Lack of urgency will cost Newcastle United dear
It's as patronising as you can get but the money men who are trying to sell Newcastle United will tell you: "These things can't be done overnight."
But while that, painfully, may be the case - 10 months (which usually fly by) in a football club's history CAN be deemed as pretty much overnight as far as the big picture is concerned in what has turned into a not so beautiful game for Toon fans and the recent lack of urgency in the club's snail-paced sale is damaging Newcastle.
And long after Mike Ashley, Derek Llambias and Seymour Pierce's Keith Harris and Tom Sheldon are back in the comfort zone of London's wine bars and theatre district - the reality is Toon fans could well be rolling up at Boundary Park, Roots Hall and the other St James Park if things aren't sorted.
Ashley always maintained that he would look after the Mags as long as he was in control.
Well with Chris Hughton in caretaker charge, Alan Shearer in limbo and transfer targets not even on the radar as Big Al would have planned - the club continues to sink into oblivion.
Saturday afternoon will see the black and whites run out at Shamrock for the first game of the season.
It was supposed to be the start of a new era for United fans but instead it will continue to be a period of uncertainty and fear.
Even if United are sold tomorrow then they are already miles behind the rest of the division and if the new owners don't pull off the appointment of Shearer, they could be in for more pain.
True, new owners could pull out a manager that makes everybody stand up and take notice in the next few weeks.
That, however, is only if Mr Ashley can come to an agreement and take the ballpark figure that appears to have emerged since the club went up for sale.
Llambias stated in the Chronicle this week that Seymour Pierce had received more than two bids of £100million.
Well if that is the case what happened to the first come, first served policy?
The farce continues...
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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Lee, I enjoy most of your articles, for various reasons - but you should have entitled this one: "Absolutely nothing new to say at all..." or maybe just not even bothered. Well done for stretching it out to so many lines though.
You must be sick as a parrot eh mate? They couldn't make it up...
Q: What do NUFC and Lee Ryder have in common?
A: They can't win.
I'm starting to feel sorry for you, Lee. Hang in there.
It's been costing us dear ever since SBR acquired Lee Bowyer! Almost everything after that has been downhill (though I'm not laying the blame for everything at SBR's feet - or even Lee Bowyer. Step forward Fat Fred and Fat Mike).
Lee, I have heard on local radio this morning that the takeover could be done very soon??. Let's just hope it's true and not another load of media guff aimed at getting our hopes up of finally getting rid of Cashley and Co for it only to be not true and give us fans yet another kick in the stones.
Damon, I've given Lee a bit of stick for some of his articles recently, but maybe your comment should have been entitled "Absolutely nothing new to say at all..."
This is a comment piece, not a story.
Keep the faith, fools.
I like the way the national media fell for an internet rumour - tools.
Anyway this feels like its gonna drag on for yet weeks and weeks and weeks.
I know its no comparison and money and figures are probably no where near as bad as ours but - Southampton - last week in the poop and heading for the scrap heap - this week sold out the blue.
So it shows that the wheels move.
The problem is NO ONE KNOWS ANYTHING apart from a few key players (not the squad).
Dont beleive any guff you read, expecially on the net - unless Lee whacks up a sold story or SSN have it in yellow or its on NUFC website - we got no choice but to sit it out.
Sort of like MO on a sicknote lol
Faustino, I was not really intending to have a pop at lee ryder above, mainly the wall of silence and appeasing crumbs of misinformation that we have all existed on during MA's reign. That's why I said Lee, as a journalist, must feel sick as a parrot.
And I certainly am keeping the faith, personally. Can't comment for others but I said in a previous blog that patience was needed, I feel we'll benefit massively from a rebirth in the long run, despite my growing apprehensions about next season.
Our club is enduring a long game of Russian Roulette - lets not lose our heads.
i wish you wouldnt call me dear
Im starting to wonder if theres another well Mike wanted to sell buttt story coming soon.
Can I ask how long Ashley has had PR people ?
Seriously, I quite fancy a punt on Shamrock to win that match. Good on them for chosing a team with 'Sham' in their name for the first pre-season friendly by the way. It shows they havn't lost their indefatigable sense of humour in these hard times. Who says they don't communicate with the fans? Simply read between the lines. You will always find a big podgy middle finger pointing right towards your face.
Sie Schwarz-Weiß-faceas sind mit einem Lachen, wenn Sie denken, dass eine Super-Reichen wird zur Rettung Ihrer erbärmlichen Schicksal der nächsten Saison.
I see Barton may be getting a run out. Let's see. He does well. Scores even. And everyone who called for his head forgives him. Three games later he punches Steve Harper and the whole thing begins again. Bliddy disgrace and we're the laughing stock again
I think Ashley deserve a little more respect than he is given. Why don't we focus on the positive things he has done for the club.
If he did not take over when he did we would be in a far worse situation than we are now.
Sure he made a few mistakes but his obvious business acumen makes him stand out from the crowd
Firstly i'd like to add; Lee you're doing a canny job, writting anything about the ghost ship SJP has to be hard... Secondly: I'd like to know where the cockney duo really came from? i.e. their past cv's prior to their current and last jobs? i'm thinking gypsy caravans and road maintanence..? should the FA not look into where these people come from? they won't let unqualified managers manage a club so why should a shoe salesman and a croupier be allowed take control of one of the biggest organizations in the city??? Thirdly: If we had had a good managing here the last 5yrs or so would we of noticed what was going on upstairs or if we had would we of been interested? look at Liverpool and ManU. do they really care over there? both clubs have been sold to monkies, loads of debt but never out of the top 3 or 4 since jimmy nail was top of the pops..! i put that down to bad directorship!!