Better the devil you know?

[toptoon]

I don´t think there´s anyone who wouldn´t like us to be taken over by a mega rich owner, from wherever, who shares our ambition for the club and who will heavily invest. The question is, are there any potential buyers around like that?

I´m not bowled over by talk of the Turkish guy - he is seriously rich but not so much so in 'planet football' terms. A 60 million spend is being talked about. My first question is - does that include the spend on wages or is that just for transfer payments? If it´s the former, then with the TV money coming I would expect Rafa to have that anyway under Ashley.

Time for calm heads because for every 'rich' owner who has bought a club and is adored by the fans, I can show you two who the fans hate and can´t wait to get rid of.

It´s been said many times: ´be careful what you wish for´but, to be honest, there´s little we can do to influence any changes in ownership. I just hope that any new owner has done their home work on NUFC, meaning that they can see what it takes to be successful - not just spending money, by the way, but things like including and communicating with the fans and also sees what a massive potential this club has for success on the pitch and, at the same time, as an investment.

This could be a major turning point in the history of the club - I just hope the rollercoaster throws us up this time, instead of down.

[sherwoodmag]

He is just the first to throw his hat into the ring.There could be others to come.

[Jammy89]

He is just the first to throw his hat into the ring.There could be others to come.

There had better be others to come, bit awkward if he's only one.

[kingstonbob]

One thing is for sure Ashley will only sell the club with his sole interests at heart not the clubs. Cant wait to get rid now the HMRC are all over us. Another massive feck up on his watch whether the club end up in court or not. The likelihood is that we wont get a Mansoor, but whoever does finally buy us would have to go some to out do Ashley for feck ups especially two relegations that were completely avoidable.

[toptoon]

One thing is for sure Ashley will only sell the club with his sole interests at heart not the clubs. Cant wait to get rid now the HMRC are all over us. Another massive feck up on his watch whether the club end up in court or not. The likelihood is that we wont get a Mansoor, but whoever does finally buy us would have to go some to out do Ashley for feck ups especially two relegations that were completely avoidable.

I was just thinking before that maybe he´s in a rush to sell becuase he´s worried of the effect the HMRC investigation will have on the SD share price. HMRC will still punish who they need to punish but if he´s not owner of NUFC anymore then the importance of his link to the scandal in the press will pale into insignificance.

[kingstonbob]

It wouldn't surprise me that any deal has in it that the Sports Direct adverts stay up until all instalments are paid and it'll be structured for at least two years.

[waalsendmick]

the people who want to buy the club, will buy it regardless off said tax charge. in fact, it puts them in a position if strength as big Mike is (for once) on the back foot!

[ex_pat_magpie]

the people who want to buy the club, will buy it regardless off said tax charge. in fact, it puts them in a position if strength as big Mike is (for once) on the back foot!

Yes it does, depending upon how serious the outcome is viewed weaken his position.

[ghostrider]

Let's be clear about a few things and I believe many would agree.

1. When Ashley goes, assuming it's in the next few months, he leaves the club on a sound financial footing.

2. When Ashley goes, he also leaves the club with a better potential set of players than we've had for a long time, along with a top manager. Basically he leaves the club in a much better state than most owners ever do with any club.

Just imagine if he left like the last owners did, leaving the club in near ruin.

However, once he leaves, that should be it. Any bickering from that point on about bad luck or financial problems or new owners not doing what they promised, or doing what they promised then not following it forward.....is not Mike Ashley's fault.

When he goes he can go with a few words from us all, ranging from, " thanks for saving the club Mike." Or " You could have done a lot better if you were clued up on football mike." Or words to that effect.

If all goes well after he leaves then we can all be happy and hopefully look forward to the future and put the past behind us as just another chapter in a long line of chapters that gave us many mixed feelings, from the good to the bad and the downright ugly.

Was I a fan of Mike Ashley?
The answer is, no.
Did I think Mike Ashley had good intentions for the club.
The answer is, yes.

Do I still think his intentions are good?
The answer is, yes, in terms of leaving the club in a healthy state whatever happens sooner or later.

Do I think he royally messed up in his time.
Absolutely I do, but I also believe he done a hell of a lot of good that will be as forgotten as the needle in that giant haystack that may, in time, be trodden on to give many of us a wake up call as to how things could have been a lot worse. (hopefully not)

Our issue from this point on (assuming takeover) is in not getting too far ahead of ourselves, because the expectation levels will surely rise like a newly built skyscraper and COULD end up becoming a massive let down if promises are delivered in short term and collapse like a pack of cards.

The thing is, where do we really go with any of this?
Look at Liverpool.
Look at the money being thrown about with them.
Look at the players they bought for the fight for the top and are still playing also ran.
Look at Everton.
Fortunate enough to offset their outlay with close to what they brought in, in terms of money, excluding Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Wayne Rooney on a quarter of a million a week.

This is where we will have to tread if we simply want to play around the top 6 scrappers.
Will it ever be enough?

How do we actually move on?

Don't get me wrong, I understand the mindset of " we just want a team that tries and a manager that cares and owners that will spend their fair share."
I understand all of that and also understand that we all want a team that doesn't want to be seen anywhere near the relegation area.
We want a team in the top half as a sort of given.

The issue we will have is when new owners start casting out the net and bringing in the big league players on big wages.
It'll be great for us to watch (probably) but will need to be sustained, whilst also sustaining a top manager to oversee it all.

Is it possible?
What kind of owners can give us even a sniff at battling at the top end on a regular basis...because the only owner(s) I can see doing that in terms of a north east club, would be PSG type owners or Man City.
Even Man United's Glazers couldn't sustain a beg steal and borrow attitude as far north from London as us.

Why am I typing this?
The reason is, I'm in a bit of a turmoil. It bothers me as to where the club could end up with a gung-ho approach to success but also excites me at the prospect of going up against the big boys and knowing that the big boys are worried about us.

I sit here and think....hmmm, am I content with mediocrity and hope or am I scared and excited of what lies ahead?

I'm happy to see Mike Ashley walk away but only happy if we move forward in the right way and not for a quick flash in the pan jump into the top 4 to say hello and now we're right back down below, scenario.

Fingers crossed we get some long term joy.

[pboromag]

I dont thin we will get anyone with the same outlook on purchasing a club like chelsea or city

i think we will get an investment company

someone who will buy us to do like ash thought make quick buck

i dont think ash had thought about the likes of city spending what they do or manure willing to trade at a loss every year

look at arsenal owners not willing to spend

people dont realise the amount neede to even get anywhere near the top 4
squd facilities back room staff ,etc etc

we arent a 400 mill purchase
who ever buys us will ned to be willing to invest best part of 600 mill and more from the go with the purchase of the club included in that figure .

And to get what back
maybe a place in europe

you can nearly double that figure to get into the champions league with the cost of players going up window by window and wages

400 mill for someone looking to get their company in the window or a maybe a foothold in the asian market which is cooloing right off

maybe a yank who wants to bring a american footy team here like spuds are trying for

very very tricky times ahead