One Step Forwards Two Steps Back

What on earth has Ashley thought up this time?

He won't be spending any money on players for the next 5 years nor will he be answering any questions ever agaian concerning the club. Has he ever answered any questions? He will however scour the North East for talent so maybe anyone willing to pull on a pair of boots is fair game. He will also give the youth academy players the chance to prove themselves in the Premiership even though they did not get the chance in the Championship, all to save him a few quid for a pork pie and a pint in the stands.

The club have just announced losses of around £30m for the last two seasons but we are back in the premiership now with extra TV money but it's going straight into his fat pockets.

The statement about Geordies holding the spiritual torch? What a wanker. Who does he think he is, who does he think we are? The bastard only wants Geordie talent to save any cash for his fat gut not because he thinks Newcastle supporters want a team of Geordies.

He thinks he will be helping himself with this statement. Well, it just brought all the hate and resentment all back to a boil after the heat was lowered for a while even though we were in the CHAMPIONSHIP. The Championship is why we were losing money and who took us there er, er Ashley?

If this is what Ashley thinks we need to break even then he is fatter than I thought. Two players have just left the club and nobody has come in.

If he wants the gate to go up then why release a statement like this? I certainly won't be going back to St James' Park. I could not go last season because of this obese bigot but things have changed, and are worse now than before.

Another crap season to look forward too then. Fingers crossed that fat boy goes on a sailing trip and gets lost at sea.





NUFC statement
released on Sun 09.05.2010

Introduction
The Board of Newcastle United Football Club whilst celebrating winning the Football League Championship 2009-2010 are aware that the next season in the Barclays Premier League presents a challenge to all at the Club. The Board recognises that one of the greater elements of this challenge is to promote stability throughout the organisation. This great club has not won a major trophy since the 1969 victory in the European Fairs Cup. The first challenge is to maintain Premier League status.

Given the situation, and the fact that Newcastle United have continually been misrepresented by the national media over the past decade, the club now feels that it is the correct time to send a clear message to its magnificent supporters who have kept faith with the club over the past forty years and also to send out a clear message to all branches of the media about the club's plans for the next five years both on and off the field of play.

Finances

The Club presented its financial report to Companies House this April for the year 2008/2009. The financial report shows that there was an operating loss of £37.7 million for that year and an estimated loss for 2009/2010 of £32.5 million. Newcastle United also has an overdraft of £20 million that is fully committed. It is clear to the Board that no organisation can be successful, until the financial position is stabilised.

The Board have therefore structured a five year plan in which the ultimate goal will be to ensure that the club is run at a "break even" manner by the year 2015/2016. The club also wishes it to be known; in an effort to stop the untrue rumours and stories that emanate from outside -Newcastle United that:

• The Board have set a five year plan to promote core values of credibility, viability and sustainability both on and off the field of play at Newcastle United.

• The Board will concentrate on Newcastle United's stability by promoting from within where possible.

Football

(a) Manager

Chris Hughton is the Manager of Newcastle United Football Club and has a contract in place until the end of the 2010/2011 season.

All media articles and interviews regarding footballing matters will come through the Newcastle United Media Officer, and be answered by the Manager and/or coaching staff with the Manager's authority. The Manager can give interviews in respect of footballing issues and any other sporting issues that the press may be interested in around Newcastle United Football Club.

No interviews will be given by any members of the Board in respect of any footballing issues.

(b) Players

The first team squad that won the Championship this year will form the basis of the team for next season in the Premier League. There is no plan for new capital outlay on players.

The only individuals who will talk about player issues will be those connected with the football administration of the Club i.e. the Manager/Assistant Manager by way of either direct interview or through prepared statements via Newcastle United Football Club's Media Officer.

There will be no comment from the Board regarding the purchase of players.

There will be no comment from the Board regarding the sale of players.

There will be no comment from the Board regarding ongoing contract talks with players presently at Newcastle United Football Club or with those that the club may enter into negotiation with.

There will be no comment from the Board regarding current pay structures at Newcastle United.

There will be no comment from the Board regarding players at other clubs in respect of their "interest" at playing for Newcastle United.

There will be no comment from the Board to players' agents regarding any of the above whether those agents are acting for their clients in a buying or selling capacity.

Player Agents:

(a) Buying Agents:

The Board will not make any comment to the media regarding any players that they are seeking to purchase. The Board will deal with agents on their fixed terms of business and part of those terms will include clauses relating to privacy.

(b) Selling Agents:

The Board will not comment to the media regarding any players being sold by Newcastle United and the Board will deal with agents on the usual terms of business including explicit terms of privacy.

Promoting regional football

The Board and supporters are aware that Newcastle United currently has a footballing academy brimming with talent, skill and dedication. As part of Newcastle United's quest for a team that truly represents the values of the Geordie nation the club will look to promote, where it can, from within and for the academy to become a leading light as one of the best if not the best in the UK.

The days when players such as Alan Shearer, Steve Bruce, Peter Beardsley and Michael Carrick had to leave Newcastle to begin their illustrious football careers elsewhere are over. Newcastle United is more than aware of the great passion for the game of football that exists locally and is intent on ensuring that every great Geordie footballer has the opportunity to play for his home team club.

