St James’ Park again, thanks to a lot of Wonga!

toonsy

St James’ Park once more
And so it turns out to be true after all, although only partially in comparison to what was being reported a few days back.

Newcastle United and “digital finance” company Wonga have agreed a four-year deal which will make the payday lender the lead commercial sponsor of the club.

That part is being reported on the official club website, but the part that isn’t may be of the most interest to you. According to the yellow “breaking news” bar on Sky Sports News and Lee Ryder on Twitter, it appears that Wonga have also agreed to buy the stadium naming rights and have chosen to officially rename the ground…. St James’ Park.

In addition to this it has also become apparent that Wonga will invest money into our youth academy and also into the Newcastle United Foundation Enterprise Scheme which gives youngsters aged 15-16 the skills to find employment through course and initiatives ran by United.

It certainly appears that Wonga are keen to get the fans on side and they haven’t done a bad job of that to start with. Of course to us fans it’s always been St James’ Park, but to now have it back officially and remove any possibility of it being called the Sports Direct Arena again is fantastic. The other initiatives stated by Wonga include setting up a fans forum for discussing ideas of fan involvement in the club, and also getting fans involved in the design of the shirts.

However it isn’t all sweetness and light as far as I’m concerned. I’m not overly happy that we now carry the name of a company that basically extorts people with eye watering interest rates. Granted Richard Branson is no different, but at least he doesn’t charge over 4,000% or whatever it is Wonga charge. Mind you, St Branson has been nudging the interest rate on my Virgin credit card up and up and up for the last couple of years…

On the other hand, Wonga are just offering a service. An extremely expensive service all the same, but all charges and other associated stuff such as interest rates are demonstrated BEFORE anything is agreed. Is it their fault that people then still choose to use their service?

This whole thing has been played very smartly, from both the club and Wonga. Right now they appear to be the shining knights in all of this whilst also paying for a stadium that was pretty much always referred to as St James’ Park anyway. The devil is in the detail however and I’d be interested to see how much the club are receiving for this. Rumours suggest the deal is worth £8m a season but we’ll see I guess.

What do you make of it all?

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

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262 thoughts on “St James’ Park again, thanks to a lot of Wonga!”

  1. Like paulmag i think we will still see sd signs as lamearse stated our 3 principal sponsors are Puma,wonga and SD. Probably the only signs to go will be the Sd arena signs outside.Love MPs and councillors criticising the deal,2 groups of people with less morals than ashley.I also have to agree with sharpys comments

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  3. Tommy Gibb, thats the way i see it. they get money from sponsors to change back to sjp while at the same time still keep the sd advertising .

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  5. Newkie 🙄

    Tommy@76 ,To be fair to the local MP ,I think they are seeing more and more people turning up to their surgery to talk about their debt crisis ,often through dealing with payday lenders. Having said that I agree MP’s are the last people should be preeching about morals and money after the bloody expenses scandal.

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  6. Ice 😉

    Paul…agree, there’ll still be SD all over the place, although it shouldn’t be as much as Wonga would be the most prominent sponsor….possibly 😕

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  8. KIM talking expenses remember last year that con MP who put £10 on church plate (making sure people saw it) then went and claimed it back on his daily expenses,crooks at every turn in this world 🙁

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  9. “We are building a club that can regularly compete for top honours at the highest level.” More drivel from Llambias. What ambition did we show in the summer window? We were outspent by almost every other Prem club. We didn’t get the CB the manager said we needed. We didn’t sign the RB we were after and Simpson is still unsigned. We continue to have a lack of depth at striker. We sold and released more players than we brought in even though we have a very thin squad as far as talent is concerned. Talk is cheap Llambias.

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  10. Richie: unless wonga have only shirt sponsors , name of ground change as part of their deal. Time will tell.

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  11. Who actually cares if Wonga lend money at high interest rates, really? If you don’t want to borrow it you won’t. But lets forget about the employment that they also create. That doesn’t even enter peoples minds when making moral judgments.

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  12. All we need to do now is send Carr to scout the football in the far east and find a Japanese ,Chinese or Korean footballer thats half decent called Won -ga .Then this would be a good deal , their must be one . Their is billions too choose from , the shirt sales would be massive .

