Mort To Go?

[Ketsbaia 0]

Maybe Keegan's comments about them "never speaking" did lead to a productive meeting and Ashley realised he needed to take a more active role.

[Happy Face 29]

Chris Mort exit leaves a work in progress.

George Caulkin

 

OVER recent months and years – although sometimes it feels more like decades - change has become as much a part of the Tyneside landscape as the towering edifice of St James’ Park, but the departure of Chris Mort as Newcastle United’s chairman this summer, falls firmly into the expected category. Having steered the club through a vital, difficult period, Mort will return to his day job as a leading City lawyer.

 

Mort never relinquished his role at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where he remains co-head of their leisure sector. Before Mike Ashley’s takeover at Newcastle last year, he had previously advised the billionaire sportswear retailer over earlier acquisitions and had worked in a similar capacity with Formula One, EMI and various investment banks.

 

His involvement at Newcastle was only ever intended as a temporary measure, with his family still based in London, but his impact has been important, even if it has mainly been felt away from the spotlight. When Ashley bought the club, the previous regime had incurred a damaging, perilous level of debt and lost all credibility with supporters in the process, both of which have now been addressed.

 

Mort undertook a thorough review of Newcastle’s books, completing an audit over all areas of the club’s operations. He has worked tireless to build bridges with fans and community leaders, concentrated resources on the club’s Academy and proved a dignified antidote to the arrogant bluster of the Freddy Shepherd era. Misplaced crowing has been replaced by studious determination.

 

There are notable caveats, however. What Mort has not been able to influence in the chronic instability which still infiltrates Newcastle’s existence. The departure of Sam Allardyce and further disruption to coaching staff, did not encourage long-term planning, Joey Barton has proved a predictable liability and a difficult season ended with the boost provided by Kevin Keegan’s appointment deflated by meetings in London, confusion over transfer policy and twinges of frustration.

 

In some regards, Newcastle’s reputation for self-inflicted damage is unfair. The arrival of Dennis Wise, Tony Jimenez et al, was portrayed as a threat to Keegan’s authority, but, in effect, Mort was merely replacing – on a much more formalised basis - the agents, family members and assorted hangers-on who had advised Shepherd on player acquisitions. A desire to run the club on an economically-secure footing may not be the stuff of fantasy football, but it should be welcomed.

 

Where the club still have much work to do is in the sphere of relationships. Ashley’s motivations in buying Newcastle, his intentions and ambitions, remain vague simply because he has barely spoken publicly, even if his appearance in away sections and Bigg Market watering holes have hinted at commitment. Similarly, establishing structure at the club is a sound principle, but it will be thoroughly undermined if Keegan and Wise are unsure of their ground or have differing agendas.

 

These things are sources of concern to supporters and Newcastle’s growing London-centric outlook is another. Ashley, Wise, Jimenez and Derek Llambias, the deputy chairman and likely successor to Mort, have no obvious ties to the north east and having succeeded in re-establishing connection with the city, stretching those ties would be dangerous. In Keegan, Newcastle have a manager who understand its soul; they need directors with the same. Mort is leaving a work in progress.

 

Has George Caulkin always been this fair and balanced? More of this please.

[Guest alex]

Spotted a couple of errors like

[Guest Patrokles]

Chris Mort exit leaves a work in progress.

George Caulkin

 

OVER recent months and years – although sometimes it feels more like decades - change has become as much a part of the Tyneside landscape as the towering edifice of St James’ Park, but the departure of Chris Mort as Newcastle United’s chairman this summer, falls firmly into the expected category. Having steered the club through a vital, difficult period, Mort will return to his day job as a leading City lawyer.

 

Mort never relinquished his role at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where he remains co-head of their leisure sector. Before Mike Ashley’s takeover at Newcastle last year, he had previously advised the billionaire sportswear retailer over earlier acquisitions and had worked in a similar capacity with Formula One, EMI and various investment banks.

 

His involvement at Newcastle was only ever intended as a temporary measure, with his family still based in London, but his impact has been important, even if it has mainly been felt away from the spotlight. When Ashley bought the club, the previous regime had incurred a damaging, perilous level of debt and lost all credibility with supporters in the process, both of which have now been addressed.

 

Mort undertook a thorough review of Newcastle’s books, completing an audit over all areas of the club’s operations. He has worked tireless to build bridges with fans and community leaders, concentrated resources on the club’s Academy and proved a dignified antidote to the arrogant bluster of the Freddy Shepherd era. Misplaced crowing has been replaced by studious determination.

 

There are notable caveats, however. What Mort has not been able to influence in the chronic instability which still infiltrates Newcastle’s existence. The departure of Sam Allardyce and further disruption to coaching staff, did not encourage long-term planning, Joey Barton has proved a predictable liability and a difficult season ended with the boost provided by Kevin Keegan’s appointment deflated by meetings in London, confusion over transfer policy and twinges of frustration.

