No, I’m not talking about the weather. After a credible 12th placed finish in the Premiership, £35 million in the bank and, at long last, a strong sense of stability at the club, one could be forgiven for thinking that the only way is up for Newcastle United. Yet their pre-season has been hampered by speculation that their star players from last season are on their way out of St. James’ Park, having failed to agree new contracts with the club.
Club captain Kevin Nolan, Newcastle’s top scorer last season, is the first high-profile player to leave the club, with recently relegated West Ham confirming the signature of the former Bolton midfielder for a modest fee. The club have apparently failed to meet Nolan’s terms, prompting his departure from the club. As well as this, there is also strong speculation that other players, including Joey Barton, Jose Enrique and Jonas Gutierrez have also failed to agree new contracts and could be leaving the club over the summer. Barton was arguably the Magpies’ best player last season, but again, contract negotiations with the board have broken down, suggesting that he too could be on his way out. Jose Enrique staked his claim as one of the best left-backs in the Premiership last season, but with huge interest from Premier League and European clubs, there is very little guarantee that the Spaniard will be at St. James’ Park next season. The speculation surrounding Gutierrez may only be minimal, but the rumour is that the Argentine has developed a close friendship with Enrique and may be influenced by a move away if his demands are not met.
This talk of players leaving the club may not be official for now, but the fact that there is a lot of speculation and it seems to involve no fewer than four players, with one already on his way, which is of huge concern for the club going in to next season. Ironically, this talk of a mass exodus was not as strong when Newcastle were relegated two seasons ago. It seems peculiar that the club were able to hold on to several of their players back then, but unable to do so now that they are back in the top flight. The biggest worry is that the board cannot seem (or do not want) to meet the players’ requests, yet none of the players in question have expressed a strong desire to leave the club. In fact, Joey Barton has said in the press that he wants to stay at St. James’ Park indefinitely. This leads to two very imposing questions: Is the stability at the club weaker than we all think, or are the board simply not very good at negotiating?
In response to the first question, the reality could well be that the club is still counting the cost of being relegated. Even with £35 million in the bank following the sale of Andy Carroll, Mike Ashley and his board will insist that whatever money the club has is invested wisely and not simply wasted on excessive wage bills. On the flip side, Ashley would be wise not to make himself even less popular than he already is. Having already overseen the departure of two very popular managers on Tyneside, allowing the club’s most influential players to leave purely because his board are too stubborn meet their demands will not be tolerated by the Geordie faithful.
Newcastle have already spent in the transfer window, having captured the services of promising French midfielder Yohan Cabaye and no doubt there will also be plenty of new faces at the club over the coming weeks. Aside from the players in question, they still have a squad full of potential. Players such as Hatem Ben Arfa, Cheik Tiote and Fabricio Coloccini will undoubtedly be vital as the club endeavour to push for European places next season. But that dream simply will not come to fruition if the demands of the star players are not met, and for them to leave the club at prices like Kevin Nolan’s would be nothing short of humiliating. Perhaps it’s time for Mr Ashley to realise it was the players that got Newcastle United to where they are now. Without them, the club would have seriously struggled to stay afloat last season. Maybe it is time for him to reward them with the deals that they deserve and, more importantly, keep the fans happy.
Written by Sam Conway
The only way the NUFC faithful will not show up is if the team is boring. Nolan is well on his way to being a bench warmer and would soon hear the ire of the fans carping about the big pay packet and no on field performance. The last two in such a role were Nicky Butt and now Alan Smith. Nolan got out with a good deal from his old pal Sam. NOw we only have to worry about Nolan coming ti haunt the Toon if drawn in a League or FA cup tie.
I am sad that there is so much bad talk about MA, yes he do not know how to run a fotball club. But he knows business, and people around him know players, just look at tiote bid and the other gains that the team made. Nolan and many old timers have gotten fat wallets from doing mediocre seasons. I am thrilled about the free signings that the team made this summer, well in with what the team needs. Just because we are not ready to pay other teams redicolous prices of tens of millions of pounds, but instead do good businesses they complain. Do the fans that shout out their anger because we dont shell out our cash understand that the players are the same wether we pay 10 million for em or sip. The fact about Nolan is that he did not even manage to take a place in the team last season. He was blessed with a out of position as a striker due to the fact we need better attackers. So the 12 goals that he made was thanx to Carroll. I DO understand that you sell a player on 42k a week when the best is a future as a bench player at best. Do not get me wrong, Nolan is Heart, and the leadership will be missed, but it is time to clean the books with players that cost to much and do not develop, or are at a too low level. Nolan will do great in West Ham, its a wonderful club and he will grow with them. We shall be glad that he found new pasture and can help them back to the premiership. Newcastle however, is developing above the reach of Nolans capability as a player. Good business, and Good Luck Nolan