Topic: Mort is not prepared to rejoin Magpies

[Thespence]

FORMER Newcastle chairman Chris Mort is prepared to return to St James’s Park to help rebuild Mike Ashley’s shattered regime if the club’s owner is willing to take the club off the market.

Although Mort left his position back in June, the lawyer who did so much positive work in acting as a mouthpiece for Ashley has still been attending United games this season with his family as a fan.

The Journal understands the 42-year-old “caught the Newcastle bug” during his time in the North East and, although he has a highly successful career with the Freshfields Law firm in London, he is willing to take on the challenge of leading the club again on a day-to-day basis.

Mort has spent much of the last few months working in America, but he is now back in England and has indicated to Ashley he could be persuaded to begin the difficult process of repairing the damage done by the controversial and sudden departure of Kevin Keegan following a row over boardroom interference in transfers.

Whether that would be enough to pacify the large number of supporters still incensed by Ashley’s behaviour, and the treatment of Keegan by the board he appointed to run the club in his absence, is open to debate. But it would be a step in the right direction at least given the respect Mort earned during his short time on Tyneside.

Despite being the man who fell out in such spectacular fashion with Keegan, managing director Derek Llambias, who took over from Mort earlier this year, has otherwise kept a low profile at St James’s Park.

The former casino boss has been efficient in his handling of the club’s affairs behind the scenes, but he has lacked Mort’s willingness to open lines of communication and has been tainted by the Keegan affair in the eyes of the vast majority of supporters.

However, while Mort would be willing to listen to any offer from Ashley to return in some capacity to the North East, he is not prepared to come if only for a short-term project. Instead, he would only come back if Ashley declared he wanted to return to the sort of long-term planning he insisted on when he bought the club in the summer of 2007 and took the club off the market.

That is a growing possibility with sources close to the takeover telling The Journal last night it is getting increasingly difficult to sell any sort of major business in the steadily worsening financial climate.

A City source said: “The credit crunch is enveloping every aspect of commercial life at the moment. Well run profitable businesses in relatively safe sectors are not finding buyers due to the absence of finance – it is going to be very difficult for those looking to sell football clubs.

“Therefore, personally I would be surprised to see Newcastle United Football Club sold in the near future but I may be proved wrong. There also appears to be a number of Premier League clubs up for sale – generally because owners are not willing or not able to continue to fund the clubs through the current recession.”

http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/12/24/mort-is-prepared-to-rejoin-magpies-61634-22542630/

[Tooj]

I really don't think we would have been in all of this mess if Mort had stayed on.

[cp40]

I really don't think we would have been in all of this mess if Mort had stayed on.

and not allowed deniss wise to interfere with Keegan,....allowed keegan to buy his own players,...etc,.etc

[Tooj]

I really don't think we would have been in all of this mess if Mort had stayed on.

and not allowed deniss wise to interfere with Keegan,....allowed keegan to buy his own players,...etc,.etc

That was all implied.

[Nicky]

Would be great to see Mort back

[cp40]

I really don't think we would have been in all of this mess if Mort had stayed on.

and not allowed deniss wise to interfere with Keegan,....allowed keegan to buy his own players,...etc,.etc

That was all implied.

yeah. i thought so, but i just cant stop myself saying it at every possible opportunity.

[Tooj]

I really don't think we would have been in all of this mess if Mort had stayed on.

and not allowed deniss wise to interfere with Keegan,....allowed keegan to buy his own players,...etc,.etc

That was all implied.

yeah. i thought so, but i just cant stop myself saying it at every possible opportunity.

I resisted for once.

[WhatTheFunk?]

I really don't think we would have been in all of this mess if Mort had stayed on.

and not allowed deniss wise to interfere with Keegan,....allowed keegan to buy his own players,...etc,.etc

That was all implied.

yeah. i thought so, but i just cant stop myself saying it at every possible opportunity.

 

[midds]

Good for the club. Llambias has been a disaster tbph.

[Tooj]

Good for the club. Llambias has been a disaster tbph.

He's been an absolute nightmare quite frankly. He was one of the people who oversaw this whole mess, yet he seems to abstain from receiving any criticism from a lot of folk.

[midds]

Good for the club. Llambias has been a disaster tbph.

He's been an absolute nightmare quite frankly. He was one of the people who oversaw this whole mess, yet he seems to abstain from receiving any criticism from a lot of folk.

I'd agree 100% with that. He's done a s*** job since he came in June/July and I'm glad Ashley has had the sense to bin him. Should never have been appointed.

[The Libertine]

Good for the club. Llambias has been a disaster tbph.

"The former casino boss has been efficient in his handling of the club’s affairs behind the scenes"

[midds]

Good for the club. Llambias has been a disaster tbph.

"The former casino boss has been efficient in his handling of the club’s affairs behind the scenes"

*chortle chortle*

[joeyt]

Good news

[oldtype]

No quotes, so not getting my hopes up.

[Lotus]

Ashley's policies are unlikely to change just because Mort comes back. Apart from talking to the fans what else did he actually do? Is it because he seems a nice bloke?

[Tooj]

Ashley's policies are unlikely to change just because Mort comes back. Apart from talking to the fans what else did he actually do? Is it because he seems a nice bloke?

