TheMoog 0 Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 From the Times: Thirty-eight days after Newcastle United suffered the trauma of relegation, their first-team squad will report back for pre-season training tomorrow. From the outside, it appears that little of substance has changed. Mike Ashley remains the (reluctant) owner, Alan Shearer is still hoping to be appointed manager, no players have been sold and none bought. Finally, however, an end to the impasse is within sight. What exactly has been happening at St James’ Park? Very little, apart from season-ticket renewals, job losses and the unveiling of a banana-coloured away kit. Since Ashley’s announcement that he wished to end his disastrous stint in charge of Newcastle at the earliest possible opportunity, activity has largely gravitated towards the London offices of Seymour Pierce, the investment bank charged with handling the sale of the club. With players on holiday and Shearer on Tyneside awaiting developments and itching to begin a task he is relishing, Keith Harris, Seymour Pierce’s executive chairman, has been gauging interest, seeking financial guarantees, opening Newcastle’s books up to scrutiny and travelling to the Far East and the United States to meet potential investors. That process is now drawing to a close. So where do we stand now? The timeline, all being well, is as follows. Harris will receive bids for Newcastle tomorrow. Ashley has stated that he is seeking £100 million for the club (he bought it for £134 million and has since invested another £110 million on reducing debts and running costs), although there are complicated factors, including the continuing legal case between Newcastle and Kevin Keegan, their former manager. By Thursday or Friday, Harris should be in position to offer Ashley his recommendation. In essence, Ashley will accept the highest bid, although Harris, a football man (and former chairman of the Football League) who has been toiling assiduously on the project, is mindful of the responsibilities of his position (in other words, he wants Newcastle to be left in safe hands). At the time of writing, it looks as if an official announcement on Newcastle’s next owners could be made by the middle of next week. Who will Ashley’s successor(s) be? As things stand, only Harris has any inkling. What we do know is that as many as four serious parties have been involved in the bidding, two of which have pulled ahead of the others. Part of Harris’s skill has been to maintain the integrity of the process and to operate in a climate of complete discretion; neither Ashley, Shearer nor other staff members at Seymour Pierce has any knowledge of the bidders’ identity. The same applied when Ashley initially put the club up for sale last year. It has been a useful rule of thumb that a majority of companies or individuals who have come forward can immediately be discounted as time-wasters or publicity seekers. The exception is a consortium with which Freddy Shepherd, Newcastle’s former chairman, has had an involvement, but it is understood not to be a prominent candidate. Most supporters will be relieved. Harris has been speaking to an American group and it now seems feasible, if not definite, that Newcastle will become the latest English club with backing from the United States. The Ashley era has demonstrated that you should be careful what you wish for, but surely any new owner would represent an improvement. What Newcastle need is good sense and stability along the lines of Randy Lerner at Aston Villa, or Ellis Short, at Sunderland, both of whom have been content to leave the business in the hands of qualified professionals and/or those with a football pedigree. What will happen to Shearer? In his last discussion of note with Derek Llambias, the Newcastle managing director - which took place at the start of last week - Shearer was informed that he was the preferred choice of manager by both leading bidders. That would make sense; while the club’s record goalscorer is unproven in the dugout, off the pitch, over the course of the final eight games of last season, he began restoring sound practices and basic discipline to the training ground. More fundamentally, he offers a precious link between the club and a group of supporters who, understandably, are verging on disenchantment. Shearer’s appointment would provide Newcastle with goodwill and breathing space, although nothing has been agreed. Relationships would need to be constructed and there is no guarantee that Shearer’s plan for the team’s regeneration, which he submitted to Ashley at the end of the season, would be accepted. Something must give, however, and soon. Not really saying much more than anyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acid 0 Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 The nightmare has only just begun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo 133 Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 hoping the nightmare may soon be over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Bob Almighty! 0 Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Mid table mediocrity looms if we dont get this ownership business put to bed before the season starts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishMag 0 Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Mid table mediocrity looms if we dont get this ownership business put to bed before the season starts If we're lucky... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 (edited) The Assley era has demonstrated that you should be careful what you wish for, but surely any new owner would represent an improvement. The first part is obviously very true, unfortunately the last part may still prove not to be the case (as retarded as Assley clearly is). Edited July 1, 2009 by Fop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 This takeover is lasting nearly as long as Bob Hope's final days © The Viz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flair 0 Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Good article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Kelly 1117 Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Good article. Even better response! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 8989 Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Good article. Even better response! It was nothing special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Lazaru 0 Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 I know its too much to ask but you really wish it could be done by the end of this week, monday next week at the latest. Even now the best case scenario is we're taken over, give Big Al the job straight away and he's already miles behind every other manager in the division and missed out on so much, and that's the best we can hope for. It seems like not that many players have moved around yet, but i was watching an interview with Phil Brown who said they'd already agreed deals for 5 players with clubs and were just waiting on players and agents to sort out the transfers. Shearer will be starting from scratch with deals already done everywhere else trying desperately to chase targets he had lined up way back and finding he's too late so having to go after inferior choices and even then he may miss out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggiespaws 0 Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 I know what yo mean papa, but this was always going to happen. Its just not great timing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaser 1054 Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 I think we'll be on hold until the start of the season and then it'll be too late. Year after year we have destroyed pre-season with one thing or another and this season looks to be the worst yet. Unless miracles happen, I see us with no hope in hell of getting promoted. We'll be fortunate to stave off relegation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitman 2188 Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Great lies of our time: - Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction - Bill Clinton did not have sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky - Bernie Madoff has a good investment opportunity for you - The cheque's in the post - I promise I'll pull out at the last minute, pet - The NUFC takeover will be over by the end of this week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbsweeney 0 Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I see in the Chronicle an announcement early next week---please, please, please let me get what I want! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acrossthepond 706 Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Great lies of our time: - Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction - Bill Clinton did not have sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky - Bernie Madoff has a good investment opportunity for you - The cheque's in the post - I promise I'll pull out at the last minute, pet - The NUFC takeover will be over by the end of this week Kevin has full control over transfers. I am committed to taking the club forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbyshinton 59 Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Great lies of our time: - Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction - Bill Clinton did not have sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky - Bernie Madoff has a good investment opportunity for you - The cheque's in the post - I promise I'll pull out at the last minute, pet - The NUFC takeover will be over by the end of this week Kevin has full control over transfers. I am committed to taking the club forward. My jokes will be funny We will be a force in europe We are no longer a selling club We could finish seventh we're staying up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duo 0 Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 Isn't Keith Harris meant to be finding Newcastle a buyer? http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sport/footba...outhampton.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Richard Kimble 0 Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 Isn't Keith Harris meant to be finding Newcastle a buyer? http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sport/footba...outhampton.html True enough. We've been excoriated so much that we look like damaged goods to everyone. Still I hope Southampton get a break ..at least somebody will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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