Ashley lays it on the line to Keegan
NEWCASTLE'S WAY AHEAD
By AIDAN MAGEE
THE mood was polite if hardly convivial. In fact, Mike Ashley and Kevin Keegan sat about as far from each other as it's possible to be on a round table.
They exchanged nods and a couple of glances but, for most of Friday night, Ashley was engrossed in conversation with Gareth Southgate while Keegan spent his time signing autographs and chatting with Newcastle fans.
gThen again, billionaire owner and Toon manager had spent most of the day in each other's company with Keegan, it's fair to say, doing far more listening than talking.
So by the time they arrived at a fund-raising event for Sir Bobby Robson's cancer charity, there was nothing else that needed saying.
Keegan was under no illusion as to what was expected — indeed demanded — of him.
Madness
Ashley spelt out in no uncertain terms the million-pound madness at Newcastle was over... for good.
A strict blueprint had been set down at the meeting as the Sports Direct chief categorically stressed he will not sanction big-money moves for high-earning, established stars.
Instead, he told his team to scour the world to recruit the best up-and-coming talent.
A Newcastle insider said: "Mike Ashley is convinced there is a better way forward than just splashing the cash.
"That's what the club has always done in the past — and it's got them nowhere. So now there will be a massive shift in the way the club is run.
"There will be no more Michael Owen-style deals. Instead the club will be competing to capture the best youngsters and turn them into big stars.
"Look at what Arsene Wenger has done at Arsenal. He has made them a major force in England and Europe without breaking the bank.
"He's a master at finding undiscovered stars, buying them in cheap and then selling them on years later for huge fees.
Silverware
"Look at what David Moyes has achieved at Everton. The same goes for Villa and Blackburn. Mike knows we have to be realistic and admit we cannot compete financially with the likes of United and Chelsea.
"Arsenal and Liverpool are also in a different league because they cash in on the Champions League. The top four enjoy first pick of the best players because they offer Champions League action and a chance of silverware.
"So we can't compete financially and we can't compete when it comes to attracting the top stars. But we can beat them in other ways. Look at Wigan and Antonio Valencia. United are said to be ready to pay £14m for him.
"I'm sure we'd like him here, too, but we need to be signing the likes of Valencia early.
"It will be difficult but we are sure if Villa, Everton, Tottenham, Blackburn and even Wigan can do it, so can we."
Nightmare
Our top source added: "When Mike bought the club it was £100m in debt and the wage bill was an incredible £70m out of a turnover of £90m.
"That's because the people here had chased the dream but ended up in a nightmare. As a result it was a failing, fading club on and off the pitch. Newcastle were one of the three or four biggest spenders in the Premier League but never one of the top sides.
"They had the fifth biggest wage bill in the league but did they finish fifth? Nowhere near."
Newcastle broke the British record to lure Alan Shearer for £15m and then splashed out £16m for Michael Owen.
Since arriving from Real Madrid, Owen's £120,000-a-week wages total another £16m.
With just 40 appearances to his name, he has cost £800,000 per match with his 19 goals working out at an incredible £1.7m a strike.
The Toon source added: "No one's blaming Michael but someone has to pick up the tab — and it is a helluva big tab.
Plan
"Obafemi Martins cost £7m, Alan Smith £6m and Damien Duff £5m and they are all on more than £50,000 a week. So are Mark Viduka, Nicky Butt, Geremi, Emre and Shay Given.
"So it's a club that's spent big, paid big, acted big but delivered oh so little. Surely no one needs reminding this club hasn't won a thing since 1969!
"Now it is a different story. Mike has a proper, professional business plan and Kevin Keegan is a part of it. But throwing money around irresponsibly is definitely NOT."
"Kevin was given a full briefing of that plan when he was offered the job and he was happy.
"And yes it's fair to say he has been reminded of the way forward on Friday, but in a good meeting where again everyone emerged happy.
"Now we are all going off to put those plans into operation so we can look forward to making real progress next season."
Instead of searching the earth for young talent why not try looking on our doorstep? Where did Shearer, Beardsly and so many others come from? Not from far
away countries! I can't believe there isn't local talent striving to be noticed.
Posted by: D.Keen | May 11, 2008 at 08:49 AM | Report this comment
Just more penny pinching! Unfortunately it is cheaper to buy foreign kids in at 16 and finish them off than to take 10 and 11 year olds from the local area and make players out of them.this is a big task for Keegan given that he was the one who effectively closed the academy at Newcastle allowing Boro the first pick of the kids in the North East and look how good their academy system is.