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  13. I like what they have said about investing more money into the academy and buying the naming rights from Ashley to rename the stadium SJP. But.. I hate what they stand for as a company; to lend hard up people money over a short term, only to make them even more poor the next month. Legal loan sharking and look at the profits they are obviously making.

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2207554/The-astonishing-homes-Wongas-fat-cats-tripling-profits-4-000pc-payday-loans.html

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  14. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    Justice! At last!

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  15. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    Lets not get too moralistic. The replica shirts are made in poverty stricken countries in sweat shops.

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  16. No let’s get moralistic Troy. If nobody bothers nothing will change. If the shirts are made in sweat shops I won’t be buying any more. Saying nobody can do anything about anything is exactly what the scum running many of these companies want. I want to leave a better world for my daughter not a worse one. Fight the good fight til the last breath. Otherwise why be here in the first place?

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  17. G2, Here here , I wonder how many fans would still be happy with this deal if we now had the Wonga Stadium.

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  19. TROY ,where did you read ,hear that@90 ,I would be interested to read up on that like as I thought that sort of thing had been clamped down on. 😕

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  22. GeordieTwo,

    Lovely philosophy and great sentiments but that’ll never happen. Unfortunately the freedom fighting rebellions are in the small minority and that’ll always be the same whilst the elite control the world. Just accept it and buy the shirt, or better still get the Virgin Money one cheaper from sports direct once it changes…whey!! 😆

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  23. KIMTOON
    Precisely, I bet the same people that go on about not accepting being fed scraps by Ashley are the same people that will be happy with all this and Wonga being club sponsors because they named the stadium st James Park. The stadium is and has always been st James Park and this is just another trick and more scraps from Ashley so stick that in yer pipes and smoke it. 🙂

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  24. Paul…I’d guess if they can change the name of the stadium back(oficially) then they’ve paid to sponsor it so I’d assume they are paying for more than just their name on the shirts so I’d expect Wonga to be plastered around the stadium so Mikey boy will have to give up some of his space…Like I say I’m “guessing/assuming”, time will tell….it’ll all come out in the wash 😉 :mrgreen:

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  26. Richie ,I know that’s dated 2011 but christ that’s depressing if it’s still going on .Ithought that had all been stopped by big firms. 👿

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  27. Richie; yeah there will probably be lots of those signs that spin round with wonga and sd all over sjp 👿 On another note probably bs but we are being linked with villa for Charlie Austin of Burnley. Think he would be a good signing if true.

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  28. Thanks Moreno. I’ll stick with my way. I’d rather lose but be on the right side than win a sack of money stolen from poor people. Of course my favourite book is Don Quixote. 😀

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  29. Kim….who knows, but I’d be more shocked if it wasn’t still going on…..the world, both political and business wise is ran by parasites 😥

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  31. richietoon@100…. even more “interesting” is the swathe of high profile German’s, many of them adopting high profile positions in Germany industry, media etc, earning a shed load of money anyway who have offshore accounts in Switzerland. Some clever gadgys then recorded everything on CD’s and offered to sell the CD’s to the tax authorities of certain German states, NRW, Berlin, Bavaria etc. The punters in question were of course give the chance of amnesty that if they came clean, closed the account and paid the repective taxes then they would avoid prison. There is one world for the small people, and a parallel universe where the money people exist… It’s better to be kept in the dark, cos it can make you pretty angry at times…

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  33. I’m amazed that people care about who the sponsor is because of some ill thought stance on morality, yet have happily let their children walk around in shirts sponsored by alcohol companies. Alcohol ruins a lot more people’s lives than a short term loan company, yet we accept it because most people like a drink?

    Slightly two faced stance in my opinion.

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  34. GEORDIETWO better to die on your feet fighting than live your life on your back accepting whatever scraps are threw down to ye 😉

    Kim did you not see the programme about Jabba’s sweatshops ❓

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  35. Crackin’ idea getting fans involved in the club. Get this:

    The Seattle Sounders (probably MLS’s best all around team and most dedicated fan base. seriously, 67k people at last game and everybody singing and playing drums and wearing colours and waving scarfs) are owned in part by Drew Carey. He had a brilliant idea: the FANS actually ELECT the general manager. That’s right. He is NOT appointed by the board, but solely responsible to the fan base who may vote him out of office so to speak. Wild idea, huh?

