The Hotel End

Heard a rumour from a friend of a friend that Mike Ashley is interested in taking on the Cobblers. I am assuming this is spam, anyone else heard anything? Would we want such a character?

Money, Cheap shirts, Money, Ability to Purchase better players, Money, Able to Finish/start again the East Stand, Money, Increase overall capacity, Money, Potential realised, Money.  ;D
It's not as if he is a questionable Human Rights record, like who is replacing him at The Toon, is it?   :P
If he ploughs a substantial amount of money into the club, would there be many who wouldn't welcome him?  ::)

Remember that we had a false dawn when the Chinese were coming... ;)

I always find friends of friends to be completely reliable when it comes to information  ;D

Haha a guy whose main interest seems to be making money takes over a money pit league 2 team, absolutely no chance.

Absolutely no chance of this happening and even if there was, I wouldn't want to see the fat, morally bankrupt piece of shìt anywhere near our club. I'd rather fold and start again as a phoenix club than see it becoming tainted by his stubby little maulers.

I don't really mind that he's fat tbf!
You don't mean your last sentence. Whatever you do, don't take up a career in journalism...saturation point in sensationalising!

Probably in a minority?
If someone comes waving that amount of spondoolies, as long as they can sustain it you grab it.
Maybe some of the supporters haven't agreed with the amount of money he has put in to fund them, but can't see where Newcastle have been tainted by him? 
You will never know when/if a meal ticket will ever be offered again.

Who in the queue of potential buyers would meet the standards you demand?

If Mike Ashley was in the queue, I believe it would be a queue of ONE!

To clarify, I've witnessed Mike Ashley's business dealings first hand. He's an amoral c*** of the highest (or rather lowest) order. I'm not being sensationalist or resorting to hyperbole. I would genuinely prefer us to fold than to have him involved in our club. It's pretty much a moot point anyway because it isn't going to happen.

Fine by me. It won’t happen though.

Closing down. All stock must go. Players wearing Lonsdale.

He's an old school businessman, interested in making money, not bothered about morals. Can't see how he'd be interested in us, unless he can make money off the land.....

Hes a D1ck of the highest order. Same as Tim Martin from Wetherspoons, who refused to pay his staff or settle invoices. And Branson, who is currently sulking after losing the West Coast mainline route. And not getting his airline bailed out by the government. But why should they? He is based offshore and pays hardly any tax. Speaking of him, reminds me, did anyone else have big problems with Virginmedia last week? Mine kept crashing every few minutes. They can stick their next price increase.
And anyway, Ashleys not coming here. Its just not big enough for him, or his ego. Move on nothing to see.

I really wish some on here would not be Latter Day Saints - NTFC fans moralisers😱 - on here !
At least he gave 500k to NHS!

Sounds like many chairman to me, at least we’ve been lucky enough to avoid anyone that fits that description?

Unbelievable Jeff!

After witnessing our own chairman and his pals walk out the door with 12m of public money some interesting points of view. Remember KT's not selling the club, it's land near the M1.

Obviously some fun bullshit, although we do have a Newcastle connection! Give me a ruthless billionaire any day over the absolute shite we've witnessed here. McRithchie or Mike Ashley? FFS.

There would only be a tiny insignificant few stamping their feet outside in protest. More room as well as on the hill as Beds could come inside again and admire the new stand.

Does anybody speak to Graham Carr for a view?

Just one I think...the honourable founder and director of AFC Northampton 1897!  ;D

Is that before or after he sued it?

Look it up ! 
You carefully omitted the fact he later apologised for his actions and offered a fleet of store lorries to help with distribution of PPE.

That's only because of the outcry it caused, it doesn't change the fact of what his first reaction was!

In the end he put some of his money and transport facility with the NHS who incidentally accepted his offer. You clearly have not forgiven him ::)

How about your other hero, Branson?

Of course the government should bail out his airline, he pays his taxes like the next man...………………..Oh maybe not then  :o

Branson maybe doesnt pay his uk taxes, but the hundreds of workers at Virgin Atlantic do pay UK taxes, maybe people are forgetting about them. Will you all be happy to pay more tax when  alot of them lose their jobs?

So do you think tax avoidance is OK if you employ some people who do pay their taxes ?

I didnt say that, i was asking if you would be happy to make up the short fall in the taxes that are lost by Virgin Atlantic workers losing their jobs.

Don't like him ; never have done. Don't like Geezers who buy an offshore Island to conduct nefarious activities. Above all he is not rumoured as Ashley is to buy the Club.

I know you are firmly with the loony left but really why do you have to be such a loser?

But the short fall in taxes by Virgin workers, is it any different to the short fall caused by Branson and others avoiding paying their fair share of taxes ?
    I really feel for any working person who is going to lose their jobs but the greedy ba*tards who blatantly fiddle their taxes, I have no sympathy.

