By Archie Brand
I recently read an article in the Chronicle from Lee Ryder discussing a buzz circulating that Ashley has dropped the asking price for the club to 300 million.
The article is littered with phrases like “fans are reacting to talk that…”, “speculation that”, “no confirmation”, “prompted a suggestion that”. The entire article is pure conjecture, non-specifics from start to finish.
He even threw in “Llambias had also said earlier that year that by 2014 the club would be challenging for everything”. Then on the next line Ryder quotes “He (Llambias) said then: “In five years’ time I would hope we would be challenging for everything”.
My concern here is that either Ryder can’t see the difference between the two, or he can, but he thinks that WE can’t. Either way – Chief Sports Writer? Really?
I hope I’m going to win the lottery, but surely it would be a bit harsh to criticise me if I don’t.
In any article that I write that does not go out of it’s way to slate Ashley directly, and yes – there are a few, I often feel almost obliged to state my position on our owner, otherwise (and sometimes even so) the general response from readers suggests that I either work for him, am in some way related to him, or I otherwise allow him to use some of my personal orifices for his own amusement. Let me assure you that’s not the case. He’s never even asked.
Personally, I think being a Newcastle fan is difficult enough at the moment without the likes of Ryder and his lot creating stories out of nothing and trying to wind up the fans in a bid to justify the requirement for journalists. And from this point of view some of the fans are not much better.
Said it before if Ashley really wants to sell we won’t even hear about it much like how he bought the club from john hall and Freddy shepherd.
Nufc11(Quote)
Typical Lee Ryder piece, built around Chinese whispers, poor journalism. No precedence, no foundation and certainly no truth. Written to sell copies of the Chronicle. 😯
John W.Pattison(Quote)
They now admit they had a serious offer from Mansour which Ashley declined before the Sheikh moved on to Man City, which gives you all the information you need about Ashley.
He has used NUFC as a billboard for Sports Direct and has no other interest, that is why the stadium and training facilities have been neglected, and why he doesn’t spend money on the squad.
Even in the early days of Pardew he told us that “the club must wipe it’s own nose” and that was when Ashley was drinking pints in a Toon shirt.
The main stumbling block to a takeover is Ashley himself, who if serious would just appoint an agent to get the job done, and then I bet it would be done in a month!
BillytheFish(Quote)