' ( 1983 ) in the old Toon directors office opposite the ground with Russell Cushing, and quaffing Arthur Cox's ' manager of the month ' whiskey, I was privvy to a fascinating insight into the club of that day's management. Keegan was retiring as a player that promotion season, and the fans were buzzing at his possible replacement, as were the press. ( In those days we only ever brought in one player during a close season and we were losing a superstar ) So in a moment of conviviality I asked Russell who we were getting. He took a teasingly slow drink of Arthur's whiskey and replied, '' We've already got him, Beardsley.'' I'd already just heard him on the phone to Jesper Olsen's agent who was trying to sell him to us on a ten grand per week contract. Russ sneeringly replied,'' Offer him eight, take it or leave it.'' Well, we didn't get him or anyone else for our new season in division one, he actually went on to Man. U. for a glittering career. The point being, screw the supporters, keep the directors happy was the motto until John Hall came with his money, his vision was no more than every loyal supporter clearly saw for decades but without the dosh to realise it. Yes the PLC moved the club's development forward, but since Keegan's exit as manager, our on the field development has gone into reverse and become sterile in recent years. The timing of Mike Ashley's arrival couldn't have been better. The normally mid-table teams were pulling away from us and the natives were definitely revolting. For now, this enigma called Ashley can stay just that as long as our new manager can splosh the dosh, rebuild the team and sell all of the season tickets. Sam in my opinion will be a great manager given a few seasons, and rebuild fortress St. James'. I can't begin to be in the slightest pessimistic about our club's future now, know why ? cos I'm a Geordie, and it's our nature to be optimists, that's how we've kept this sleeping giant from dying all these years. YIPPEE ! Roll on future.
I was back in my hometown (long-time Yorkshire Exile) for my sons Stag Weekend, and our group took the Stadium Tour. Our guide was aked if he had met the new owner, and said he had, having been summoned to take the new owner to one of the more distant areas of the ground. As he approached the Management Offices, he saw what he described as two young men "dressed like you lads, in jeans and a shirt", he continued, "as I walked past them one said "are you ***** (our guides first name)", to which I said "yes, but I cannot stay, I have to collect Mr Ashley", the young man said, "Thats me, call me Mike, and I will call you *****", I don't do this "Mr" nonsense". He then described him as extremely polite, friendly, and open, and that he immediately felt at home with him. His reply to our question as to how this compared with the present incumbent has not been recorded to protect our excellent guide's emplyment, but suffice to say that this long time servant of the club has a real twinkle in his eye when our party suggested that a new broom sweeps clean. I have kept our guides identity a mystery, as I suspect that Mr Shepherd might not be impressed with his deviation from the script, but this encounter did give a fascinating insight into the different characters of those at the top of our club.
This Mike Ashley is very mysterious, will he give an interview when he completes the takeover?
Note From Luke
I certainly hope so
The cynical side of me feels that its a shame that this is what football has come down to - hoping that our billionaire owner can do better with his new plaything than all the other billionaire owners can do with theirs.
Luke,
why don't you replace the Scott Parker picture with one of Michael Owen?
I hope Ashley doesn't communicate through the local media, the same local media who propped up Souness, who propped up Roeder and helped keep some of the pressure off Shepherd by not doing any investigative journalism.
The local media have been a puppet to the club for far too long and the fans have suffered longer than necessary because of this.
The local media don't have the bottle to challenge anything that happens at the club, I hope you're kept at arms reach and have to work for a story instead of just lapping up any little scrap that is fed your way.
Note From Luke
Erm, thanks Steve, nice sentiments to recieve on my first day back from holiday! I can safely say I've no5t been spoon fed stories by NUFC in my six years in the job but it's far too long and complicated to go into other than to say as the only journalist who has been banned twice by NUFC for stories they didn't like I find your view mildly offensive.
Luke your back!
I hope you wiped your feet before you came in!
Were you on stage with Iggy?
Luke,
The comments about the local media being spoon fed wasn't really me having a go at you in particular. You mentioned the local media in general and that was what I was commenting on, the local media in general.
Don't take this personally as it's not intended that way.
How many of the local media had a go at Souness before he left?
How many of the local media had a go at Roeder before he left? Within days of him leaving we were seeing certain people who had said nothing, all of a sudden printing things that the fans had been saying for months. Why did this not happen before he had gone from the club?
How many of the local media have had a go at Shepherd for taking over a club who were 2nd in the Premiership and reduced us to a loss making 14th placed club?
You probably all had a go in small doses but very few, if any, really stood up and asked any serious questions of those in charge at the club.
Why do you think the perception of the local media amongst the fans is so negative?
Do you really think that the local media have acted as if they were independent from the club? Like it or not, most of the fans of the club don't.
My perception of the local media in general is that they will not challenge anybody who holds any power within the club and by doing nothing, allow certain people to do as they please without and recriminations. I think this is part of the reason that this club has stagnated and gone backwards, they have not been under pressure to do any different. Don’t get me wrong, I also think that we, the fans have also been too easy going at times, we’ve been spoon fed and taken it in.
Note From Luke
Fair enough Steve