On first reflection Saturday 13th September 2008 was not a good day for Tyneside. There was a strange air about the city when I arrived just after two o'clock. My experience lasted just one hour returning to listen and then watch other football as well as review the media handling of the events. It was not until the following evening that on further reflection Saturday had the makings of being a good day.
There were three other events affecting Britain and the United States which helped placed what happened on Tyneside in better perspective and I begin this piece of writing with these.
A number of Labour Party Member's of Parliament have written to the their headquarters requesting nomination be issued for a new Party Leader in time for the matter to be considered at the forthcoming annual conference. The first was from a member of the Government, a junior whip who was duly sacked. The second was from a Vice President of the Party who was duly sacked. Both were attractive young women. Later the media suggested these two were a front, possible for Jack Straw the Justice Minister, and with the support of Frank Field MP, to trigger a contest for Party leader, and by implication to replace the Prime Minister. Some seventy Member's of the Labour party, about a fifth are required to endorse a candidate who agrees to their nomination before the issue is then put to the Party National Conference. The structure has been established to prevent challenges to the Party leader once elected by due process. The problem with Prime Minister Gordon Brown is that he was not elected by a due process which involved a ballot and therefore a debate in public of the policy and personality issues before someone becomes a Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate in the four year cycle of national elections. The dilemma facing his colleagues that they fear the outcome of an election more than they fear going into a General Election with Gordon as the Leader. It is a political party gripped by fear, lacking in self confidence about what it is doing as a government and what will happen when there is a General Election. No amount of good factor developments from now until that time is likely to repair the damage and ill will built up against the Party and its Government during the short time that Gordon has been the Prime Minister. The country is in the mood for change and despite its historical record when in Government, the Conservative Party is likely to become the beneficiaries of those on the centre right, the majority, and with the Liberal Democratic Party gaining support for the centre left. Ordinarily I would agree with David Miliband, the South Shields Member of Parliament and other presently in Government who remind that a divided Party is usually a doomed Party. However the present situation is the exception as the Labour Party is already a doomed Party in terms of winning the next General Election and reversing the loss of the political control and major town and cities across Britain. Only a radical change has nay hope of success although getting the party to agree on a programme of radical change with a new Leader within a year unlikely but not impossible.
As if to reinforce the political depression which has swept Britain one of the biggest Travel firms in the UK involved in the booking of travel and accommodation as well as the operation of aircraft has collapsed, suddenly, but with rumours of putting a spin on its accounts over recent years. Some 67000 people were left stranded around the world after the administrator refused to allow the planes of the company to bring these travellers and holiday makers home. Another 200000 have lost their holidays although the overwhelming majority are said to have their payments protected. I listened to one family with a disabled son who had saved for a holiday of a lifetime trip to Disneyworld in the United where an anonymous female benefactor had stepped in to fund the holiday through other travel companies while the financial aspects are sorted out. One young couple holding a wedding involving twenty seven members of their families and friend on a Greek Island were faced with half the party being able to travel and half not and were spending a frantic time arranging alternatives without counting the costs. A young couple was left stranded at the Majorca airport for 36 hours which a five year old and it would be another 24 before there was hope of repatriating them. Coinciding with this travel chaos there was a second fire in the Channel Tunnel which closed all movement in both tunnels for forty eight seventy hours until a partial service recommenced using one of the tunnels.
In the United States, a country where it is said the majority believe in an intervening God, but which refuses to recognise the consequential judgement of God as the East Coast is battered by hurricanes winds, sea surges and torrential rain, while on the West Coast two passenger trains collided many deaths and serious injuries. If this is not God's wrath for a nation which calls itself the greatest, an unchristian concept , and which punishes and stigmatises its poor, only recently commenced he process of abolition racism, has backed away from an from a concerted plan to tackle global warming and the misuse of natural resources in a planned and concerted way
I had gone to bed late and waking for about the third time around 7.30 and feeling tired I returned to bed and went into a long sleep which lasted until 11. Even then I struggled to get up and it was midday when I consumed a combined breakfast and lunch of two sandwiches of white crab shredded crab flesh and cucumber. I slowly got myself washed and dressed and watched TV news to see how they were treating the proposed demonstrations protesting at the departure of Kevin Keegan from Newcastle United Football club and the running of the Club by men from outside of the North East and worse still from London. I listened to the pre match talk and to an interview with Malcolm McDonald. Everyone interviewed agrees with what and who are the problems but believe a quick and acceptable solution is unlikely. Everyone is wanting to become involved in what is essentially a dispute between the majority of the paying customers to those who control the service. The media is not neutral and appears to be taking the sides of the supporters against the owner and rulers of the providing service.
