Dennis Wise launches incredible defence of Mike Ashley during disgraceful Sky Sports appearance
Days after Mike Ashley's takeover announcement, former 'executive director of football' Dennis Wise has jumped to the defence of the NUFC owner, claiming that people don't realise what he's all about and should be thankful that he didn't sell the club on the cheap to someone who couldn't take the club forward.
This all comes from his appearance on Sky Sports' The Debate', with Wise being accompanied by ex-NUFC striker Craig Bellamy on the show last night.
It perhaps sums up Sky (at times) that they'd have Dennis Wise on to discuss takeover talk and Mike Ashley to the millions tuning in. Disgraceful from Sky. Fancy asking one of Mike's old lackeys to discuss and defend the NUFC owner after such crushing news for our club this week.
Anyhow, as expected, he started straight away with a defence of his ex-boss, stating that 'people' don't realise what Ashley is all about:
“People have to realise what Mike Ashley is about and I don’t think they do.
“He won’t allow that football club to go to anyone. I think he wants to know that the next person who takes over that football club is going to take it forward.”
https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/953754081331380225
Wise then suggested that Ashley does in fact have the club’s best interest at heart (incredible isn't it!), stating he could've sold it on the cheap, but didn't so that it goes to someone who can 'move the club forward'.
Incredible really - he's had a reasonable offer from someone who could've moved the club forward and just look at his response to them on Tuesday! Here's what Wise said:
“He could probably do a deal with someone really cheaply and get rid of it and get rid of the hassle that he gets time after time or he can make sure that it goes to someone who he thinks will move that football club forward and I think that’s Mike for you, he’s that type of person.
“You have to realise he put money into that football club when it had quite a bit of debt, I think a quarter of a billion pounds he put into that football club to make sure there was no debt and buy it, he put his money where his mouth is there, he runs it in structured manner because he doesn’t want that football club to get in the same situation as it did before where it owes money.”
Wise then discussed his relationship with Newcastle fans, saying that he knows he will never be accepted by the Geordie faithful (I wonder why..):
“The fans don’t accept him, he knows that, but one thing he won’t do is allow that football club to go to someone he doesn’t think will be able to take that forward.”
The fact Sky even gave him time of day is bad enough, but him playing the 'everyone feel sorry for the hated Mike Ashley' card is just typical.
Wise then considered what the club was actually worth and how he would expect Mike would approach a takeover
“Looking at that football club, where it is now, is a decent price to buy at roundabout £250million to £300million.
“Looking at Mike’s point of view here, if someone is telling you they have a buyer and they’re going to put in this or that.
“I know how he works: ‘Put that in an escrow account, put it there, show me where you are and we can do a deal,’
“He would do a deal, knowing him, where he would spread it (the costs) if he felt it was a good deal for that football club.
Finally, Dennis touched on Ashley's approach to the transfer window, suggesting he WILL spend this month despite recent doubts:
“If there’s certain players out there (he will finance it).
“He’s not going to spend £100million.
“There’s players out there who you can get.
“You’ve got staff that work to bring players in, go out there and bring one in.
“Give an impact to the team by bringing a couple in but it’s not going to be, as I say, £40m to £50m or £60m. Stay in your bracket and bring those players in.”
Insightful stuff or a biased approach from another clueless man who can't be trusted? I think I'd probably go with the latter.