Media

The Board at Newcastle United wish to reiterate the points made above that there will not be at any stage in the future any comments coming from the Board regarding any issues surrounding Newcastle United save for prepared statements that are issued by the Newcastle United Media Officer.

Once again, for the sake of clarity, this does not affect the Manager and coaching staff talking to the press/ media about footballing matters on an everyday basis. The Board are being absolutely transparent in respect of this policy and would ask that the press/media direct any future questions that they may have regarding Newcastle United to our media officer.

The Future

In simple terms this is a transparent policy that will feed through and inform all aspects of the running of Newcastle United Football Club's first team. There will be no comments from any member of Newcastle United's Board in the future regarding any issues surrounding Newcastle United to the press/media at large.

The only persons dealing with such information to the media will be, as has been stated before, the Manager/coaching staff talking about footballing matters and issues or from prepared statements from Newcastle United's Media Officer.

The Board at Newcastle United have issued this statement to the public to set out clearly to one and all the current financial situation and to state clearly that every effort will be made by the Board to achieve a "break even" financial situation by 2015.

Newcastle United Football Club is an organisation that holds a special place in the hearts of Geordie's worldwide and the Board understands that it is they who are the spiritual torch holders of Newcastle United Football Club.

The Board has made this statement so that all those involved with Newcastle United be they supporter, member of the media or an individual with an interest in football can be aware of what the Board will strive to achieve over the next five years.

TOON ARMY take the R's

After securing promotion, the title and an unbeaten season at home in the Championship, Newcastle United travelled to West London to face Neil Warnock's QPR. Chasing 100 goals and 100 points, the Toon Army were down in force at Loftus Rd. Newcastle fans packed the away end though many had to be happy with tickets scattered around the home section. The game started well for us but soon QPR got a hold of the ball and stopped any reasonable attacks from United. The Newcastle fans were having a great time though and they sang with great pride songs of past players and Toon Greats. Renditions of "Walking in a Robson Wonderland" will never die at the Gallowgate and rightly so. Nobby Solano was mentioned along with Obefemi Martins and QPR old boy Gavin Peacock. The game saw plenty of drizzle which made for a slippy pitch that counted for a couple of missed chances in the first half, luckily for the Toon.


Renditions of "Walking in a Robson Wonderland"


A new song for Number 9 hopeful Andy Carroll was tested to the amusement of Carroll himself as he sat warming the bench for the start of this game; "He shoots, he scores, he'll break your fucking jaw, Andy Carroll Andy Carroll".

Second half started badly for QPR's Geordie boy Ramage as he chased Ameobi who was sent through on goal seconds into the second half. Ramage brought down Shola and received his marching orders but was visibly upset about the decision as he walked off the pitch against his old club. As the game progressed Newcastle put more and more pressure on QPR but never looked that dominant as QPR still threatened and they nearly got what they were after. As the home fans celebrated the Ref pulled the ball out the net for a United free kick. So the gods were looking down on us on our last Championship game. We soon made the sending off count as Joey Barton sent sub Lovenkrands down the left in front of the away section, He slammed the ball where it belongs and United took the lead. Threats from the Toon Army to storm the pitch were met by a wall of coppers who put a end to that but the celebrations had just started. The game finished with a 0-1 win and fans ganin wild. One supporter did manage to get on the pitch and make it to the opposite end even though 3 or 4 security chased him. All the Geordiess in the home end then showed themselves as they applauded United but the home fans got in on the act too as they gave us a standing ovation. The Home fans had been quiet in both halves with only a whimper of "cam on you R's" just like their other West London rivals. This seems to be the only song in West London. Although they did sing one more deluded song on the lines of being the greatest football team the world has ever seen?

So the 100 goals was never to be getting stuck on a cricketer's 99 but with the win we finished on 102 one of only 4 teams to have ever gone up with over 100 points to the top flight, the others being Reading, Fulham and the Mackems.

After match video

Toon v Tractor boys

Newcastle's last home game of the season was an emotional affair as we needed to win or draw to complete our unbeaten home run for the season. Up against mackem old boy Roy Keane Newcastle surley would not let him spoil our party. Keane's acknowledgement of us being the best team in the league came as a surprise as did the two Ipswich goals that held us to a draw in the last home match.

We almost had the game wrapped up before Ipswich got away in the last minute and put them level on 2-2 but this goal did look a bit dodgy on the offside front. Keane mentioned after the game NUFC looked like a team who had already won the title and were a little less concerned about this one. However that has been Newcastle's problem this season. Yes we have promotion and yes we have the title but don't forget it is the championship and we do have a premiership squad. We have battled this season when it counted and played some good football but there have been times when all football has deserted us and the product was hard to stomach. Let's not forget that this performance will not be tolerated in the Prem. The top teams will inevitably destroy us if we approach games like away at Leicester and Swansea.

A good season all the same but one which should never have taken place and one best put behind us.

Well done for getting us back up and please, please Assly get out of our club.

Presentation of the Champiomship Trophy

Stand up for the champions