I believe I understood the strategy of the those behind this mess. Refuse to enter into discussion with the media or directly with the angry supporters. Hope that the demonstrations will take place without major incident inside and outside the ground and for a resounding win by the team against recently promoted Hull City; demonstrate you have done all that you can to persuade Kevin Keegan to return for the Good of the Club and its city and then appoint someone who will fit in your set up until either the humour of the crowd and media changes or you can find a buyer willing to ensure you do not lose financially from the sale. However this misjudges the nature of the beast as they say: the game of football and the tribal nature of a city and region.
I missed the main march through town which was later reported to have arrived at stadium and made its way through to the area under the Director's and hospitality stand where they stopped outside the former main reception entrances area which are also viewable by the media. Here they waved banners and shouted their protest which sounded louder because being effectively in large oblong tunnel. I was not aware of this until later.
As I made my way from central Station to Grey's Monument and then up to the Gallowgate end, two police carrying vehicles passed me with sirens and lights, and third followed as a more sedate level. I soon discovered that their purpose was to ensure that the passage of those making their way into the stadium was not fully blocked through the combination of protestors and sight seers.
I had decided to get off at central Station, the first of three stops on the Metro train from South Shields which supports use when travelling from South of river. Those from the West Coast alight at St James, the closest Metro station by the Stadium. I wanted to get the feel of what was happening across the city before making my way to stadium Although I got on the train after 1 pm it was not as packed as usual from the combination of football supporters and those going into Newcastle for the Saturday shopping. It was also noticeable there was no buzz of expectation about the game. In fact there was an unusual sombre silence.
There were two burley and well protected policemen at the station observing the crowds, but no police with dogs or riot police. As I crossed over the road outside the station everyone's attention were attracted by two young women in the briefest of shorts and tops soliciting customers for the erotic show in the basement of O'Neill's, the Irish Pub opposite and the three solid rough necks who formed the security squad at the entrance. This is a new phenomena in the city since the Liberal Democrats have taken over political control. I encountered two more of these girls, barely eighteen years of age soliciting custom on the road from the station to Grey's Monument.
I then noted that the pubs and cafes were as full as usual for this time of day on a football Saturday although I did not go up to the restaurant floor of the shopping centre adjacent to the Monument or enter the Eldon Square Shopping centre to cut through and over the road to exit close to the station. I would have needed to have left earlier to do this and the decision to visit the city was only taken just before one pm. The number of shoppers was significant less than usual even though it was a dry midday. There were crowds of students and young people around the Monument and in the square further up the road outside the recently enlarged shopping centre. The best way of describing the atmosphere at that point was to say that it was off key.
As I progressed I noted a recently new addition close to the ground and next to this a large and potentially taller new structure was just beginning. There is also a new extension to the Eldon Square shopping centre close the Gate cinema, casino and restaurant centre. I also noted that several supporters were wearing T shirts above their football shirts with printed slogans making it clear to everyone where their loyalties lay. It is difficult to estimate the number of people protesting outside the stadium but it was less that a thousand and on the whole good humoured towards the police who had the responsibility of ensuring free passage of those wanting to pass in order to enter the stadium. A word of praise for the police who would have been uncertain how the crowd would behave but who maintained a strong but relaxed presence and gave the impression of not being unsympathetic to the situation.