 

In some regards, Newcastle’s reputation for self-inflicted damage is unfair. The arrival of Dennis Wise, Tony Jimenez et al, was portrayed as a threat to Keegan’s authority, but, in effect, Mort was merely replacing – on a much more formalised basis - the agents, family members and assorted hangers-on who had advised Shepherd on player acquisitions. A desire to run the club on an economically-secure footing may not be the stuff of fantasy football, but it should be welcomed.

 

Where the club still have much work to do is in the sphere of relationships. Ashley’s motivations in buying Newcastle, his intentions and ambitions, remain vague simply because he has barely spoken publicly, even if his appearance in away sections and Bigg Market watering holes have hinted at commitment. Similarly, establishing structure at the club is a sound principle, but it will be thoroughly undermined if Keegan and Wise are unsure of their ground or have differing agendas.

 

These things are sources of concern to supporters and Newcastle’s growing London-centric outlook is another. Ashley, Wise, Jimenez and Derek Llambias, the deputy chairman and likely successor to Mort, have no obvious ties to the north east and having succeeded in re-establishing connection with the city, stretching those ties would be dangerous. In Keegan, Newcastle have a manager who understand its soul; they need directors with the same. Mort is leaving a work in progress.

 

Has George Caulkin always been this fair and balanced?

 

I believe so. Him and that Winter chap are alright.

[Guest Patrokles]

Fair play to Mort, btw. Seemed a decent type.

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

Has George Caulkin always been this fair and balanced? More of this please.

Used to work for The Journal, he's from up here.

[Hadrian 0]

Keegan woe as Mort quits Toon

 

KEVIN KEEGAN is set to lose a boardroom ally with chairman Chris Mort ready to quit St James’ Park.

 

Mort was brought to the club by owner Mike Ashley after helping him rubberstamp his Toon takeover.

 

But he will return to London and continue to work as a lawyer following a turbulent 12 months on Tyneside.

 

He has been commuting up to the North East since arriving at the club and had not looked to settle in the area.

 

His departure is a blow for Keegan though with Mort publicly backing the ex-England boss during a difficult start which saw Newcastle sink into relegation danger.

 

A source close to Mort said:”It was always his intention to return to what he did before. That was always the plan.”

 

 

trust the sun to sensationalize a complete non story .

[DanTheMan 0]

Well done Mort. He's done a good job I reckon, hope his successor can carry it on.

[Torres 0]

Chris Mort's future at Newcastle United is in doubt.

 

The Daily Mail says Newcastle will be hit by more boardroom upheaval during the summer with the expected resignation of chairman Mort.

 

He has alerted owner Mike Ashley that he wants to return full-time to his former employees, top London law firm Freshfields.

 

 

Rats and sinking ships.......................will never change.

[asteroidblitz 12]

Chris Mort's future at Newcastle United is in doubt.

 

The Daily Mail says Newcastle will be hit by more boardroom upheaval during the summer with the expected resignation of chairman Mort.

 

He has alerted owner Mike Ashley that he wants to return full-time to his former employees, top London law firm Freshfields.

 

 

Rats and sinking ships.......................will never change.

 

You'd know all about rats, you bin-dipping twat.

[Tom 13847]

Chris Mort's future at Newcastle United is in doubt.

 

The Daily Mail says Newcastle will be hit by more boardroom upheaval during the summer with the expected resignation of chairman Mort.

 

He has alerted owner Mike Ashley that he wants to return full-time to his former employees, top London law firm Freshfields.

 

 

Rats and sinking ships.......................will never change.

 

You'd know all about rats, you bin-dipping twat.

[Torres 0]

Chris Mort's future at Newcastle United is in doubt.

 

The Daily Mail says Newcastle will be hit by more boardroom upheaval during the summer with the expected resignation of chairman Mort.

 

He has alerted owner Mike Ashley that he wants to return full-time to his former employees, top London law firm Freshfields.

 

 

Rats and sinking ships.......................will never change.

 

You'd know all about rats, you bin-dipping twat.

 

 

Same as you would about twats........................you manc! :icon_lol:

[tinofbeans 86]

Shame to see him go. did a good job for the most part.

 

new chap needs to get in some new faces and get peter taylor in for the youth and u21 setup (as thats what he excels in). the scouting network needs renovating and the wage bill needs addressing. thats really it!

 

oh and why do we keep having a go at liverpool, i for one would love to have a squad as good as theirs compared to our rubbish. i think only one of our players would get near their first team.

[Rob W 0]

probable new man has a background in Casinos....................................

[Guest alex]

probable new man has a background in Casinos....................................

I heard Ashley zero interest in the plans mooted by the previous regime.

[The Fish 8989]

Llambias runs the 50 Club in London and didn't he run Newcastle Race course too?

[ewerk 26346]

Llambias runs the 50 Club in London and didn't he run Newcastle Race course too?

 

I think it's our new Operation Manager who ran the race course, can't remember his name.

[The Fish 8989]

You're right that's David Williamson.

 

(While I was checking this out I've discovered that a lad I know from school is the reserves manager! I knew he was a coach there, but thought he was still working in the Academy.)