Moat still in pole position?
Apparently the bid will be made direct to Ashley, rather than Keith Harris at Seymour Pierce, and – I presume – without having performed a due diligence. A ’source close to the bidders’ had this to say:
“There have been so many D-days and so many false dawns that they have done their best to keep this late move under wraps.
“This offer has been properly planned and has cost a lot to put together.
“It will be a credible offer and if Mike Ashley is serious about selling the club he will seriously consider it.
“Ashley has said he will take the club off the market if his latest deadline isn’t met, but this offer should give him something to think about.
“Something will happen in the next couple of days.
“It is being made directly to Ashley and his advisers and that is all that can be said about it at the moment.”
I must admit I’m wearing my doubtful face again.
The Mail thinks it’s all done and dusted though. They love to print guesswork as fact and in today’s example they simply say:
Barry Moat is set to become the new owner of Newcastle United within the next few days, putting Alan Shearer back in line to be the new manager.
Right, well I’m glad that’s cleared up. I had thought there was still some doubt, that Ashley might hang onto the club perhaps, but my mind has been put at rest by The Mail.
It is distressing to read that, after such a creditable win last night, we may yet lose players such as Taylor, Jonas and possibly others. I understand why it’s being done of course – to reduce the massive wage bill at Newcastle, which is unsustainable as a Championship club – but if we rip out too many more players then we may not be able to produce the sort of performace we did last night, thus damaging our chances of fighting for promotion.
Back in May The Telegraph reported that we had 15 players earning more than £50,000 a week, so let’s assume that’s true. Of the players who’ve gone I would suggest that Owen, Viduka, Beye, Cacapa, Martins and Duff certainly fall into the £50k/week category; in fact Owen was allegedly on £100k/week+ and I seem to remember reading that Viduka was on £65k/week. I reckon just getting rid of those players accounts for at least £350k a week, which is approximately £18m a year.
I suspect that Lovenkrands, Edgar, Nacho and Bassong were on much less but I reckon their combined wages might account for at least £4m a year, which would bring our total savings up to £22m a year.
If the aim was to halve the £70m wage bill we’re still £13m short so, having done the maths, I guess we do indeed need to offload more players and Jonas and Taylor would probably amount to another £3m/year in savings. Of course we also need to leave enough financial room to pay the wages of players we bring in.
Hmm, I can see why more players must go but that has to be offset against our promotion chances and it will be a careful balancing act.
These news roundups would be nothing without a contribution from Louise Taylor and this time she tells us how last night’s result was merely ‘papering over the cracks’.
Thanks Louise – you could have let us enjoy the win for a day first.
Loading ...
Whilst all that looks lovely from a financial viewpoint – there’s a lot more to business than finance.
Selling all of our best players will mean we do not have a very good team – so it won’t matter whether fatboy has spare money in the bank to play black 17. We won’t progress.
Wonder if he’s ever heard the phrase “speculate to accumulate”??
While remaining sceptical that another bidder exists, if true, that would certainly put the proverbial cat amongst the pidgeons.
I agree with both of you that there is only so far we can go to cutback on costs without ruining the end product. Lets hope we can offload more of the fringe squad players who could be big earners such as Xisco rather than going to the heart of the team with the likes of Steven Taylor.
I think any new bidder (if there really is one) would need to be in position to transfer significant funds to Ashley with very little notice, otherwise I’m fairly sure Ashley won’t give them the time of day. I doubt he’d accept any delays at this stage. I suspect they’d have to be offering very near to his asking price too.
I’m at the stage when I dont listen or read anything which is true…….that is how sad the news is at the moment !!!
When and only when we get the cockney out then I will take stock of the situation. What I would say is remember the low point of where we have been under him and whatever this season brings will only be better.
ah where would we be without the mackem bitch refusing to give any credit for a good performance
who ever wrote this story is doing exactly the same as you acuse ed harrison of doing hypocrites the lot of y
hk – I think you’ll probably find that Hugh (the article writer) doesn’t have a particularly strong stance on that issue. I could be wrong but I would imagine he’s said sod-all about Ed’s site. There are several of us contributing here and we don’t all share the same views.