It was difficult to establish the mood of the spectators making their way into the stadium although the numbers were substantial and there were long queues continuing to go in after the game commenced whether this was a form of protest or because of increased security it was difficult to assess. I walked around the stadium twice to gauge the mood and the number of those who remained outside as a form of protest. It was only on return home after stopping at the supermarket for some essentials that information was broadcast to indicate the scale of discontent against the board and in support of Kevin Keegan. A small group had taken in a large home made cloth banner which they took around the stadium facing the directors stand with the words asking the Cockney Mafia to depart. Television cameras showed the managing director giving a wry smile at this as everyone near the banner as it passed stood up and clapped. This was not rabble but the ordinary men and women of all ages, many in family groups, indicating their anger and disappointment at what has happened, in the context of what has happened since the departure of Sir Bobby Robson, but doing so in a quiet determined and controlled way. The subsequent defeat in the match by newly promoted Hull two goals to one summoned up the sense of pervading and resigned doom which had been my conclusion as I journeyed back home and this was commented on by others in the subsequent media review.
Later in the evening into the early hours I watched the extended highlights in Sky and they interspersed the recording with shots of the protest within the stadium and of empty seats where the owner would sit with his Director of Football and other cronies. There was a media consensus that position of the owner the Director of Football and his assistant and the club Chairman had become untenable which the loss of the game further compounded. The situation was dreadful without any immediate solution. What ever had been the tactical thinking of Mr Ashley and his cronies it was going horribly wrong for them and for the club.
I studied reports on the overnight media reaction and read the on line sport pages from the Sunday Papers. This confirmed aspects of what I had noted on my visit. Usually the large club store was packed but it was almost deserted when I passed by just after two around two thirty and then just after 3pm. There were however a substantial number of people drinking in and outside Shearer's bar and it looked as if sales of the club programme were as good as usual. The most telling photo had been oft he mature woman holding a small placard saying I am here only to support my club, Many expressed the sense of being trapped having not just purchased a season ticket for three years but taken up a special offer tying them to the club for three years. I note there was a sneer when Londoner/Midlands player from man for the BBC highlights show accompanied by two Scouses from the North west responded to the lady who said her whole life had been ruined by the departure of Kevin Keegan, thus confirming that these men having become to caught up in the professionalism, business and media control of the game and suddenly were showing their true colours as fans expressed their views in great number.
There was a thoughtful, carefully prepared review of the situation on the morning Sky Sports I review of football matters. This came as close to the truth of the situation as there had to date. Mike Ashley was someone who had made a fortune from business, keeping away from the media and until now able to control his personal image. He confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday evening that he had used his own wealth to buy the club ( at a knock down price of £135 million) because of the extent of its debt and he claimed that he had to sue another £100 million of his own money to get the club on an established financial footing. He had the contributed £20 million in order to enable the club to pay the high wages to attract players and top staff and to further his policy about running the club. However the commentators were of the view that he had treated the club as some men possess toys. He had admired the passion of the fans and wanted to part of this tribalism which explain putting on a Newcastle shirt, standing with fans at individual away games and going out into the clubs and clubs buying rounds of drinks. If this was accurate then it showed the mentality of a child rather than a mature business owner for those who stand at away games or frequent the pubs and bars around the city area declining number of those who have made United into the club it is today, and this applies to Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, although I suspect to a lesser extent at Liverpool. The core support base has become more educated and middle class, more knowledgeable about the game, its ownership and management. They have listened to the analysis of Andy Gray, the aforementioned Sunday Supplement programme originally chaired by Sir Jimmy Hill.
I have looked at the statement of Mr Ashley carefully and it is very revealing. First he expresses support for the passion of the fans and accepts this is what makes or breaks a club. He talks of being a father, bringing his children to games game and standing with them and the fans. Sky and match of the day have shown him surrounded by heavies at away games including the notorious drinking of a pint at Arsenal, a find example to set his children and other parents given that it is an offence to drink alcohol within sight of the pitch in the open stands. You can drink yourself silly elsewhere within the stadium though. I can recall only one occasion when he was shown with children although this is not to say there have been other occasions. He writes of his concern of being advised that if he attended on Saturday he was at risk of being assaulted. He does not say who advised him and what was their evidence of this. He is no longer welcome at Newcastle United or to stand among supports at away games and should he do so he will be subject to verbal abuse of the same nature as those very fans dish out every match to opposing players, their own team if they perform badly and to manager and board if the results are consistently bad over a period of time. This statement is hogwash and confirms he lacks the bottle to stand by his position directly with fans and the media.
