TAKEOVER *NOT* CONFIMRED

[Stranded]

Kieran Maguire tweeting in response to comments that Ashley selling Missguided is a prelude to buying the club by saying, he doesn't think it is a sign and anyway MASH holdings currently have over 500m GBP sat in their bank account. In short, he could pay 50m for the club tomorrow and barely notice.

[Hound]

Kieran Maguire tweeting in response to comments that Ashley selling Missguided is a prelude to buying the club by saying, he doesn't think it is a sign and anyway MASH holdings currently have over 500m GBP sat in their bank account. In short, he could pay 50m for the club tomorrow and barely notice.

Yeah basically if he wants it, he’ll buy it. Though suspect it’ll be at rock bottom price only which Dai will struggle to accept

[Elm Park Kid]

And Bowen has been burned before, and Hunt would reasonably expect a pay rise to do it. Relatively minor barriers.

The only possible issue for not being able to afford to sack Selles is if his contract stipulates he's paid in full on dismissal. But just put him on gardening leave.

If we have someone who will make the decision, and Bowen is willing to take it on short term, there is nothing stopping us.

Who then do the jobs that Hunt/Bowen currently do? If we say that they can be covered internally then why are we paying for Hunt and Bowen in the first place? Also, do we really want to accept 'second choices' for those positions right now - I would have thought that Bowen's job is more important than Selles to be frank.

A couple of people step up a bit for a couple of months.

There's no one more important than Manager right now. All the sale stuff will be lawyers. Bowen can brief people, but that's delagateable or can be done at the same time.

It's two months before any transfers can happen and we have an embargo.

Anything Bowen is doing can wait.

We need points on the board.

I mean - it comes down to how much you really believe that our results are down to the specific weakness of Selles compared to all the other club-wide issues. If you honestly believe that Bowen would make a difference (there's almost no evidence to think that Hunt would), then maybe you go for it and try your best to cover up the gaps from him leaving his current post. But . . I really don't like that strategy - it feels like instead of paying half your mortgage you take the money and go and put it on Red at the casino.

[From Despair To Where?]

One of them literally just posted, without irony, that this will end with us forever languishing in the bottom 6 of the PL. Fcuk me, how will we cope?

I liked the bloke who claimed Newcastle had never been relegated before Ashley came along.

You know, I get why you may not like him and he is definitely a twat but he left the club pretty much exactly when he bought them (his last full season saw them 12th, the season before he bought them, they were 13th) and whilst there were 2 relegations, both were following by 2 immediate promotions, gaining 102 and 94 points respectively, a 5th place PL finish and a run to the QF of the Europa league - that's not too bad from a pre Saudi perspective - plus they were financially sound.

What I don't get is that this the set of supporters who also turned on John Hall. Their main gripe seems to be that he didn't bankroll a shot at the title. Their response is very much through a Magpie filter. Our expectations are on a different planet. Ours is for someone to pay the bills, manage the club sensibly and not murder dissenting journalists and Ashley does seem to fit the bill. He's head and shoulders above any other known interested parties.

[From Despair To Where?]

Who then do the jobs that Hunt/Bowen currently do? If we say that they can be covered internally then why are we paying for Hunt and Bowen in the first place? Also, do we really want to accept 'second choices' for those positions right now - I would have thought that Bowen's job is more important than Selles to be frank.

A couple of people step up a bit for a couple of months.

There's no one more important than Manager right now. All the sale stuff will be lawyers. Bowen can brief people, but that's delagateable or can be done at the same time.

It's two months before any transfers can happen and we have an embargo.

Anything Bowen is doing can wait.

We need points on the board.

I mean - it comes down to how much you really believe that our results are down to the specific weakness of Selles compared to all the other club-wide issues. If you honestly believe that Bowen would make a difference (there's almost no evidence to think that Hunt would), then maybe you go for it and try your best to cover up the gaps from him leaving his current post. But . . I really don't like that strategy - it feels like instead of paying half your mortgage you take the money and go and put it on Red at the casino.

I'd agree with this to an extent. I think the manager situation only really gets solved with a change of ownership.

[Elm Park Kid]

I personally think that people underestimate how much mentality and mood matters at a football club. You can put the same side out, with the same formation and tactics and win 3-0 or lose 3-0 just on player attitude. And sure, that's often a reason for changing manager as it can provide a quick 'reset' and improve thinking. But . . when you have so many fundamental issues at a club then a new manager might simply not be enough.

[Hound]

I personally think that people underestimate how much mentality and mood matters at a football club. You can put the same side out, with the same formation and tactics and win 3-0 or lose 3-0 just on player attitude. And sure, that's often a reason for changing manager as it can provide a quick 'reset' and improve thinking. But . . when you have so many fundamental issues at a club then a new manager might simply not be enough.

Yeah that very much. Hence why I think he’s not much good - it’s not the formation, fitness etc, it’s the mentality of the players is dreadful

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I personally think that people underestimate how much mentality and mood matters at a football club. You can put the same side out, with the same formation and tactics and win 3-0 or lose 3-0 just on player attitude. And sure, that's often a reason for changing manager as it can provide a quick 'reset' and improve thinking. But . . when you have so many fundamental issues at a club then a new manager might simply not be enough.

