Saving Newcastle United:
D-Day
arrives
The tide is
high...but is Al
gonna be our number one?
Although Saturday marks the anniversary of the
allied invasion of Normandy back in 1944, it's today that is shaping
up to be D-Day, at least as far as Newcastle supporters are concerned.
This is the day when Alan Shearer expects to hear from Mike Ashley & his
team whether the "obvious conditions" he made known to them recently
will be fulfilled.
With the club now back on the market, the picture is even less clear than
previously, but recent cost-cutting measures at SJP confirm that finances
are tight to the point of breaking - and NUFC's immediate future rests on an
unlikely quick sale or continued support from the banks.
Were Shearer to reject the proposals offered to him, or resist moves to extend
the waiting period for news, then another spell of Joe Kinnear to the helm
seems like an unpalatable reality - although opinion is split on whether JFK
would be offered a return or AN Other boss would arrive, prepared to work in a
climate of uncertainty.
Aside from those on extended deals, season ticket renewals are still to be
sent out - deciding quite who will feature in the photos on the renewal pack
is a tricky business, given the on and off-field problems we have and the fact
that any or all of them could be up the road PDQ.
But an expected drop in renewal numbers seems certain to become a deluge were
our top scorer to walk away, having been unable to reach an agreement on how
to take the club forward.
Newspaper reports on Wednesday claimed that Keith Harris of investment bankers
Seymour Pierce was now in Dubai to meet possible investors - although the
inference was that he was trying to drum up possible interest rather than
meeting parties who had made overtures to purchase the club.
Shearer quotes, Monday:
"I met Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias
last week and we discussed at length the future of Newcastle United and my
desire to be the manager moving forward.
"I made no demands but there were
obvious conditions. We simply proposed an honest evaluation of what was needed
to get the club back into the Premiership whilst building solid foundations
for the future
"I fully understand Mike Ashley's
decision to sell the club as he feels it's now in the best interest of the
club and the fans. I hope to know more by the end of
the week."