If he was not fully aware of the financial position of the club when he bought it then he should have sacked his financial and managerial advisers. What action has he taken against the former owners if they misrepresented the position? He also states that club does not generate the income of Manchester United or Real Madrid and he does not possess the personal billions to catapult the club into the top table of clubs in the way of Chelsea and now Manchester City. His approach was that of Arsenal and other European clubs to develop a scouting and talent spotting structure across the world to bring in the best available new talent rather than buy the best players with an open cheque book. No one can expect a Manager coach to do both these tasks. It is my understanding that Kevin Keegan and everyone else within the game that has been interviewed on the subject is not opposed to have such a structure but the issue is who controls it. The point which Tyneside has made is that this should have been Kevin Keegan and not himself, the club chairman, Mr Wise or anyone else at the club. By all means advise of the total finance available and sack the manager if the result are then bad with the players bought and sold. He quotes Arsenal as a shining example but is he saying that the manager at Arsenal does not have the final say as to is in the team, who stays and who leaves? He does not attack Kevin Keegan directly, but his statement attempts to show himself as being reasonable and Kevin as unreasonable. The clue to the statement is when he says "Clearly there are disagreements between Kevin and the Board and we have both put that in the hands of lawyers." he is therefore getting his version into the media before Kevin has the opportunity.
I enjoyed Sunday despite the seething turmoil below the relaxed exterior. I had risen early and reviewed the Sunday papers on line and watched the news on Sky and the BBC and then listened attentively to the Sunday Supplement. I prepared a lunch of lamb shank with gravy, carrots and peas and settled down to watch Sky News Sport News at 1pm when the programme announced that it was the last day of the Pro 40 Cricket League Competition and announced the scorecard at Durham Riverside.
I had previously checked that the last home Championship game commenced on Wednesday and overlooked this important final game where just about everyone had a chance of winning the nine team league or faced relegation to the second division. The weather looked good so I abandoned everything I had thought of doing including watching the Italian Grand Prix and set off without packing any food or drink.
Fortunately I was able to get the last car parking space in my preferred area and arrived to take a seat behind the wicket as the sixth wicket fell of the Gloucestershire innings with the score at only 81. Gloucestershire had lost their first wicket at no runs but had then established a good but slow start with 63 runs from a partnership between Ali and Porterfield before a collapse with had seen five wickets fall for 18 runs. There was a short recovery as I settled in my seat in hazy sunshine and had a little heavy eyed siesta after the good food and hasty journey before the last four wickets fell for 19 runs. I had left my haversack in the car and fancying a cup of tea I made my way around the ground to the Member's lounge watching the last two overs as I went in time to get into the queue before the main rush.
I had to wait until later to establish the details of all the bowling although I had heard that Steve Harmison had completed his eight overs for 32 runs and three wickets and saw Breeze take his three wickets for eight runs and followed this with 20 important runs secure the winner by five wickets after Durham themselves had mini collapse losing four wickets for three runs early on. De Venuto appears to have hit form at he right time scored unbeaten 52 and captain Benkenstein an important 25 at a crucial time. There was also a good crowd and Durham finished third in the table which is not bad after gaining promotion last year and shows the strides the team has taken over the past two seasons. Sussex had an amazing win scoring 52 in the last five overs and with only two wickets left, including a six off the last ball.
The rest of the day was taken up with the situation at Newcastle United. I had an evening meal of soup and a bacon sandwich and must have drunk a whole pint of orange juice as well as cups of tea consequently. It was midnight when I went to bed and the news that Ashley and told Alan Shearer that he was no longer required as club Ambassador had not broken, The man has now alienated himself from the football nation as well as Geordieland.
I had intended to head this writing as Black Day for Tyneside and the long term reality is likely to confirm that this is so. However it is not as bad as I felt because at least the owner has begun to show himself in his true colours even if these are a mixture of black and grey. Who is likely to buy the club while there is a legal battle? Who is likely to become a manager in the intervening period? Among the news there was one note that the main sponsors have asked to withdraw from their contract and another that the players considered strike action, but are now likely to seek transfers in January.
The conclusion is that Mr Ashley has bought more than he can chew and is possibly financially overstretched. The club is on the slippery slope to financial and performance ruin. There is unlikely to be a new Knight on a charger ready to move in and rescue the lady locked in the tower threatening to throw herself out of the only window. Former Chairman Freddie Shepherd has told Sky News that he had contact with two financial groups interested in buying the cub and with assets to do so.
