Photo Credit: AFP via Getty Images
Opinions differ on what people want from the club they support. Some want trophies and success on the field only. Others prioritize entertainment and time spent with thousands of their closest friends.
I’ve been a fan of Newcastle United for 20 years. The MLS eliminated my club in that league, the Miami Fusion. I needed to find a new club to follow.
I chose to support NUFC for several reasons. For one, they had a passionate fan base. Then, they weren’t the fair-weather-fan’s choice. Finally, the Fusion’s colorful manager was former Newcastle player and native Ray Hudson.
The first match I watched as a Newcastle supporter was on September 15, 2001. The Magpies won 4-3 over Manchester United at a full St. James’ Park. What more could someone thousands of miles away ask for?
Newcastle’s change of ownership years in the waiting
The Mike Ashley Era differed dramatically from that first fixture I saw.
The games lacked fun, the team lacked home, and the good days were few and far between.
Newcastle fans hold signs demanding Mike Ashley leave the club.
For us Americans, trying to find matches in the Championship in 2009-10 was extremely difficult. Often, we required dodgy streams of games.
For much of the last decade, Ashley’s plan seemed to be to make as much money as possible for himself. Simultaneously, he kept the club barely afloat in the Premier League rather than challenging for top spots.
Even then, it didn’t always work. After only four relegations in 117 years, the club suffered two in seven seasons under Ashley.
Rafa Benitez’s stint at St. James’ Park ended after only a few years due to lack of support from Ashley.
Now, Steve Bruce manages the squad because nobody else would work for Ashley. Currently, a threadbare squad is stuck in 19th place. Newcastle is winless in seven games with three draws.
As of now, the struggling is limited. Newcastle’s change of ownership landed the club with a consortium led by the Saudi government’s Public Investment Fund. Also, Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben Brothers’ RB Sports & Media own ownership stakes.
The consortium pledged to rebuild the club, both on and off the pitch. Also they plan a substantial investment in the city and its surroundings.
Many considered the PIF to be undeserving of ownership of a Premier League side. That stems from the less-than-stellar track record of the Saudi government in regards to human rights.
The U.K. government does frequent business with Saudi Arabia. Also, there are not too many restrictions on Saudi investment. Therefore, there is not thorough-enough support for opposition to this takeover.
Expectations for New Ownership
What should we expect from Newcastle’s change in ownership?
The PIF has deeper pockets than the combined wealth of the other 19 owners. Yet, there are certain limitations for investment. Still, the stifling constraints of the Ashley era are certainly a thing of the past.
Staveley’s statement yesterday confirms this.
“It will take time to get to where we want to but we have big ambitions for the club. We’re going to invest not just in players but in the club.”
It’s unlikely that the conditions that caused the loans to fall through this past transfer window for want of a few million pounds will not recur. The next manager will not be a last resort as Steve Bruce was.
READ MORE: Where to watch the Premier League on U.S. TV.
The simple fact that Ashley is gone earned the consortium an enormous amount of goodwill.
Mike Ashley burned bridges with Newcastle icons like Kevin Keegan. He refused to back a player like Jonas Gutierrez who was undergoing cancer treatment. He did not support a top-tier manager like Rafa Benitez after he stayed with the club despite relegation.
The new owners understand this. They indicated they will work to earn, and keep, the trust of the fans.
Fans hope Newcastle’s change of ownership beings a new dawn for the club. Since the announcement, the Newcastle ticket sales site traffic rocketed up. The 8,000 empty seats at St. James’ Park for most of the season will likely be filled again by next Sunday.
Coincidentally, NUFC face Tottenham, one of the two most vocal clubs against the PIF’s purchasing of the club.
Before last night, it would have been hard to find anyone who thought Newcastle would be able to get a result against Spurs.
Now, who knows? Hope has returned to Tyneside; “We don’t demand a club that wins, we demand a club that tries”.
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11 Comments
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jason
October 12, 2021 at 6:41 pm
I want Newcastle to get relegated so bad this year. Stick it to the new owners and make their job even harder. It will be the last chance to see them get relegated too.
bill
October 10, 2021 at 1:00 pm
I know I’m just a dumb American that doesnt undertsand English football (as Kartick would throw me into the american category) but Newcastle has a very good starting lineup. Individually they have many very good goal scoring players but just cant seem to jell as a team. I watch them every week and get sooooo frustrated by the talent on the pitch (OMG an american saying pitch and not field) and seeing the end result.
I started following the Magpies weekly when Almiron left Atlanta United to go there. Yes, SHOCKINGLY Kartick My son and I being from Atlanta and proudly supporting the Five Stripes can actually follow one of the founding members of the ATL team to an EPL team and continue our support.
Just gets alittle aggravating with this awesome podcast that we dumb Americans are assumed to not follow or understand European football.
Hopefully the new management will fix the problems at St James Park. Yes, I know the name of the stadium, HA
Roberto
October 10, 2021 at 8:33 am
Lou; Now Mike may take some of this cash and “save” Derby! Another of those is that good or bad questions.
Lou
October 9, 2021 at 6:14 pm
Great news. The bumbling Ashely was running this storied franchise in the ground. The fans deserved better. The consortium consist of a lot of smart people who will know how to undo the the Ashely mess and Amanda Staveley is a shrewd business women who gets results. I would not be surprised to see Newcastle competing for top five in the league within 2-4 years. A thriving Newcastle United will bolster the EPL’s status as the best and most competitive league in the world.
Roberto
October 9, 2021 at 5:58 pm
Why not moral and entertaining. Yes, those are mostly the teams in the bottom 10-12. The original Soccernomics was like the Rodney Crowell song, “Don’t Get Me Started”. His and Kuper’s were one of the first to look at this question. Almost everyone really liked the updated stadiums and pitches that actually had grass.
Now we have ultra rich teams in the top 6-8 spots almost forever. So, Ra a great question and one that will tilt towards immoral and entertaining because that’s where the money is made.
I have a confession, Kartik and Chris know my EPL favorites are Leicester almost forever and the last few years Brentford. The Leicester owners money is probably also very questionable. Thailand is known for crony capitalism and corruption.
Ra
October 9, 2021 at 4:52 pm
It is time they declare moral bankruptcy, together with Zuckerberg.
–
Question – Would you rather have moral or an entertaining EPL?
It was fun to see it flourish, but it now seems like a cancer,
Rob
October 9, 2021 at 4:13 pm
Not sure any of the other club owners has as bad a track record as MBS’ / the house of Saud. A shame our governments tolerate (actually support) this sort of regime while paying lip
service to principles like democracy, liberty and justice. I mean he had a journalist cut up in pieces in their embassy in Turkey and he gets a mulligan and ownership of a premier league club. I am not a NewCastle fan but if I was I’ll
have to pass on that offer.
Roberto
October 9, 2021 at 3:12 pm
So, all the other 19 teams object to the Saudi takeover of Newcastle. I guess the other dirty money teams, Man. City and Chelsea do not feel like hypocrites. Even the Glazer’s should be quiet.
Sure it is sad that a great team has to take dirty money to be rid of big Mike, but those that use drug profits, people trafficking, oil despot money and hedge fund funny money should not be upset.
Christopher Harris
October 9, 2021 at 3:58 pm
We’ll discuss the topic in more length on the next podcast.
Roberto
October 8, 2021 at 12:55 pm
It will be good to see Newcastle as contenders, again. But did they have to sell their soul to the devil? Pundits better be careful of serious comments about the owners or they may end up in the pies!
Greg C
October 8, 2021 at 12:20 pm
TOON TOON!!