Mike Ashely owns a website called Sports Direct. This website is primarily a sales on for running shoes etc. The following is a direct quote from the Guardian website: "Wayne Rooney is target for Newcastle United, claims Sports Direct website ⢠Mike Ashley owns the retail company and football club ⢠'Newcastle see Wayne as their ideal player' Share 582 inShare 0 Email James Riach guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 15 May 2013 10.20 EDT Newcastle United tried to sign Wayne Rooney from Everton before he signed for Manchester United in 2004. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Archive/PA Images A report on the Sports Direct website, the retail company owned by the Newcastle United owner, Mike Ashley, claims the north-east club are trying to sign Wayne Rooney from Manchester United. Rooney, who was targeted by Newcastle before he moved to United from Everton in 2004, is contemplating a transfer away from Old Trafford, with Sir Alex Ferguson claiming after his final home game in charge that the forward has asked to leave the club. A number of clubs have been linked with Rooney and Sports Direct claims Newcastle are in the hunt. The story reads: "Newcastle United are preparing a shock bid for want-away Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. SportsDirect News has learned the Magpies have already sounded out Rooney's agent over a potential move, with United keen to offload the 27-year-old. "Rooney is seen as a perfect candidate to boost the Magpies' chances of a top-four tilt next season â and is seen as a man who will be hero-worshipped at St James' Park." The article, which has appeared on the company's website, also quotes a source "close to negotiations" who says: "Newcastle see Wayne as their ideal player. He's a strong centre-forward, would relate to the fans and would be a massive boost to the club's brand name. "Low-level conversations have already been held between Newcastle and Rooney's agent, though the two clubs haven't spoken directly yet." Sceptics have been quick to argue that the story will increase the number of hits on the Sports Direct website in a blatant publicity stunt. Ashley rebranded St James' Park the Sports Direct Arena in November 2011 but the stadium returned to its original name last year." http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/may/15/wayne-rooney-newcastle-united-sports-direct ................................... This is the actual website. http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/ this guy has today a CLARIFICATION, buried down the bottom of the site which reads. "SportsDirect News wishes to express its sincere apologies to Wayne Rooney and Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group for publishing the article "Newcastle in shock Rooney bid", which was formulated and published without authority, merit and is untrue." ................................... Now I want to be frank here. Just about every paper and press hack, especially internet based hacks are always making stuff up but this one is a WOW, this is Ashely's sales company exploiting another clubs issues to increase website hits. It could be called libel... it could be called amazing business savvy... but for me i think Its hilarious. I think Ian Ayre should prepare a drawer statement now to fax back to newcastle when they do bid 5mi for Carroll on August 30th. You could afford rooney, so the price is 35mil.
Didn't we get fined for our Owners company website doing something very similar.....by mistake of course.....
No, this is an out right bare faced lie. our was a prepared statement released on the FSG news system mistakenly. Newcastle can't buy rooney... EVER... so they admitted they made it up. I bet they got some extra footfall for this website though! the funny thing is all the hacks in the media and papers/radio failed to check the thing and find the retraction which is hugely embarrassing and instead went with the juicy rooney bid... Any one carrying rooney to tyneside today should be discounted for having any footy insdie scoops.
Surely it is all in the wording. If they say they are looking to buy, wish to buy, want to buy, interesting in buying, etc then they are not lying. Ours was a press release saying we had signed him which quite obviously wasn't true
"Newcastle United are preparing a shock bid for want-away Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. SportsDirect News has learned the Magpies have already sounded out Rooney's agent over a potential move, with United keen to offload the 27-year-old. "Rooney is seen as a perfect candidate to boost the Magpies' chances of a top-four tilt next season – and is seen as a man who will be hero-worshipped at St James' Park." The article, which has appeared on the company's website, also quotes a source "close to negotiations" who says: "Newcastle see Wayne as their ideal player. He's a strong centre-forward, would relate to the fans and would be a massive boost to the club's brand name. "Low-level conversations have already been held between Newcastle and Rooney's agent, though the two clubs haven't spoken directly yet." lies. 1. did they contact an agent... no, they didn't cos they admitted in thier retraction "SportsDirect News wishes to express its sincere apologies to Wayne Rooney and Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group for publishing" "formulated and published without authority, merit and is untrue" 2. Top 4 tilt... thats a right laugh isn't it? Thats one in the eye for the magpies fans cos ashley has more intent of selling than buying players. 3 "close to negotiations"
I don't agree. Low levels conversations could consist of them asking the agent if he is unsettled! Is there a player at Newcastle that has the same agent? Maybe it was a off the cuff comment? Still counts as "low level". There is nothing else that suggests they are done anything
the retraction man! read the retraction. It is obvious rooney's agent company was straight on with the lawyers forcing them to stop the lies. just read what i went and found and provided. Ahsley's website used his club and utd/rooney in a fake rumour to boost website "footfall" ""SportsDirect News wishes to express its sincere apologies to Wayne Rooney and Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group for publishing the article "Newcastle in shock Rooney bid", which was formulated and published without authority, merit and is untrue." I bet they are hanging someone in the website news section out to dry on it.
I meant more that if WE were fined for what was seen as an unauthorized approach to another clubs player surely this warrants similar action, since Fergie stated the player wasn't for sale and this statement came after that? They both apologised & claimed clerical error in the 'puter department but amounts to same the same thing?
Personally, I don't think the original article had anything wrong with it. however, since they have also published a retraction apologising for their comments, they have basically admitted to wrongful intentions and if we were punished for this then they should b too.
you both make good points, i wonder.... who gets punished? does the fraud squad hit the website which benefited from peopel coming looking or ashely? Newcastle in theory can sit and smirk I still think we should ask for rooney mony now they say they have it