There were three other events affecting Britain and the United States which helped placed what happened on Tyneside in better perspective and I begin this piece of writing with these.
A number of Labour Party Member's of Parliament have written to the their headquarters requesting nomination be issued for a new Party Leader in time for the matter to be considered at the forthcoming annual conference. The first was from a member of the Government, a junior whip who was duly sacked. The second was from a Vice President of the Party who was duly sacked. Both were attractive young women. Later the media suggested these two were a front, possible for Jack Straw the Justice Minister, and with the support of Frank Field MP, to trigger a contest for Party leader, and by implication to replace the Prime Minister. Some seventy Member's of the Labour party, about a fifth are required to endorse a candidate who agrees to their nomination before the issue is then put to the Party National Conference. The structure has been established to prevent challenges to the Party leader once elected by due process. The problem with Prime Minister Gordon Brown is that he was not elected by a due process which involved a ballot and therefore a debate in public of the policy and personality issues before someone becomes a Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate in the four year cycle of national elections. The dilemma facing his colleagues that they fear the outcome of an election more than they fear going into a General Election with Gordon as the Leader. It is a political party gripped by fear, lacking in self confidence about what it is doing as a government and what will happen when there is a General Election. No amount of good factor developments from now until that time is likely to repair the damage and ill will built up against the Party and its Government during the short time that Gordon has been the Prime Minister. The country is in the mood for change and despite its historical record when in Government, the Conservative Party is likely to become the beneficiaries of those on the centre right, the majority, and with the Liberal Democratic Party gaining support for the centre left. Ordinarily I would agree with David Miliband, the South Shields Member of Parliament and other presently in Government who remind that a divided Party is usually a doomed Party. However the present situation is the exception as the Labour Party is already a doomed Party in terms of winning the next General Election and reversing the loss of the political control and major town and cities across Britain. Only a radical change has nay hope of success although getting the party to agree on a programme of radical change with a new Leader within a year unlikely but not impossible.
As if to reinforce the political depression which has swept Britain one of the biggest Travel firms in the UK involved in the booking of travel and accommodation as well as the operation of aircraft has collapsed, suddenly, but with rumours of putting a spin on its accounts over recent years. Some 67000 people were left stranded around the world after the administrator refused to allow the planes of the company to bring these travellers and holiday makers home. Another 200000 have lost their holidays although the overwhelming majority are said to have their payments protected. I listened to one family with a disabled son who had saved for a holiday of a lifetime trip to Disneyworld in the United where an anonymous female benefactor had stepped in to fund the holiday through other travel companies while the financial aspects are sorted out. One young couple holding a wedding involving twenty seven members of their families and friend on a Greek Island were faced with half the party being able to travel and half not and were spending a frantic time arranging alternatives without counting the costs. A young couple was left stranded at the Majorca airport for 36 hours which a five year old and it would be another 24 before there was hope of repatriating them. Coinciding with this travel chaos there was a second fire in the Channel Tunnel which closed all movement in both tunnels for forty eight seventy hours until a partial service recommenced using one of the tunnels.
In the United States, a country where it is said the majority believe in an intervening God, but which refuses to recognise the consequential judgement of God as the East Coast is battered by hurricanes winds, sea surges and torrential rain, while on the West Coast two passenger trains collided many deaths and serious injuries. If this is not God's wrath for a nation which calls itself the greatest, an unchristian concept , and which punishes and stigmatises its poor, only recently commenced he process of abolition racism, has backed away from an from a concerted plan to tackle global warming and the misuse of natural resources in a planned and concerted way
I had gone to bed late and waking for about the third time around 7.30 and feeling tired I returned to bed and went into a long sleep which lasted until 11. Even then I struggled to get up and it was midday when I consumed a combined breakfast and lunch of two sandwiches of white crab shredded crab flesh and cucumber. I slowly got myself washed and dressed and watched TV news to see how they were treating the proposed demonstrations protesting at the departure of Kevin Keegan from Newcastle United Football club and the running of the Club by men from outside of the North East and worse still from London. I listened to the pre match talk and to an interview with Malcolm McDonald. Everyone interviewed agrees with what and who are the problems but believe a quick and acceptable solution is unlikely. Everyone is wanting to become involved in what is essentially a dispute between the majority of the paying customers to those who control the service. The media is not neutral and appears to be taking the sides of the supporters against the owner and rulers of the providing service.