Agree, the culture of the club matters as much as the formations, managers, quality of players etc. Have a look at a lot of the other clubs who have or have had ownership issues leading to a negative club culture, Man United being the prime example at the moment. Going nowhere, or take one step forward and then two steps back, rinse and repeat.

[WestYorksRoyal]

When Bowen joined in 2019, he spoke about creating an environment where players feel like they can deliver success and are accountable for it. Obviously that hasn't been possible. But I think the overall observation is astute; players and coaches over the years have known that there are issues bigger than them at the club. It doesn't mean that they're not responsible for their own failures or that they have been lazy/apathetic (though a few have been). It's more that they've allowed the whole situation to affect their mentality and constantly come out on the wrong side of small margins.

I think the Man Utd comparison is a good one. ETH had a good season but allowed himself to be consumed by the environment, while it's basically becoming a graveyard for talented players. Remember when City also wanted Maguire? Seems laughable now.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

When Bowen joined in 2019, he spoke about creating an environment where players feel like they can deliver success and are accountable for it. Obviously that hasn't been possible. But I think the overall observation is astute; players and coaches over the years have known that there are issues bigger than them at the club. It doesn't mean that they're not responsible for their own failures or that they have been lazy/apathetic (though a few have been). It's more that they've allowed the whole situation to affect their mentality and constantly come out on the wrong side of small margins.

I think the Man Utd comparison is a good one. ETH had a good season but allowed himself to be consumed by the environment, while it's basically becoming a graveyard for talented players. Remember when City also wanted Maguire? Seems laughable now.

Yep you've listened to the Gary Neville podcast from last night as well, but in fairness, he's right. He mentioned that some of the players United have signed were wanted by other clubs, top clubs as well. So it can't just be that the individuals are bad or the manager is, it's the culture set throughout the club which stems from the top.

P. Ince's "backs against the wall" mentality was set because that's the position the club were in, just trying to survive. That's what the owner had set, that's what the club were fighting for and that was the level the club were operating at and that has come from the top. That losing mentality is what was brought into the club, a combination of both the directors, manager and players though.

[CountryRoyal]

I personally think that people underestimate how much mentality and mood matters at a football club. You can put the same side out, with the same formation and tactics and win 3-0 or lose 3-0 just on player attitude. And sure, that's often a reason for changing manager as it can provide a quick 'reset' and improve thinking. But . . when you have so many fundamental issues at a club then a new manager might simply not be enough.

How often do teams immediately go up/see success when they get new owners? Seems pretty often.

[Royal_jimmy]

Is that what we've really come to? Welcoming a scumbag like Mike Ashley in because all the available alternatives are even worse?

God help us as a club!

Mike Ashley is fine, he has money and has a great record of fixing businesses on the brink

[Uke]

Kieran Maguire tweeting in response to comments that Ashley selling Missguided is a prelude to buying the club by saying, he doesn't think it is a sign and anyway MASH holdings currently have over 500m GBP sat in their bank account. In short, he could pay 50m for the club tomorrow and barely notice.

Yeah basically if he wants it, he’ll buy it. Though suspect it’ll be at rock bottom price only which Dai will struggle to accept

My heart bleeds for Dai having to accept a shit offer because he has no choice...

[Royal_jimmy]

Kieran Maguire tweeting in response to comments that Ashley selling Missguided is a prelude to buying the club by saying, he doesn't think it is a sign and anyway MASH holdings currently have over 500m GBP sat in their bank account. In short, he could pay 50m for the club tomorrow and barely notice.

Yeah basically if he wants it, he’ll buy it. Though suspect it’ll be at rock bottom price only which Dai will struggle to accept

My heart bleeds for Dai having to accept a shit offer because he has no choice...

Dai deserves to lose almost all of his money he's invested on us. His decision making has been beyond appalling

[WestYorksRoyal]

Yeah basically if he wants it, he’ll buy it. Though suspect it’ll be at rock bottom price only which Dai will struggle to accept

My heart bleeds for Dai having to accept a shit offer because he has no choice...

Dai deserves to lose almost all of his money he's invested on us. His decision making has been beyond appalling

Yet he is still trusting the advice of Joorabchian who has done so much to put him in this situation.

[Hendo]

I, for one, welcome our new massive mug overlord.

[Elm Park Kid]

I, for one, welcome our new massive mug overlord.

He can't be any bigger of a mug than our current owner . . . .

*Takes a bow*

[Hendo]

I, for one, welcome our new massive mug overlord.

He can't be any bigger of a mug than our current owner . . . .

*Takes a bow*

I think we're the mugs in this situation.

[rabidbee]

I've read some utter tosh about this situation on X etc over the last day or so.

A club in our position should be biting Mike Ashley's hands off as an owner, that's blatantly obvious to anyone with a minimum of common sense.

The issue is whether the current owner will sell to him.

One of them literally just posted, without irony, that this will end with us forever languishing in the bottom 6 of the PL. Fcuk me, how will we cope?

I liked the bloke who claimed Newcastle had never been relegated before Ashley came along.

You realise that all records before 1992 have been expunged?

[Millsy]

Ashley's zero-hours contracts are just what we need tbh.