Henry Winkler.

He was awarded the OBE!

Interesting comments on here regarding “greedy” business owners? For those that are interested what about a view from the other side of the fence?
1. How about the situation regarding Phoenix companies? A company can legally fold owing your business 10s of thousands of pounds. It can start up the next day with a slight name change, buy all its assets off the liquidator and carry on as if it never happened? The inland revenue gets to keep its income stream and us poor creditors just have to lump it and F off? It’s also known as legalised government enabled robbery?
2. How about deferred invoicing? You can build a relationship with a major business such as a supermarket chain etc. You become economically dependent on the relationship and then they turn around out of the blue and state that they will pay your invoices on 105 days? It does this to all its suppliers, the theory being they get to keep a massive lump sum in the bank and gain the interest etc and the suppliers cashflow is absolutely trashed. You end up getting bank loans etc to support their business (in the unlikely event this is even possible, more on this later) in effect giving this huge business an unauthorised, unsecured interest free loan? This is usually achieved by remortgaging your house or some other drastic soul destroying measure. The government could of course legislate against this practice, but it doesn’t give a f#*k, so why should it?
3. You build a business putting every penny and possession you own on the line, employing people etc but the government makes you pay corporation tax at 19% (17% this year due to current circumstances). This is on top of your normal PAYE meaning you are in reality a 64% tax payer? No one else suffers this injustice, just business owners and this is even if you are a small business? Not so in Australia by the way where you are given a tax credit to offset this absolute travesty.
4. The UK government gives a tax free concession on share dividends. This is about £25k higher than the standard tax free earning threshold making it effect worth 7 grand. A figure that has not changed for around 20 years and is falling year on year in real terms. Everyone else gets their allowances increased regularly, but business owners can f#*k off and lump it apparently. Give it another 20 years and the minimum PAYE threshold will be higher than the dividend threshold and it will be redundant. The final advantage of the business owner dead and buried.
5. During the last economic crisis the UK government bailed out the banks and became sort of part owners of many. Yet they did absolutely f all in the way of supporting business. Trying to get a loan or assistance was virtually impossible and you were and in fact still are virtually on your own. Unless you are prepared to embark on factored invoicing or some other company wrecking bank serving strategy, the banks are a waste of space? This is despite pumping a small fortune in government money in to keep their doors open, the government did absolutely f all in getting them to support businesses? To this day the only business that can get any meaningful financial support is one that is so financially secure, it doesn’t need it. A turnover of 1 million plus gets you an overdraft of about 40k. Really handy when Joe Retailer or someone puts you on a 105 day invoice payment schedule and a Phoenix goes t1ts up on you in the same month?

I could go on and on. Business owners have been treated like sh1t for years. Most treat them as greedy self serving tossers and view them with contempt yet they are supposed to be the economic backbone of the country, don’t make me laugh? Yet when they try and twist and bend the rules and get an advantage for themselves for once in their lives, everyone jumps on their back and goes beserk? Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying tax avoidance is right, its just that this idea that business owners are nothing more than greedy parasites who deserve every financial misfortune that comes their way makes my fcuking blood boil. You get no respect, no gratitude, no assistance, just petty jealousy, ridicule and contempt. You are constantly, consistently and relentlessly financially raped and pillaged every way you turn with little exception. Well if you keep treating people like sh1t they will end up acting in morally questionable ways? No, I’m afraid the “supporting business” mantra government and their partners in crime at the HMRC can fcuk off, hence the move to Oz! Every penny they were due to take off me personally has gone down the toilet and if I had a finger imoji I would be inserting it right here.
Rant over.

When I worked in the motor trade, doing service work there was a haulage company at Wymington near Rushden. It was 24/7 workshop. And provided for that stinking sh1thole just outside of Irthlingborough. The place that you held your breath when you drove past. They changed their name three times whilst I went there. Unpaid invoice? No thats not us, said the same guy, in the same office behind the same desk. I hated going there because I had to ware waders to avoid the filth. And yet my employer still dealt with them. You have no idea what was dripping on me.

 :'(
What a sorry story.

Really, I came out of it very well thanks. Or is that the bit you’re sorry about?

MC. A lot of your points ring true especially the abusive payment terms. I've certainly come across businesses where the owners are bleeding their company dry knowing that the unsecured creditors will take the hit if their company collapses.

Regarding your payment of Corporation Tax;

Did you look at your specific provisioning when considering your final figures (where your taxable profits derive from). Provide for a bonus for yourself (or your wife) ? Perhaps you know you have taxable losses coming up to set against prior year profits. The virus is going to lead to some huge tax losses and repayment of prior year CT on profits.