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  36. One Foot Wonder – Nail on the head there mate.

    I think you’ll find that really all this negative rubbish they are spouting on here is down to the fact ‘Wonga’ is a ridiculous sounding word (and I agree it is) and they are gutted that it is something that other teams will be able to take the **** out of.

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  37. Dave ,no I didn’t see it, when was it on ❓

    One foot wonder @108 I don’t consider my stance to be an “ill thought out view” thank you. I have seen first hand the misery they cause folk ,People I might add that arn’t loaning for luxuries but because they are low paid and things keep going up in price and wages don’t . It’s a terrible thing to be robbing peter to pay paul all the time ,no life at all . I think your comment was ill thought out as you obviously havn’t heard the expression of walking a day in anothers shoes. What it has to do with drink Ido not know ,people drink cause they like it and your average brewery makes drink so people can have a good time drinking it ,it’s not their thought if folk get nasty with it or addicted. People don’t loan money from payday lenders cause it’s something to enjoy! like booze . For every feckless loanee their is half a dozen desperate punters fallen on hard times .

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  39. I agree with Troy @90

    And more, I think it’s the most pithy comment I’ve read on here for a long time, if ever.

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  41. Was only a matter of time before something like this happened.

    The writing was on the wall when Llambias said that hardly any money come from shirt sales. This told me that they would not take these sales into consideration when deciding on the next sponsor. I was quietly relieved when Virgin was announced and thought my skepticism may have been misplaced…I should have known better.

    Whoever pays the most was always going to get it. Whether that be Virgin, Wonga or Playboy TV.

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  46. Troy=Exactly why I said discussing morality is a none issue. Did you see my comment from the other day by the way 😆 😈

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  47. The Kid 😆 😆

    Surely they must make more than Wonga anyway, or at least splash the cash a bit more. They’re obviously more classy 😈

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  48. just been mentioned that some of the muzzies playing at the toon might object to wearing ‘wonga’ on the shirt as its against sharia law… hmmm

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  50. aye Newkie. Muslims don’t believe in any kind of loans, interest loans mainly from what I can remember.

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  52. Mark-I suppose it’s mentioned in the Qur’an as it is in both testaments of the Bible. Personally I don’t think Ba will even be here by the next summer, and I really don’t think Ben Arfa or Cisse, or Ba for that matter, care that much, or will allow it to overcome their “professionalism”

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  54. Mark-Well, strictly speaking shouldn’t Muslims pray 5 times a day at strictly allotted intervals? Given that the noon, afternoon and sunset prayer times all conflict with 12pm, 3pm and 7pm kick offs at varying points throughout the year, I would hope that our players can also stomach wearing a shirt once a week.

    Unless Ba and Cisse have only scored for us at certain points during games for all this time…. 😆

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  55. @Kimtoon 127.

    Firstly I mean no offence, and respect your opinion. I’m not a rich man, although have always worked hard. I have had my rough times and even used a similar company to this to help me out a while ago.. I made that decision from free will. You’re right, times are tough and prices are going up. Some people however can loan money in a responsible manner others cant.

    Just like some people can drink in a responsible manner and others can’t. For some alcohol has lead to a loved one being taken by a drink driver, Children and women being beaten by drunk and violent partners, 18 year old sons being killed in a drunken fight while on a night out. But you’re right, Breweries make drinks so people can have fun, why should they care about the one’s who can’t be responsible? Why should Wine makers care that their product is linked to a increase in cancer.

    So really, what is the difference between being sponsored by a liquor company, a betting company, a loan company or even a sweatshop company?

    Funny thing is, the first beer I ever had was a McEwans.