I believe I understood the strategy of the those behind this mess. Refuse to enter into discussion with the media or directly with the angry supporters. Hope that the demonstrations will take place without major incident inside and outside the ground and for a resounding win by the team against recently promoted Hull City; demonstrate you have done all that you can to persuade Kevin Keegan to return for the Good of the Club and its city and then appoint someone who will fit in your set up until either the humour of the crowd and media changes or you can find a buyer willing to ensure you do not lose financially from the sale. However this misjudges the nature of the beast as they say: the game of football and the tribal nature of a city and region.
I missed the main march through town which was later reported to have arrived at stadium and made its way through to the area under the Director's and hospitality stand where they stopped outside the former main reception entrances area which are also viewable by the media. Here they waved banners and shouted their protest which sounded louder because being effectively in large oblong tunnel. I was not aware of this until later.
As I made my way from central Station to Grey's Monument and then up to the Gallowgate end, two police carrying vehicles passed me with sirens and lights, and third followed as a more sedate level. I soon discovered that their purpose was to ensure that the passage of those making their way into the stadium was not fully blocked through the combination of protestors and sight seers.
I had decided to get off at central Station, the first of three stops on the Metro train from South Shields which supports use when travelling from South of river. Those from the West Coast alight at St James, the closest Metro station by the Stadium. I wanted to get the feel of what was happening across the city before making my way to stadium Although I got on the train after 1 pm it was not as packed as usual from the combination of football supporters and those going into Newcastle for the Saturday shopping. It was also noticeable there was no buzz of expectation about the game. In fact there was an unusual sombre silence.
There were two burley and well protected policemen at the station observing the crowds, but no police with dogs or riot police. As I crossed over the road outside the station everyone's attention were attracted by two young women in the briefest of shorts and tops soliciting customers for the erotic show in the basement of O'Neill's, the Irish Pub opposite and the three solid rough necks who formed the security squad at the entrance. This is a new phenomena in the city since the Liberal Democrats have taken over political control. I encountered two more of these girls, barely eighteen years of age soliciting custom on the road from the station to Grey's Monument.
I then noted that the pubs and cafes were as full as usual for this time of day on a football Saturday although I did not go up to the restaurant floor of the shopping centre adjacent to the Monument or enter the Eldon Square Shopping centre to cut through and over the road to exit close to the station. I would have needed to have left earlier to do this and the decision to visit the city was only taken just before one pm. The number of shoppers was significant less than usual even though it was a dry midday. There were crowds of students and young people around the Monument and in the square further up the road outside the recently enlarged shopping centre. The best way of describing the atmosphere at that point was to say that it was off key.
As I progressed I noted a recently new addition close to the ground and next to this a large and potentially taller new structure was just beginning. There is also a new extension to the Eldon Square shopping centre close the Gate cinema, casino and restaurant centre. I also noted that several supporters were wearing T shirts above their football shirts with printed slogans making it clear to everyone where their loyalties lay. It is difficult to estimate the number of people protesting outside the stadium but it was less that a thousand and on the whole good humoured towards the police who had the responsibility of ensuring free passage of those wanting to pass in order to enter the stadium. A word of praise for the police who would have been uncertain how the crowd would behave but who maintained a strong but relaxed presence and gave the impression of not being unsympathetic to the situation.
It was difficult to establish the mood of the spectators making their way into the stadium although the numbers were substantial and there were long queues continuing to go in after the game commenced whether this was a form of protest or because of increased security it was difficult to assess. I walked around the stadium twice to gauge the mood and the number of those who remained outside as a form of protest. It was only on return home after stopping at the supermarket for some essentials that information was broadcast to indicate the scale of discontent against the board and in support of Kevin Keegan. A small group had taken in a large home made cloth banner which they took around the stadium facing the directors stand with the words asking the Cockney Mafia to depart. Television cameras showed the managing director giving a wry smile at this as everyone near the banner as it passed stood up and clapped. This was not rabble but the ordinary men and women of all ages, many in family groups, indicating their anger and disappointment at what has happened, in the context of what has happened since the departure of Sir Bobby Robson, but doing so in a quiet determined and controlled way. The subsequent defeat in the match by newly promoted Hull two goals to one summoned up the sense of pervading and resigned doom which had been my conclusion as I journeyed back home and this was commented on by others in the subsequent media review.
