Sir John Hall – Statement
Posted on June 2nd, 2009 | 56 Comments |
Sir John Hall speaking today on our present predicament.
- Stands up for Ashleys intentions.Sir John Hall has spoken to the evening Chronicle today
Sir John Hall gives us his insight in the following quotes, I make no comment but to let you draw to your own conclusions:
Sir John said: “The quicker he can sell, the better it will be.”
“However, that is much easier said than done in today’s climate.”
Hall was responsible for Ashley’s arrival at Newcastle, having sold him his family’s stake in the club for £55.3m in May 2007.
He insisted: “Let’s get one thing straight: Mike Ashley came into Newcastle for the right reasons – as a long-term investor looking to build the business over four or five years.”
“He wanted to globalise the club. He did not use it as a toy.”
“He saw Newcastle was a fantastic brand, and he wanted to build that brand.”
“However, he made massive mistakes. Too often, he probably took advice. That, combined with the recession, made for disaster.”
“When I first came into the club, I knew nothing about running a football club, but luckily we found Freddie Fletcher, who had huge experience of the business from his time at Glasgow Rangers.”
“He guided us through the minefield, so we did not make the type of mistakes Ashley has made. Sadly, I don’t think Ashley has been able to call on that type of advice.”
“What you also have to acknowledge, though, is that Newcastle’s decline had begun before Ashley arrived at the club.”
Some of our managers have been disasters and ruined the club long before he came in.”
“Mike Ashley will be pushing very, very hard to find a buyer quickly.”
“I just hope he can find one – and find the right one.”
“We need investors who will come in and let the Newcastle United manager – hopefully Alan Shearer – try to build for the long term.”
“Whoever buys the club has to find the money to build a team to get out of the Championship, then build a team fit for the Premier League.”
“That will be easier than it was for us to do because the stadium, the structure and the training ground are in place now, but it will still be very difficult.”
However, having dragged Newcastle out of arguably deeper mire almost two decades ago, Hall is convinced the club WILL rise again.
He added: “We can get over this. I know we will get over it. Geordies are used to succeeding in adversity, and they will do again. Let us hope that happens sooner rather than later.”
The full article is within the Evening Chroncile http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/06/02/sir-john-the-players-must-take-pay-cut-if-they-really-care-72703-23768533/
Comments welcome
NUFCBlog Author: Stardust
Stardust has written 15 articles on this blog.
Nice work “Alvin”. ;-)
Well done for today!