Magpies takeover

[The_weatherman]

Who is this guy? I hope he´s not loaded...

ASHLEY LAUNCHES MAGPIES BID
By Chris Stanton - Created on 23 May 2007



Billionaire businessman Mike Ashley has bought a 41.6 per cent stake in Newcastle ahead of a proposed takeover.

Ashley, who made his fortune in retail and in February floated Sports Direct, has paid Sir John Hall and his family £55million for the stake.

Ashley has offered to buy the rest of the club's shares at the same price, which would value the St James' Park outfit in the region of £133million.

Stock Exchange rules mean that St James' Holdings Limited, Ashley's bid vehicle, must now make a cash offer for the remaining shares, around 29.8 per cent of which belong to chairman Freddy Shepherd.

[brikkis]

They might have the money if he does take over, but who will go there?

[dww]

They might have the money if he does take over, but who will go there?

Well Owen, Emre, Luque and Martins are all already there and are all recognised talent in Europe. With a good manager and less mental chairman then I would think the move would be attractive to a lot of players.

[The_weatherman]

Well Owen, Emre, Luque and Martins are all already there and are all recognised talent in Europe. With a good manager and less mental chairman then I would think the move would be attractive to a lot of players.

Agree, a change at the top will make a massive difference for them here is something more on the takeover.


Newcastle get £133m buyout offer
Michael Owen
England forward Michael Owen is one of Newcastle's top stars
Billionaire businessman Mike Ashley has launched a £133.1m ($263m) offer for Newcastle United football club.

The offer came after the retail entrepreneur said he had bought a 41.6% stake in the Premiership team from Sir John Hall's family for more than £55m.

Newcastle has been trying to improve its position in the Premiership and fans have been getting increasingly frustrated with the team's performance.

The club recently replaced its manager, the third in as many years.

'Wonderful heritage'

Mr Ashley said his firm St James Holdings Limited (SJHL) had bought 55.3 million shares in the club at 100 pence a share.

He added that his offer priced the rest of the club's shares at the same level.

Earlier this year Mr Ashley earned himself more than £900m after the flotation of his Sports Direct retail chain which he set up in 1982.

The group runs the Sports World retail chain and Lillywhites, and its brands include Dunlop, Kangol and Karrimor.

SJHL - which was set up specifically for the takeover by Mr Ashley - added that the offer price represented a 19% premium on the 84p closing price of Newcastle's shares on Tuesday 22 May.

"Newcastle United has a wonderful heritage and the passion of its fans is legendary," Mr Ashley said in a statement.

"I am sure that, like me, they are already excited about the prospects for next season under the new manager's stewardship."

[Bari]

Billionaire businessman Mike Ashley

He's not exactly a billionaire in British standards is he?

Maybe by American valuations he's a Billionaire - In the Sunday 2006 Rich list he placed at 56th worth 500 million sterling pounds.

So he's about to spend 2/5 of his wealth on buying them plus another 1/5 of this wealth (100million) to takeover the debts if the rumours are true.

[Jayesh87]

He's not exactly a billionaire in British standards is he?

Maybe by American valuations he's a Billionaire - In the Sunday 2006 Rich list he placed at 56th worth 500 million sterling pounds.

So he's about to spend 2/5 of his wealth on buying them plus another 1/5 of this wealth (100million) to takeover the debts if the rumours are true.

he probably took a massive loan out to finance most of it.

[Parm]

he probably took a massive loan out to finance most of it.

wonder where I've heard that before?:rolleyes:

[dww]

He's not exactly a billionaire in British standards is he?

Maybe by American valuations he's a Billionaire - In the Sunday 2006 Rich list he placed at 56th worth 500 million sterling pounds.

So he's about to spend 2/5 of his wealth on buying them plus another 1/5 of this wealth (100million) to takeover the debts if the rumours are true.

In an interview with Andrew LLoyd Webber (whom I have to say is not my favorite person but in this case I think he has a poin) the other week he mentioned that he knew a lot of billionaires who failed to make one of these lists (which he was on) and that they vastly exaggerated his wealth. I imagine that most of the valuations are pretty much guesswork. If he can but the club I imagine he must have funds to invest otherwise why would he take it over.

[enema of the state]

Owen, Emre, Luque and Martins are all already there and are all recognised talent in Europe.

talent - yes
"mentality" - no

the current nufc squad is a write off. only a fit DD would interest me

[Jayesh87]

talent - yes
"mentality" - no

the current nufc squad is a write off. only a fit DD would interest me

he is out for another 6 months now :jaw:

[Bari]

In an interview with Andrew LLoyd Webber (whom I have to say is not my favorite person but in this case I think he has a poin) the other week he mentioned that he knew a lot of billionaires who failed to make one of these lists (which he was on) and that they vastly exaggerated his wealth. I imagine that most of the valuations are pretty much guesswork. If he can but the club I imagine he must have funds to invest otherwise why would he take it over.

