Ashley, Rangers & Newcastle-eventually the dots need joined.

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

A little story from the North East local paper with two or three noteworthy comments, albeit little to back them up.

Mike Ashley, Rangers and Newcastle United - eventually the dots will need to be joined

Dec 18, 2014 16:00

OPINION

BY MARKDOUGLAS

Newcastle United insist events north of the border mean nothing to Magpies but overseas investors are looking at the Premier League

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley

These are strange days in Scotland, where Mike Ashley’s relationship with Rangers gets more complicated by the week.

A few weeks ago it was a debate about whether both the Gers and Newcastle could play in Europe at the same time, something that Ashley continues to believe will be possible despite UEFA’s rules. On Monday the decision by the SFA to charge Ashley and the Ibrox club with breaching rules over dual ownership became the latest bump in the rocky path that the United owner has traversed north of the border.

United’s response seemed to be a breezy ‘No effect on us’ and practically, it will not have any – for a while at least. But in the medium and long-term? Well that future can’t be predicted with quite so much certainty.

The more he gets dragged into Rangers the harder it gets. There have already been whispers that he expected it to be plainer sailing that it has been over there.

The club insist that Ashley’s commitment to the club is absolute and sources speak of him being ‘perplexed’ by constant speculation about his intentions. The statement released earlier in the season – stating 2016 as the minimum term for him running the club – has not been rolled back.

With a huge TV deal in the pipeline and Ashley keeping Newcastle ticking over nicely in the Financial Fair Play era, there is no motivation to leave. It would take an eye-watering offer to prise United from him, just as it would his interest in Rangers.

Apropos of nothing, it was interesting to read an Associated Press interview with Qatari sports minister Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Al this week.

“We have a special team for the investment,” he told AP after admitting the Government would like to add a Premier League club to their portfolio.

“They are good business people. They are learning. They are getting better and better. They are investigating all opportunities, I think in America, in England and everywhere.”

That won’t matter much if Ashley isn’t for shifting, but it’s one to watch nonetheless. The Premier League gravy train has never looked more attractive to investors.

In the meantime, it’s worth keeping an eye on the often confusing developments north of the border. They don’t mean much to Newcastle just yet but eventually, the dots might be joined.

[Brian Fantana 28,894]

saying what everyone should know - if push came to shove and Ashley had to choose one club to keep he would drop us in a minute to keep Newcastle, they make far more money than this back water game we have in Scotland.

He will never invest vast sums of money into us, always enough to keep us ticking over and no more.

[Big Al 55 9,252]

I suspect we will start to hear sound bytes that Ashley is no longer so sure. We can them blame boycotters...Ally...SFA for chasing him away

[True Azure 1,414]

Don't know about joining the dots, with our situation at the moment it's more a game of Pin The Tail On The Donkey.

[Deep Blue Something 14]

A lot of wishful thinking is going on with our supporters. Me included.

If MA can make a profit by have two of his considerable fingers in both pies then he will, but if he is forced to pull one finger out of a pie then it is not going to be the magpie.

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

Don't know about joining the dots, with our situation at the moment it's more a game of Pin The Tail On The Donkey.

Good point, wittily made.

[AlCapone 7,678]

saying what everyone should know - if push came to shove and Ashley had to choose one club to keep he would drop us in a minute to keep Newcastle, they make far more money than this back water game we have in Scotland.

He will never invest vast sums of money into us, always enough to keep us ticking over and no more.

yes but he will make his money in England by selling, less so by keeping Newcastle

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

saying what everyone should know - if push came to shove and Ashley had to choose one club to keep he would drop us in a minute to keep Newcastle, they make far more money than this back water game we have in Scotland.

He will never invest vast sums of money into us, always enough to keep us ticking over and no more.

Don't know about joining the dots, with our situation at the moment it's more a game of Pin The Tail On The Donkey.

I've been thinking about his existing and possible future investment in us and the likelihood of having to decide over which he keeps.

In Scotland, £10m-£20m is a vast sum and it could have a huge effect, invested wisely.

At Newcastle, he is a prince among kings, with others who have greater desire and funds to fritter on football. In Scotland, even by Dave's standards, Ashley could be the one true King, getting to the Champions' League for pennies compared to the expenditure required to make that cut in England.

