There are lots of ways of looking at Mike Ashley. You could look at perspectives and make your own portrait jigsaw. I am conscious if the pieces are put in the wrong places, and arse and elbow might appear together.
We know he is a chancer and likes a gamble. We also know from his retail empire that he likes cost cutting. The "tanks on the lawn" thing shows that he likes to win in his own way, which many of us find obnoxious.
There is another piece of the jigsaw that some haven't seen, unsurprisingly. Parliamentary select committees are not always the best of viewing. One of the many things that struck me in watching his was that his one great love is retail. Suggestions that he bugged a meeting of one of those committees demonstrates what many of us believe about his ethics. We cam also see his track record of buying at low prices and selling high.
OK, personally, he has shown Rafa who is boss. Having publicly promised "every last penny" it is clear that Ashley's word means little. He has one over on one of the best managers in world football, at least in track record.
There is probably more than a bit of truth in his expectations if he were to sell the club, a price tag of around £400m.
There are some opportunities, the latest being House of Fraser. If anyone cares to watch the select committee, you will see some traits exhibited in discussions about BHS. There was a passion for retail and wanting to get hold of the chain of stores. You might also detect a frustration at missing out.
Back to NUFC. There is no way that he will get £400m unless he finds some sort of narcissistic multi-billionaire in need of a vanity project. From a commercial point of view, the squad needs investment as does some of the club infrastructure. From a potential investor's point of view, maybe something around the £350-360m mark is realistic at a push, which has been discussed in other threads.
Whilst in the Premier League is a prime time to sell, not least when a world class manager is at the helm. Let's face it, after this transfer window, it is hard to envisage another manager of the same calibre next time around.
Given the surplus so far in this window, it seems reasonable that Ashley might take the opportunity to use extract some of his "loans" to NUFC. Also remember that there is an asset in future instalments attributable to NUFC from the likes of Sissoko, Wijnaldum and possibly Mitrovic.
Unless TV revenues escalate even more, and there is reason to believe that the market is flattening out, there will never be a better time to sell the club. basically, he has until the end of October to agree a price and allow a new investor to use the January window to avoid relegation and start building foundations for the future. Ashley got lucky with Rafa and is unlikely to get as lucky again if the club are relegated.
From Rafa's side, he is something of a strategist. He is reported, during the summer, as suggesting that he could be here for 10 years. Was that message aimed at Ashley or at potential investors?
Give it until the end of the window and the journalistic hacks will start picking up on it, even if they don't as a result of reading this board. The cash that Ashley may be able to take out of the club to finance other retail ventures might mean that he can accept the £350-360m valuation. Maybe, just maybe, there is a Staveley or other business person with a relatively modest amount of cash to develop the club as a going concern with potential.
OK, it's early days and elbows and arseholes might be indistinguishable in a bad light but don't be surprised if the man who has led the club to 2 relegations during his tenure suddenly sees opportunities elsewhere. With enough adverse publicity from the Geordie fan base, we could see a happy coincidence that leads to Ashley finally getting out, more or less on his terms.
For those who can stomach Ashley, his hearing is here, you also get Keith Bishop:
https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/a870989f-3119-4e2a-9ea7-e6ab094e77d1?in=11:36:21&out=13:09:33
We know he is a chancer and likes a gamble. We also know from his retail empire that he likes cost cutting. The "tanks on the lawn" thing shows that he likes to win in his own way, which many of us find obnoxious.
There is another piece of the jigsaw that some haven't seen, unsurprisingly. Parliamentary select committees are not always the best of viewing. One of the many things that struck me in watching his was that his one great love is retail. Suggestions that he bugged a meeting of one of those committees demonstrates what many of us believe about his ethics. We cam also see his track record of buying at low prices and selling high.
OK, personally, he has shown Rafa who is boss. Having publicly promised "every last penny" it is clear that Ashley's word means little. He has one over on one of the best managers in world football, at least in track record.
There is probably more than a bit of truth in his expectations if he were to sell the club, a price tag of around £400m.
There are some opportunities, the latest being House of Fraser. If anyone cares to watch the select committee, you will see some traits exhibited in discussions about BHS. There was a passion for retail and wanting to get hold of the chain of stores. You might also detect a frustration at missing out.
Back to NUFC. There is no way that he will get £400m unless he finds some sort of narcissistic multi-billionaire in need of a vanity project. From a commercial point of view, the squad needs investment as does some of the club infrastructure. From a potential investor's point of view, maybe something around the £350-360m mark is realistic at a push, which has been discussed in other threads.
Whilst in the Premier League is a prime time to sell, not least when a world class manager is at the helm. Let's face it, after this transfer window, it is hard to envisage another manager of the same calibre next time around.
Given the surplus so far in this window, it seems reasonable that Ashley might take the opportunity to use extract some of his "loans" to NUFC. Also remember that there is an asset in future instalments attributable to NUFC from the likes of Sissoko, Wijnaldum and possibly Mitrovic.
Unless TV revenues escalate even more, and there is reason to believe that the market is flattening out, there will never be a better time to sell the club. basically, he has until the end of October to agree a price and allow a new investor to use the January window to avoid relegation and start building foundations for the future. Ashley got lucky with Rafa and is unlikely to get as lucky again if the club are relegated.
From Rafa's side, he is something of a strategist. He is reported, during the summer, as suggesting that he could be here for 10 years. Was that message aimed at Ashley or at potential investors?
Give it until the end of the window and the journalistic hacks will start picking up on it, even if they don't as a result of reading this board. The cash that Ashley may be able to take out of the club to finance other retail ventures might mean that he can accept the £350-360m valuation. Maybe, just maybe, there is a Staveley or other business person with a relatively modest amount of cash to develop the club as a going concern with potential.
OK, it's early days and elbows and arseholes might be indistinguishable in a bad light but don't be surprised if the man who has led the club to 2 relegations during his tenure suddenly sees opportunities elsewhere. With enough adverse publicity from the Geordie fan base, we could see a happy coincidence that leads to Ashley finally getting out, more or less on his terms.
For those who can stomach Ashley, his hearing is here, you also get Keith Bishop:
https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/a870989f-3119-4e2a-9ea7-e6ab094e77d1?in=11:36:21&out=13:09:33
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