Allardyce hits out at Ashley
Former Magpies boss attacks tycoon over Newcastle purchase
Last updated: 7th October 2008
Allardyce has attacked Ashley's motives
I think that he did buy the club in the hope that he could quickly sell it on for a vast profit.
Allardyce on Ashley
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Former Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce claims Mike Ashley's takeover of the club was driven by the billionaire's desire for a quick profit.
The sportswear tycoon is currently in talks with up to eight consortia as he looks to sell after just 16 months at the helm.
Ashley opted to walk away from St James' Park in the wake of fans' outrage over the departure of Kevin Keegan, who quit as manager after alleging boardroom interference.
The owner's exit from the Tyneside club looks set to be soothed by a healthy profit on what he paid in June 2007 - even taking into account his outlay since.
And Allardyce, sacked by Ashley before he brought in Keegan, believes that was always in the businessman's mind when he launched his takeover bid.
"It is crystal clear now what the motives were for Mike Ashley," the former Bolton boss said.
Profit
"I think that he did buy the club in the hope that he could quickly sell it on for a vast profit."
The Magpies currently sit third from bottom of the Premier League after claiming a single point from their last five games.
"It is going from bad to horrendous and there is part of me that thinks I'm glad I'm out of it," Allardyce added.
"I thought Kevin was going to get the money I didn't get - but the continuous sales and players moving in and out over the summer obviously caused him to conclude the job was untenable and the club was thrown into chaos."
Prem Relegation 2008/09 Win Outright: Newcastle 4/1
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Comments
Leon Webster (Middlesbrough fan) says...
As a Middlesbrough fan all I can say is I'm glad we have some stability with Mr Gibson, I wouldn't swap him for a billionaire anyday. I feel it is a great shame the way the football has moved on in the past decade - and how it is now dominated by all these billionaire businessmen driven by profits. Its like a new craze, forget chiwawas in handbags! If your rich now you have to medal with the business of owning a football club. You can symphasise with the likes of Newcastle, but these blokes like Ashley are clever men and they know how to make money. Unless there is some sort of regulation then fiascos like the one at Newcastle will continue to arise in the future.
Posted 13:54 7th October 2008
Chris Hannan (Newcastle United fan) says...
Why would any1 want to buy Newcastle? 1. they are a big club 2. have a huge support group 3. have the capability to fight up there at the top of the table and be in Europe! All we need is some1 there for the long term not the short term, huge respect for Joe Kinnear, why don't the press just get off his back and let him do his job. There has to be some sort of role he can play at this club once the club has its new owner.
Posted 13:21 7th October 2008
Roger Irrelevant (Newcastle United fan) says...
Spot on Mark Gold! Allardyce is too good to be out of work, but he always did have a big mouth to match his ego. Of course chairmen are in it ultimately to make money. They are not running charities. Anybody who thinks otherwise is deluded. All those laughing at Newcastle should look at their own clubs... "There but for the grace of God..." It was only a matter of time for one of these big takeovers to go spectacularly pear. Typical it was at my club, Newcastle! We can cope though. Newcastle United is bigger than any player, any manager (including KK) and certainly any chairman. We will not be relegated this season. No chance. Ashley will walk away, new manager in by December, money to spend in Jan & we'll be fine. Bottom half, maybe, but after all that's happened how can we expect more? I just hope the new owners turn out to have more business acumen and backbone than the last 2 chancers had.
Posted 13:11 7th October 2008
Andy Dyerz (Newcastle United fan) says...
Newcastle are not a bad team and we do have quality players. What we need is an owner who will give the manager the resources to control and build our team, and someone who will not sack the manager if the team looses a game. Mike Ashley should never have come to the club because its been nothing but trouble since he did. I agree with Sams points.
Posted 13:00 7th October 2008
Kevin Crawford (Newcastle United fan) says...
I disagree with Big Sam as I believe Mike Ashley was in it for the simple fact that he's a businessman and most importantly he's a Newcastle fan. He unfortunately tried to bring in a European style of management which was never going to work. A manager is there for one reason and that is to get the best out of the players HE wants in HIS team. Not from players picked from a big mouth upstart who nobody wants at Newcastle. KK is definitely the man required for the style of football we all want at the Toon and I hope that it is sooner than later as he will need time to turn it round(yet again!). Haway Newcastle!
Posted 12:31 7th October 2008
Tommy Cox (Newcastle United fan) says...
Allardyce says that part of him is pleased to be out of it. Well I can tell him that the whole of Tyneside is pleased that he is out of it. Ashley has been a disaster for the club but so were Allardyce and Souness before him.
Posted 11:50 7th October 2008
James Filmer (Leeds United fan) says...
Hang on just a second, I would rather my club play a bit boring / dirty football and stay in the premier league than try to over play and look good losing. one supporter / Paul Burton says: ''Allardyce comes across as being full of sour grapes'' Well Paul, I think you are bang wrong, Big sam is a much better manager than Keegan, all KK does is give it the big 'I am' 'I can' when he can't then he blames everyone else and walks out of every club, / EVERY CLUB / Not much pride in walking away from everything, if Big Sam is guilty of being ' Sour Grapes ' then KK is definitely guilty of being a coward which in my books is much worse.
Posted 11:08 7th October 2008
Sean Green (Middlesbrough fan) says...
Virtually all club owners are profit orientated because they are businessmen and football is big business. As a Middlesbrough Fan and also Middlesbrough born i feel we as a club are extremely lucky to have THE BEST CHAIRMAN/OWNER in football...... Steve Gibson. Steve Gibson is Boro through and through and although a very astute businessman, he is also in love with the club and the area. There are 2 many fly by night Companies/Businessmen like Mike Ashley who are only interested in themselves and their profits and toys. Football desperately needs to be regulated by outside sources to stop this happening again, but this will probably never materialise because there is far too much greed involved from the current organisations. I feel sorry for the true Newcastle supporters but i'm smirking at the chaos up there as we'll always be in they're shadow. Come on Boro!!!
Posted 10:50 7th October 2008
Paul Burton says...
I agree with the comments that MA was in it for the profit, as are most other owners (although they are also sometimes in it for the ride as well). However, Allardyce comes across as being full of sour grapes. OK, it wasn't his fault that he was in charge when MA took over, but he ultimately paid the price for producing bland, boring 'non-football' devoid of any entertainment. This is what, in the end, cost him his job. Keegan has many faults, but most supporters from all clubs usually enjoy watching NUFC play when he is is charge because they are entertained. We pay far too much to watch games now as it is, but it is much harder to stomach when the football played is negative and boring to watch.
Posted 09:21 7th October 2008
Chris Wright (Liverpool fan) says...
I find it rather amusing that here we have a club in deep deep trouble, both on and off the pitch. I hope the new owners can accept the club's precarious position on the table, with a real possibility that things may not improve before the end of the season and relegation is knocking on Newcastle's door. Would you buy a car that you knew had engine troubles? Probably not.....
Posted 09:13 7th October 2008
Gary Hehir (Manchester United fan) says...
good players bad team,why would any one want to buy newcastle?
Posted 08:49 7th October 2008
Mark Gold (Ipswich Town fan) says...
Sorry but isn't it the exact same reason why all club owners are in place. Do we really think that ownership and owners behave in a different, non-self pomoting manner to that of modern players. Maybe ABU Dhabi Group and Chelski owner have bought themselves toys but I'm sure that the Glaziers, Shinawatra, Ashley et al all thought that they could have some fun whilst making a profit! Sam is too good a manager to be out of work but unfortunately speaking like this shows a bitter man who failed because it wasn't his fault!
Posted 08:32 7th October 2008
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