He may prefer Newcastle to Rangers and would like to keep both, and while Newcastle may make more money by many factors, Sports Direct may be his big overarching concern which takes priority. It might be down to which he deems he'd get more exposure for Sports Direct with- Rangers in the CL or Newcastle in the EPL. Europe is said to be his big target for expanding SD Ltd, but who knows.

All of the above is highly speculative and is merely considering the possibilities at play, that we know of, in this context.

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

yes but he will make his money in England by selling, less so by keeping Newcastle

A fair point which I hadn't considered or factored into my previous musings.

[BF2 winston 123]

Don't know about joining the dots, with our situation at the moment it's more a game of Pin The Tail On The Donkey.

Which one there are 11 every week.

[TheBluenose1972 1,405]

Has Ashley even ever stepped foot inside Ibrox? Or been to any Rangers facility or event?

[STEPPS BOY 73,923]

Has Ashley even ever stepped foot inside Ibrox? Or been to any Rangers facility or event?

Been to an old firm game..

[j1mgg 3,766]

Our club is fucked, we have a group of supporters that would rather we shutdown than try and help.

[Drunk and disorderly. 14,437]

Has Ashley even ever stepped foot inside Ibrox? Or been to any Rangers facility or event?

Don't think he is a supporter, just an investor.

A quick glance in the boredroom section and you'll find some who think Rangers will die without him. I jest you not.

He is nothing to me unless he proves himself worthy of controlling our great Club. Seems to be struggling to prove that even to the SFA.

[The Godfather 71,895]

Doesn't matter a fuck if he's a supporter or not.

Ally's meant to be one yet is screwing us over so...

[Ryan_1 1,136]

I've got a feeling he may be about to sell Newcastle, if there's a profit to be made to a wealthy Arabian/Qatari or whatever then end of the day he's a businessman and profit is what he makes his living off.

Ideally he'd like to get us on the cheap, which he has, then sell us on once we've stabilised and running a steady ship. He'll need to take a more hands on approach before that'll happen however.

[LiverpoolBlue 1,395]

I've been thinking about his existing and possible future investment in us and the likelihood of having to decide over which he keeps.

In Scotland, £10m-£20m is a vast sum and it could have a huge effect, invested wisely.

At Newcastle, he is a prince among kings, with others who have greater desire and funds to fritter on football. In Scotland, even by Dave's standards, Ashley could be the one true King, getting to the Champions' League for pennies compared to the expenditure required to make that cut in England.

He may prefer Newcastle to Rangers and would like to keep both, and while Newcastle may make more money by many factors, Sports Direct may be his big overarching concern which takes priority. It might be down to which he deems he'd get more exposure for Sports Direct with- Rangers in the CL or Newcastle in the EPL. Europe is said to be his big target for expanding SD Ltd, but who knows.

All of the above is highly speculative and is merely considering the possibilities at play, that we know of, in this context.

Not long ago in Singapore, I saw plenty Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool shirts - and Newcastle Utd shirts .. I wondered why Newcastle shirts at the time ..

[OvertonBluenose 40]

Ashley is only interested in Rangers as a vehicle for SportsDirect. He could probably get Rangers back in Champions League for an investment of less than £50m. How much do you think he would have to invest in Newcastle United to get them into the Champions League? I reckon it would take up to £300m to get Newcastle into the top 4 in the EPL. We are by far the cheaper option!

[j1mgg 3,766]

Ashley is only interested in Rangers as a vehicle for SportsDirect. He could probably get Rangers back in Champions League for an investment of less than £50m. How much do you think he would have to invest in Newcastle United to get them into the Champions League? I reckon it would take up to £300m to get Newcastle into the top 4 in the EPL. We are by far the cheaper option!

It would take no where near £50m to get us back in the champions league.

Looks at some of the teams that compete in that league, what we need is a good manager, youth and scouting network, and fans coming to o watch us.

[Dennistoun Rangers 426]

I suspect we will start to hear sound bytes that Ashley is no longer so sure. We can them blame boycotters...Ally...SFA for chasing him away

On the day his mate Llambias becomes CEO