Maybe or maybe the Newcastle board are getting out while the going gets tuff and taking the offer while it is still there. (Belgrave and others disappeared soon after looking at the books, I think or maybe NUFC rejected the other offers, thinking this guy mike is the one)

The fan's are on their case again and Sam's appointment seems to had a 50/50 split effect on thier fans, as to whether he is the right man.

So IMO there looking for a exit and they have one

[dww]

talent - yes
"mentality" - no

the current nufc squad is a write off. only a fit DD would interest me

Parker is good player and Given is one of the better keepers outside the top 5. So in terms of a foundation to build on I think the squad is pretty decent - so long as UEFA is the goal for the next two years. What is needed is to buy a defence and often defensive players are undervalued by their clubs so I would imagine Newcastle will have no problem offering big enough wages to entice people.

[brikkis]

Well Owen, Emre, Luque and Martins are all already there and are all recognised talent in Europe. With a good manager and less mental chairman then I would think the move would be attractive to a lot of players.

True but if Liverpool, United, or Chelsea had have been in for any of those players, who would they have went to?

[enema of the state]

Parker is good player and Given is one of the better keepers outside the top 5.

neither would get in our SQUAD let alone best 11 imo

[enema of the state]

he is out for another 6 months now :jaw:

ouch!

[dww]

neither would get in our SQUAD let alone best 11 imo

I don't think the ambition of any team outside the top 6 next season should be anything other than the UEFA cup spot, on that basis they have a sound beginning in their squad. The situation at Newcastle can be like that at Spurs a few years ago with the right setup they could become consistant members of the top 6 - then like Spurs they could attract names like Berbatov.

In the mean time it is likely that their top targets will be the people we would only want as squad players.

You will have to convince me that Given isn't a better player to have on the bench than Dudek is currently.

[hertsred]

According to the BBC, this guy just made 950 miilion selling Lillywhites and other brands, and has a personal net worth of around 2 billion. He could make a serious difference to their squad in the short term, especially if his money and the departure of that complete k**b Shpherd persuades some of their best players to hang on.

[Red Chilli]

DIC were sniffing around the barcodes. I'm much happier with this lad taking over than DIC :)

[enema of the state]

I don't think the ambition of any team outside the top 6 next season should be anything other than the UEFA cup spot, on that basis they have a sound beginning in their squad. The situation at Newcastle can be like that at Spurs a few years ago with the right setup they could become consistant members of the top 6 - then like Spurs they could attract names like Berbatov.

In the mean time it is likely that their top targets will be the people we would only want as squad players.

You will have to convince me that Given isn't a better player to have on the bench than Dudek is currently.

agree with all but the last line which is a matter of opinion.

i just think that there a a lot of overpaid "lemons" at nufc - talent but the wrong mentality to the point were theyll NEVER succeed as a team

:carr/solano/emre/dyer/luque/martins/nzogbia/bramble/ameobi/bernard/babayaro and even owen would fall into this category.

I think they have a nightmare of a squad to try to build lasting success from. i think allardyce has his work cut out.

I predict aston villa as the side to threaten the top 4 next season, their recent acquisitions have talent AND the right mentality

[dww]

agree with all but the last line which is a matter of opinion.

i just think that there a a lot of overpaid "lemons" at nufc - talent but the wrong mentality to the point were theyll NEVER succeed as a team

:carr/solano/emre/dyer/luque/martins/nzogbia/bramble/ameobi/bernard/babayaro and even owen would fall into this category.

I think they have a nightmare of a squad to try to build lasting success from. i think allardyce has his work cut out.

I predict aston villa as the side to threaten the top 4 next season, their recent acquisitions have talent AND the right mentality

From that list I think Solano, Emre, Martins and Nzogbia have a mentality you could work with. As do Owen, Given and Parker IMO. You are right though they have some people who are a bad influence. He has made the righte decisions by axing players like Moore and Bramble who were both crap and seemingly not mentaly good enough for the job.

I can see what you are saying about Villa but I think they have a lot to do too. They have the advantage of a manager who has had a season to assess their squad though.

[The_weatherman]

I actually doubt neither Newcastler, Aston Villa or Tottenham will be a serious threat to the top 4 next season. Unless Arsenal won´t improve that is. ManU, Chelsea and Liverpool strolled ahead this season and finished comfortably ahead the rest and they will only get better, specially Liverpool who have the most room for improvement. The other teams along with Everton and Portsmouth, maybe Blackburn should battle it out for 5-7 IMO.

[enema of the state]

I actually doubt neither Newcastler, Aston Villa or Tottenham will be a serious threat to the top 4 next season. Unless Arsenal won´t improve that is. ManU, Chelsea and Liverpool strolled ahead this season and finished comfortably ahead the rest and they will only get better, specially Liverpool who have the most room for improvement. The other teams along with Everton and Portsmouth, maybe Blackburn should battle it out for 5-7 IMO.

dont disagree but i see villa as finishing top of that "glass ceiling" league