LONDON // Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley said today he had made "terrible decisions" in the running of the club, who were relegated from the Premier League last week, and wants to sell the club as soon as he can.
"It has been catastrophic for everybody. I've lost my money and I've made terrible decisions. Now I want to sell it as soon as I can... advisers will be appointed shortly," he told the Sunday Times.
Ashley became a near-billionaire when he floated his sports equipment retail business on the stock market in 2007. He bought Newcastle for £134 million (Dh796m), ploughing in more than another £100m since then.
He put the club on the market for £400m last year as supporters demanded his exit following the resignation of popular manager Kevin Keegan but could not find a buyer.
Asked if he regretted buying the club he said: "Of course I regret it.
"I never said I was an expert in football clubs. I was just a fan ? although a very wealthy fan. But I'm not so wealthy now. I put my money into it and I tried my best. But I accept my best was woefully short. I am genuinely sorry for everybody about what has happened."
Newcastle this week announced a series of redundancies at the club as they prepare for life in the Championship, England's second tier of football, but negotiations are continuing over the permanent appointment of Alan Shearer as manager after the club's former striker eight-game caretaker stint failed to keep the club up.
*Reuters
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Score
Third Test, Day 1
New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat
Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.