I’m going back a bit now but it was split between me and the missus as far as I can recall? It all got a bit technical for me tbh, just took the advice of the bean counter. Of course it all went out the window when I moved here, all the UK stuff is taxed as overseas income under ATO rules. With regards to the other stuff, it’s long overdue with regards to sorting out these c***s. It’s frankly a scandal that they are allowed to get away with it? Unfortunately I have seen far too many decent people lose everything at the hands of these individuals. Problem is you get these types in every society, it’s simply a failure of government that allows it to continue. I’m afraid when it comes to running a business the UK government in my experience is shockingly inadequate, and that’s across the political divide irrespective of who’s in power.

All good points Melbourne.
One point sums up football supporters. They will complain that people like Branson and his company avoid paying tax etc.
But when a football Club goes into administration or fails altogether, the fans are very quick to form phoenix Clubs or organise  rescue deals , thus avoiding payments due to Creditors, Inland Revenue etc. All very hypocritical\

I’m not sure I see the issue with fans starting up phoenix clubs when a team goes out of business, but I do think the penalties imposed to clubs that go into administration is far too lenient. I was glad Bury were forced to start again and not allowed back in the league and would like to see it more to bigger clubs too. I know if this stance had been imposed in the past we would have been chucked out the league and maybe it might mean we are in the future but if that is the case then do be it.

That sums it up really. There are a lot of businesses doing very nicely in this country with the owners earning a nice wedge. The owners have also found cunning ways to earn even more by swerving the revenue. There is a huge divide between the top earners and the average worker. The richest 10% of households hold 44% of all wealth. The poorest 50%, by contrast, own just 9%. Let's face it, it is called greed. Oh and corporation tax in Oz is 30% compared to 19% in UK. If business owners wish to re-locate from the country that brought them up then good riddance. One thing this covid malarkey has proved is that the workers we really rely on are undervalued to a very high degree and businesses and governments need to realise that wealth distribution needs to be much fairer.

Your daft quoting pareto's law; it was the same in Renaissance Italy, Ancient Rome,Medieval England and beyond etc etc..... and especially Scotland! The top earners may also include Footballers, Celebrities /Lottery Winners and quite few Tradesmen. I bet you are one of the lefties/remainers living on Twitter in an Ultra Socialist Remainer Bubble? If you studied pareto's law applied to the UK then it is at best 5% hold 40% of the wealth; 30% hold 25% and the balance to the rest of "us". Things have evened up quite a bit since 1913, unless of course your figures are merely suited to fit an agenda ::).   

Ill informed as ever, corporation tax payments in Oz are discounted off your personal tax bill. Been looking something else up on the internet and jumped to another ridiculously out of context conclusion have we? Name one cunning way that small to medium size business people can swerve the revenue, just one? As I said no respect, no gratitude, no assistance, just petty jealousy, ridicule and contempt, thanks for confirming. Once again generalised statements without any concept of reality? However, you will be no doubt delighted to know that your philosophy is fairly common and had an influence on our decision to pull the plug and come here so congratulations. Unfortunately that mindset doesn’t come for free, it costs the UK an absolute fortune in lost revenue and lost employment which has a significant impact on the very people that deserve a better deal. By the way I still run businesses in the UK that employ a number of people, so it’s not really totally good riddance. Whilst there were no redundancies as a result of the move we would have now been employing a significant number of additional people and the cost to the Inland Revenue is probably around a million a year in lost revenue. That’s from just us, there are many more like us and the louder and more numerous the SOGs of this world get, the more there will be. Interestingly I haven’t really experienced any of this in Oz, totally the opposite to be honest. I would like to think that is a contributing factor as to why Australia has gone 28 years without a recession, which has had a positive effect on everyones quality of life in the country. In the UK Around 22% of people are in poverty, compared to 13% in Australia. 17.5% of children under the age of 16 are in poverty in Australia compared to a shocking 30% in the UK? You should become a UK politician SOG, you’ll fit right in?

By way of an addition for the ill advised, businesses turning over less than 50 million AUD its 27.5% corporation tax, 26% for the 2020/21 income year, and 25% for the 2021/22 and later income years. Corporation tax payments remain deductible from your personal tax calculation. I’ll give you another fact, just prior to 1971 the higher rate of tax in the UK was around 90%. It got cut for one reason alone. The higher rate tax payers took your advice and became part of the “good riddance gang”. The UK government and the numpties at the HMRC finally woke up to the fact that having an internationally competitive rate of tax means they currently retain the possibility 45% of something rather than 90% of fcuk all. As a result during the 1970s, progress was made in reducing the level of post-war poverty and inequality, with 3 million families in Britain in poverty in 1977, compared with 5 million in 1961. This was despite significant population growth at that time. This coincided with a large reduction in higher taxation during the same period? You see this can be the problem, unqualified individuals with ridiculous agendas making rash and dangerous decisions that sometimes have serious consequences for the people they claim they want to help?