Posted by: Nick Kinnear | May 11, 2008 at 09:20 AM | Report this comment
we cant ignore the fact that the talent is there locally but it spends 90% of the time practicing x-boxs, ps3, wiis etc, so it is never showcased. ask shearer and beardsley how many hours they spent per day playing football vs the time they spent watching tv.
Posted by: fiz mavuso | May 11, 2008 at 09:42 AM | Report this comment
who does mike think he is the reason things did not happen before was wrong buys.he should give keagan 2**million then let him buy who he wants.the truth is he would rather gamble on stocks and bonds roullette etc and drinking in he o so classey big market another poor pr stuntit would still leave him billions ashley what a joke freedie would have backed keagan sell up mike buy palace
Posted by: darren graham | May 11, 2008 at 10:27 AM | Report this comment
What maybe Mike Ashley and the vast majority of Newcastle fans seem to forget is they for some reason expect instant success. Their record shows they have not won anything of importance for 50 years. Its fine that Ashley has a long term plan to develop youngsters,and that is the right way to go, but as we all know this takes time to bear fruit,are the fans and chairman willing to accept this and be patient.
Posted by: nigel braganza | May 11, 2008 at 11:12 AM | Report this comment
To be perfectly honest, what Mike Ashley is saying is 100% true, we cannot carry on with the huge erratic spending. Look at the money wasted at Newcastle over the years (boumsong, luque, hugo viana). If we carried on doing this we would be in financial meltdown.
So the obvious solution is to retain the good players we have and add rising stars to the equation, keep King Kev who is the best man motivator around, and we will be a top 5 or higher team within the next 2-3 years.... guarenteed
Posted by: alan chester | May 11, 2008 at 11:30 AM | Report this comment
It is about time we brought through the youngsters.
Posted by: John from Newcastle | May 11, 2008 at 11:39 AM | Report this comment
Keegan had his chance to bring success to Newcastle and he blew it. Its all very well Mike Ashley having a master plan and bringing in youth etc. The big problem at Newcastle will not be the money and the lack of big name signings it will be the manager Keegan. As a player he was fantastic but as a manager he does not have the long term stability that a club like Newcastle need. Keegan is famous for walking away from presure. The only thing Newcastle can hope for is that he doesnt do it again and my thoughts are its not a question of if, its a question of when. I hope Keegan stands up this time and proves every one wrong, but my advice to Mike Ahley would be to get some good back room staff on board so that IF the situation arises. Newcastle are not back to square one again.
Posted by: Dominic Dore | May 11, 2008 at 11:51 AM | Report this comment
ya.we should really go for young talented players.but we must also spent big money.other clubs are after big names and they are just spending their money.just came to know that sunderland will be spending 50m+ during the summer transfer market.we must atleast bring in some quality defenders,one creative midfielder and retian our strikers
Posted by: savio | May 11, 2008 at 12:24 PM | Report this comment
Typical Keegan.All he ever wants to do is buy expensive players.Then he holds the club to ransome,threatening to leave if the funds don't arrive.He's never won anything as a manager.Anyone can spend other peoples money.Will fail again and leave Newcastle in the muck!!!!
Posted by: Derrin Zikks | May 11, 2008 at 12:29 PM | Report this comment
Mike Ashley is an absolute waste of space, he portrays hiself as one of the fans £20m is a disgrace as for bringing in the top youngetser oh yeh there gonna come here if they are brilliant yeah the best youngsters in the world are gonna wanna come here to newcastle 12th in the league over arsenal or top wuropean clubs, so again well get the third rate youngsters too
Posted by: Alan | May 11, 2008 at 01:21 PM | Report this comment
you all seem to forget that last time Keegan was at Newcastle he blew away the first division, got NU promoted and eventually had all the top teams running for cover, no one could cope with the fantastic attacking football, remember Newcastle vs Man U ? 5-0 TO Newcastle , 12 points clear and then injuries and a bit of dodgy luck stopped the dream,
but he came so close and i think his style of football influenced the way football is played in the premiership today. I thought Ashley was a fan, i thought there was a bottomless pit of money?
Give Keegan the money, he will buy great players,
Keegan is not the one who has wasted money at Newcastle.
Posted by: L.Gregan | May 11, 2008 at 07:42 PM | Report this comment
Maybe introduce the program.. 'Britain Got The Talent' and all prospective talented youngsters will show their wares before the British public.
Let us make this program as the breeding place for the UK's future footballers.
Posted by: RAlonso | May 12, 2008 at 11:00 PM | Report this comment
hahahahahahahaha
Posted by: safc25 | May 18, 2008 at 10:00 AM | Report this comment