Communication to the fans is a very important thing though when running a football club. Off the top of my head he sacked Allardyce, was the man who brought Keegan back, was fighting Keegan's corner in his battle with this within, brokered that meeting after the Chelsea game to resolve all apparent teething problems at the time. Plus we actually appeared stable and looked like we might go somewhere, although I do believe the manager we had was the reason behind this. Then look at what happened when he went.

[Lotus]

Ashley's policies are unlikely to change just because Mort comes back. Apart from talking to the fans what else did he actually do? Is it because he seems a nice bloke?

Communication to the fans is a very important thing though when running a football club. Off the top of my head he sacked Allardyce, was the man who brought Keegan back, was fighting Keegan's corner in his battle with this within, brokered that meeting after the Chelsea game to resolve all apparent teething problems at the time. Plus we actually appeared stable and looked like we might go somewhere, although I do believe the manager we had was the reason behind this. Then look at what happened when he went.

I really don't believe it was Mort's decision to sack Allardyce or hire KK. I think it was Ashley's decision and that he was getting advice from elsewhere. My opinion anyway!

[mrmojorisin75]

only way forward tbh...get a credible chairman to run the club probably with a set budget by ashley...all day to day running handed over to the chairman and ashley to f*** off out of sight and mind

aim for a gradual improvement until the market picks up

we will not be sold under present conditions & the current state of affairs will rip us apart if allowed to continue

[Lotus]

only way forward tbh...get a credible chairman to run the club probably with a set budget by ashley...all day to day running handed over to the chairman and ashley to f*** off out of sight and mind

aim for a gradual improvement until the market picks up

we will not be sold under present conditions & the current state of affairs will rip us apart if allowed to continue

How does Mort rate as a 'Credible Chairman'? He's done the job for, what, 6 months?

[johnson293]

only way forward tbh...get a credible chairman to run the club probably with a set budget by ashley...all day to day running handed over to the chairman and ashley to f*** off out of sight and mind

aim for a gradual improvement until the market picks up

we will not be sold under present conditions & the current state of affairs will rip us apart if allowed to continue

How does Mort rate as a 'Credible Chairman'? He's done the job for, what, 6 months?

It was a year, wasn't it?

And compare Chris Mort's year in charge to the 6 months (so far) that Llambias has been incharge - two very contrasting tenures.

One of them was open, approachable, refreshingly honest and positive, while the other has been a relative recluse - hardly ever speaking to the press, or acknowledging the fans.

I know which I preffered.

Come back Chris Mort!!

[mrmojorisin75]

only way forward tbh...get a credible chairman to run the club probably with a set budget by ashley...all day to day running handed over to the chairman and ashley to f*** off out of sight and mind

aim for a gradual improvement until the market picks up

we will not be sold under present conditions & the current state of affairs will rip us apart if allowed to continue

How does Mort rate as a 'Credible Chairman'? He's done the job for, what, 6 months?

not actually sure i said he was did i? 

i liked the way he went about his job, seemed to realise people like keegan knew more about football than he does...he's also not a buffoon like shepherd or a probable c*** like llamblias

he'd do for me, what's you problem?  who would you choose?

[Lotus]

only way forward tbh...get a credible chairman to run the club probably with a set budget by ashley...all day to day running handed over to the chairman and ashley to f*** off out of sight and mind

aim for a gradual improvement until the market picks up

we will not be sold under present conditions & the current state of affairs will rip us apart if allowed to continue

How does Mort rate as a 'Credible Chairman'? He's done the job for, what, 6 months?

not actually sure i said he was did i? 

i liked the way he went about his job, seemed to realise people like keegan knew more about football than he does...he's also not a buffoon like shepherd or a probable c*** like llamblias

he'd do for me, what's you problem?  who would you choose?

I hate being the guy who just shoots down down other peoples ideas without actually mentioning a realistic alternative, but i couldn't name anyone tbh!!! I'd just want someone with a record if having done the job successfully before.

[The Libertine]

only way forward tbh...get a credible chairman to run the club probably with a set budget by ashley...all day to day running handed over to the chairman and ashley to f*** off out of sight and mind

aim for a gradual improvement until the market picks up

we will not be sold under present conditions & the current state of affairs will rip us apart if allowed to continue

How does Mort rate as a 'Credible Chairman'? He's done the job for, what, 6 months?

not actually sure i said he was did i? 

i liked the way he went about his job, seemed to realise people like keegan knew more about football than he does...he's also not a buffoon like shepherd or a probable c*** like llamblias

he'd do for me, what's you problem?  who would you choose?

says it all.

[mrmojorisin75]

only way forward tbh...get a credible chairman to run the club probably with a set budget by ashley...all day to day running handed over to the chairman and ashley to f*** off out of sight and mind

aim for a gradual improvement until the market picks up

we will not be sold under present conditions & the current state of affairs will rip us apart if allowed to continue

How does Mort rate as a 'Credible Chairman'? He's done the job for, what, 6 months?

not actually sure i said he was did i? 

i liked the way he went about his job, seemed to realise people like keegan knew more about football than he does...he's also not a buffoon like shepherd or a probable c*** like llamblias

he'd do for me, what's you problem?  who would you choose?

says it all.

who did, JFK?

i have an irrational hatred for llamblias, i really really do...i don't even try to justify it, he just epitomises cockney spivs in my eyes