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  56. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/oct/09/alan-shearer-joe-allen
    😆 😆 😆 “Joe Allen will be a bargain” suppose you’ll have to define what a bargain is then cus a £15m midfielder that passes backwards and hardly contributes to an attack is hardly a ‘bargain’ in my eyes. Shearer was dead right and the fact that Rodgers says that he’s wrong just shows his lack of footballing knowledge.
    Muslim players in our team
    Cisse
    Ba
    Ben Arfa
    Tiote
    Me thinks that thats a fair few of the first teamers, we’ll see if any of them objects to wearing the logo. My bet would be Ba as he seems more of a diva than Hatem.
    Newkie
    If a muslim has a job that prevents him from doing his religous duties (ie Fasting, praying at certain times) then they are excused from them. However some still choose to fast and I believe that the stadium/benton has an area for praying.

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  58. Andy-“If a muslim has a job that prevents him from doing his religous duties (ie Fasting, praying at certain times) then they are excused from them”

    That in itself is contentious, because some Muslims wouldn’t excuse that. There is no simple “world rule book to being a muslim” even the Qur’an is interpreted differently and why there are differing sects of muslims, and even differing approaches within the same sects.

    To be honest, if anyone thinks Ben Arfa is a, ahem, “propper Muslim” and doesn’t enjoy the odd drink or shag-as he’s said he himself does-then they’re kidding themselves.

    Ba, Cisse and Tiote I am less certain on, but I highly doubt they would refuse to play.

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  61. Newkie
    I’m almost certain that Ben Arfa is a muslim, and at one point almost joined at Muslim branch cult. Just because Toto and the dembas don’t openly show their faith (except for the dembas kissing the ground when scoring) doesn’t mean they aren’t ‘true muslims’. I would however agree that with different paths to the muslim faith(as with most religions) there are different ways to interpret it. The idea of fasting is widely known in both Islamic and Christian religions(aswell as probably others) that if it affects your day to day life too much (stops you from working/taking care of the kids) then you are exempt.
    Enough of this religious debate though its been going on for millenia. Just focus on the fact that we should have a fully fit team for two weeks time against the mackems :mrgreen: . Night now, been watching bond films and prometheus all day, need some shut eye. 😕 😉

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  62. Andy-He “is” and he “did” join that cult, albeit for a bit, however it doesn’t mean he can’t enjoy the finer things in life….

    http://londonmuslims.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/newcastles-ben-arfa-i-dont-eat-pork-but.html

    😉

    I’m not disputing that the others are also Muslims, just that I don’t expect them t have a very “hardline” approach to it, and more specifically not to a shirt sponsor. I may be wrong of course, but its just the impression from them that I get.

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  64. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    I’ve knocked Ashley time and time again for his underhand selfish tactics and even questioned his business sense when we got relegated.

    However, this bloke is a bloody genius! Who else could get millions paid to him for renaming St James Park to ………………. St James Park 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯

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  65. Evil Franky….bit harsh mate, as Kim says I think Virgin as a name is much more pisstakeable(yep I know it’s not a word) than Wonga, so maybe those objecting on moral grounds do honestly believe that and are enttiled to their opinion…….me personally I’m just owa the moon the “official” name is revrting back, if that makes me immoral so be it 😉 :mrgreen:

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  66. Troy….keep up man, we said that yesterday 😉 ….ya’ll have to get the bairn to be mascot again so he’ll have “officially” ran out at St James’ :mrgreen:

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  67. …and ref the “muslim” thing, weren’t SBOBET sponsors of West Ham when Ba played for them? it’s the papers stirring up ****.

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  68. and the clincher to show that it’s all bollox is that the league is sponsored by Barclays, who erm cough cough…lend money 😉

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  69. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    Ha Richie, I’ve hardly had time to post lately never mind read the posts. 😉

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  70. I see the owners of WONGA have offered to meet with their critics and local MP to make their business practices more transparent. It will be interesting to see what they say ,and I hope we get to see the details of the meeting.

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  73. RICHIE it has always beat me how that **** ever got a job reporting theres just nowt about the guy his mrs must be bored silly,i cant be arsed to hear him on

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  74. Ice…. I’m thick as **** and would have done a better job if I’d just been on a 24hr **** up. 🙄

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  75. Richie you shouldn’t run yersel down lad, we can do that for ye.
    As I have said many times Ryder is just a pr mouthpiece for Jabba and co.

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