Later in the evening into the early hours I watched the extended highlights in Sky and they interspersed the recording with shots of the protest within the stadium and of empty seats where the owner would sit with his Director of Football and other cronies. There was a media consensus that position of the owner the Director of Football and his assistant and the club Chairman had become untenable which the loss of the game further compounded. The situation was dreadful without any immediate solution. What ever had been the tactical thinking of Mr Ashley and his cronies it was going horribly wrong for them and for the club.
I studied reports on the overnight media reaction and read the on line sport pages from the Sunday Papers. This confirmed aspects of what I had noted on my visit. Usually the large club store was packed but it was almost deserted when I passed by just after two around two thirty and then just after 3pm. There were however a substantial number of people drinking in and outside Shearer's bar and it looked as if sales of the club programme were as good as usual. The most telling photo had been oft he mature woman holding a small placard saying I am here only to support my club, Many expressed the sense of being trapped having not just purchased a season ticket for three years but taken up a special offer tying them to the club for three years. I note there was a sneer when Londoner/Midlands player from man for the BBC highlights show accompanied by two Scouses from the North west responded to the lady who said her whole life had been ruined by the departure of Kevin Keegan, thus confirming that these men having become to caught up in the professionalism, business and media control of the game and suddenly were showing their true colours as fans expressed their views in great number.
There was a thoughtful, carefully prepared review of the situation on the morning Sky Sports I review of football matters. This came as close to the truth of the situation as there had to date. Mike Ashley was someone who had made a fortune from business, keeping away from the media and until now able to control his personal image. He confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday evening that he had used his own wealth to buy the club ( at a knock down price of £135 million) because of the extent of its debt and he claimed that he had to sue another £100 million of his own money to get the club on an established financial footing. He had the contributed £20 million in order to enable the club to pay the high wages to attract players and top staff and to further his policy about running the club. However the commentators were of the view that he had treated the club as some men possess toys. He had admired the passion of the fans and wanted to part of this tribalism which explain putting on a Newcastle shirt, standing with fans at individual away games and going out into the clubs and clubs buying rounds of drinks. If this was accurate then it showed the mentality of a child rather than a mature business owner for those who stand at away games or frequent the pubs and bars around the city area declining number of those who have made United into the club it is today, and this applies to Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, although I suspect to a lesser extent at Liverpool. The core support base has become more educated and middle class, more knowledgeable about the game, its ownership and management. They have listened to the analysis of Andy Gray, the aforementioned Sunday Supplement programme originally chaired by Sir Jimmy Hill.
I have looked at the statement of Mr Ashley carefully and it is very revealing. First he expresses support for the passion of the fans and accepts this is what makes or breaks a club. He talks of being a father, bringing his children to games game and standing with them and the fans. Sky and match of the day have shown him surrounded by heavies at away games including the notorious drinking of a pint at Arsenal, a find example to set his children and other parents given that it is an offence to drink alcohol within sight of the pitch in the open stands. You can drink yourself silly elsewhere within the stadium though. I can recall only one occasion when he was shown with children although this is not to say there have been other occasions. He writes of his concern of being advised that if he attended on Saturday he was at risk of being assaulted. He does not say who advised him and what was their evidence of this. He is no longer welcome at Newcastle United or to stand among supports at away games and should he do so he will be subject to verbal abuse of the same nature as those very fans dish out every match to opposing players, their own team if they perform badly and to manager and board if the results are consistently bad over a period of time. This statement is hogwash and confirms he lacks the bottle to stand by his position directly with fans and the media.