What’s a little subtle generalisation amongst friends though, eh? Good to see you enjoyed it.
I wrote it and I’ve never accused Ed of anything other than having annoying adverts on his site, so I don’t follow your argument.
Sorry Hugh, jinx eh?
Reet folks, haven’t got time to comment until later as ‘family day’ beckons, grandparents, dogs the bang lot.
Moving along though, there’s definitely plenty to chat about at the minute!
Catch you later.
The good thing about this blog is that there are more considered comments and less personal insults.
Ed,s site has been good for so long but there is simply too much abuse by some bloggers and not enough about the Football, perhaps by WUM,s from other clubs .
Everyone has an opinion and must be respected or why bother coming on the site to insult or abuse??
It maybe a sign of the frustration that all of us who support the Toon have suffered over the past 2 seasons , but slowly ever so slowly , there is a realisation that we will be moving on and hopefully rebuilding a Team that gets us into the Premier League soone rather than later . I for one enjoyed the Win yesterday and felt much better for it !!
Hopefully ther will be progress this coming week .
The squad must be added to and built around a good core of Senior Professionals to help the youngsters come on and add the flair we have been missing for some time
Simply my Opinion .
heartattack kinnear says:
August 16, 2009 at 10:56 am
“who ever wrote this story is doing exactly the same as you acuse ed harrison of doing hypocrites the lot of y”
Could be wor batty in wind up mode.
ashley to keep the club with someone coming on board to help with funding the club…my prediction!
manager??? your guess is as good as mine!
11 workyticket says:
August 16, 2009 at 12:54 pm
heartattack kinnear says:
August 16, 2009 at 10:56 am
“who ever wrote this story is doing exactly the same as you acuse ed harrison of doing hypocrites the lot of y”
Could be wor batty in wind up mode.
<<<< not me m8 check the email or ip
“Could be wor batty in wind up mode.
< <<< not me m8 check the email or ip”
Got a response out of you anyway!
worky i always read your blog m8 but dont post much cos i wouldnt want to spoil it for you m8 cos you know what some of my comments are like lol
worky
whats happenin with the competition can you send me the suggestions and ill choose the winner
beyethegreat@16 – I’m expecting my prize through the door tomorrow!
what was you suggestion bowburn ?
BEYE!
http://www.nufcblog.org/2009/08/beye-the-great-competition-win-a-newcastle-united-book-or-dvd-from-the-nufc-blog-shop/
I’ll post a reminder tomorrow.
batty says:
August 16, 2009 at 6:45 pm
“worky i always read your blog m8 but dont post much cos i wouldnt want to spoil it for you m8 cos you know what some of my comments are like lol”
Batty,
Well, you aren’t the Dalai Lama, that’s for sure!
Seriously, make some comments if you want to. We’ve already seen the worst.
Aye bats, forgot to say, it’s a very noble gesture but have a bit craic. He’ll only delete the ******* if they’re dodgy!
beyethegreat – to be honest I said to many I can’t remember. I’d have to look back.
‘TOO’ many I mean (tired fingers)
beye u should have sholanumber9 lol
batty,
Stick it in the comments for the competition, you might win a Newcastle United book or DVD from the shop. There’s lots to choose from. Stick some more suggestions in there as well.
http://www.nufcblog.org/2009/08/beye-the-great-competition-win-a-newcastle-united-book-or-dvd-from-the-nufc-blog-shop/
worky i think ive got every book dvd video going m8 me fav book is a john gibson book from the 60s with loads of autograhs fairs cup winners 9 of them signed it got it of me dad
batty says:
August 16, 2009 at 9:35 pm
“worky i think ive got every book dvd video going m8 me fav book is a john gibson book from the 60s with loads of autograhs fairs cup winners 9 of them signed it got it of me dad”
Batty,
You have all the books and DVDs on that list?