Source: Telegraph
Newcastle United 'not for sale' says managing director Derek Llambias
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has made two high-profiles attempts to sell a club he bought for £134.4 million in 2007 but although St James' Park is haemorrhaging money the sports retail tycoon is not actively seeking a purchaser and is said to be "fully committed" to the cause.[LNB]In a rare public interview Derek Llambias, the Newcastle managing director who runs Championship club for Ashley, has pointed to the inclement economic conditions for his paymaster's decision to keep hold of the club.[LNB] Related ArticlesCarroll aims to fire for England U21s'Ashley's money keeps Newcastle in business'United players rooting for NewcastleNolan: I'm delighted Hughton's in tune with ToonNewcastle prioritise points above plauditsSport on television"It is not up for sale it is not up for sale at all," Llambias said.[LNB]"The position is there is no money out there. The reality is that football is not what it was. We had two possible buyers and they didn't put their money up. So at the end of the day they are not real.[LNB]"You cannot lose the income we have lost in relegation and still be where we are. So Mike has put in £25 million in December and he has put in another five million in this week and he is committed." Llambias insisted that Ashley was winning hearts and minds of the fans who have blamed him for the club's relegation from the Premier League last season.[LNB]"Do I feel we are winning them back over? Slowly, slowly," Llambias said. "I think the reality is coming back into football with what has happened in January at West Ham and Portsmouth and other lower division clubs and what is going on with Man U at the moment.[LNB]"It is a passion. They are just great fans. There is a very small section of the fanbase that basically are not reasonable. There is no reality to where they are. So I am hoping that with results we will get there and we will see what happens next season.[LNB]"We went out and bought £5.5-million worth of players in January. We needed to freshen up the team. We needed to support our manager and he is fully, fully committed to where we are. The reality is that if Mike had not taken the club we would be in a mess." ends [LNB]