If he was not fully aware of the financial position of the club when he bought it then he should have sacked his financial and managerial advisers. What action has he taken against the former owners if they misrepresented the position? He also states that club does not generate the income of Manchester United or Real Madrid and he does not possess the personal billions to catapult the club into the top table of clubs in the way of Chelsea and now Manchester City. His approach was that of Arsenal and other European clubs to develop a scouting and talent spotting structure across the world to bring in the best available new talent rather than buy the best players with an open cheque book. No one can expect a Manager coach to do both these tasks. It is my understanding that Kevin Keegan and everyone else within the game that has been interviewed on the subject is not opposed to have such a structure but the issue is who controls it. The point which Tyneside has made is that this should have been Kevin Keegan and not himself, the club chairman, Mr Wise or anyone else at the club. By all means advise of the total finance available and sack the manager if the result are then bad with the players bought and sold. He quotes Arsenal as a shining example but is he saying that the manager at Arsenal does not have the final say as to is in the team, who stays and who leaves? He does not attack Kevin Keegan directly, but his statement attempts to show himself as being reasonable and Kevin as unreasonable. The clue to the statement is when he says "Clearly there are disagreements between Kevin and the Board and we have both put that in the hands of lawyers." he is therefore getting his version into the media before Kevin has the opportunity.
I enjoyed Sunday despite the seething turmoil below the relaxed exterior. I had risen early and reviewed the Sunday papers on line and watched the news on Sky and the BBC and then listened attentively to the Sunday Supplement. I prepared a lunch of lamb shank with gravy, carrots and peas and settled down to watch Sky News Sport News at 1pm when the programme announced that it was the last day of the Pro 40 Cricket League Competition and announced the scorecard at Durham Riverside.
I had previously checked that the last home Championship game commenced on Wednesday and overlooked this important final game where just about everyone had a chance of winning the nine team league or faced relegation to the second division. The weather looked good so I abandoned everything I had thought of doing including watching the Italian Grand Prix and set off without packing any food or drink.
Fortunately I was able to get the last car parking space in my preferred area and arrived to take a seat behind the wicket as the sixth wicket fell of the Gloucestershire innings with the score at only 81. Gloucestershire had lost their first wicket at no runs but had then established a good but slow start with 63 runs from a partnership between Ali and Porterfield before a collapse with had seen five wickets fall for 18 runs. There was a short recovery as I settled in my seat in hazy sunshine and had a little heavy eyed siesta after the good food and hasty journey before the last four wickets fell for 19 runs. I had left my haversack in the car and fancying a cup of tea I made my way around the ground to the Member's lounge watching the last two overs as I went in time to get into the queue before the main rush.
I had to wait until later to establish the details of all the bowling although I had heard that Steve Harmison had completed his eight overs for 32 runs and three wickets and saw Breeze take his three wickets for eight runs and followed this with 20 important runs secure the winner by five wickets after Durham themselves had mini collapse losing four wickets for three runs early on. De Venuto appears to have hit form at he right time scored unbeaten 52 and captain Benkenstein an important 25 at a crucial time. There was also a good crowd and Durham finished third in the table which is not bad after gaining promotion last year and shows the strides the team has taken over the past two seasons. Sussex had an amazing win scoring 52 in the last five overs and with only two wickets left, including a six off the last ball.
The rest of the day was taken up with the situation at Newcastle United. I had an evening meal of soup and a bacon sandwich and must have drunk a whole pint of orange juice as well as cups of tea consequently. It was midnight when I went to bed and the news that Ashley and told Alan Shearer that he was no longer required as club Ambassador had not broken, The man has now alienated himself from the football nation as well as Geordieland.
I had intended to head this writing as Black Day for Tyneside and the long term reality is likely to confirm that this is so. However it is not as bad as I felt because at least the owner has begun to show himself in his true colours even if these are a mixture of black and grey. Who is likely to buy the club while there is a legal battle? Who is likely to become a manager in the intervening period? Among the news there was one note that the main sponsors have asked to withdraw from their contract and another that the players considered strike action, but are now likely to seek transfers in January.
The conclusion is that Mr Ashley has bought more than he can chew and is possibly financially overstretched. The club is on the slippery slope to financial and performance ruin. There is unlikely to be a new Knight on a charger ready to move in and rescue the lady locked in the tower threatening to throw herself out of the only window. Former Chairman Freddie Shepherd has told Sky News that he had contact with two financial groups interested in buying the cub and with assets to do so.
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