From the Ronnie!!!

NEWCASTLE have failed in an audacious bid to buy one of Australia's top club.

A high-powered United delegation has been Down Under talking to Melbourne Carlton - the former club of Leeds United's in-form striker Mark Viduka.

But they have returned to Tyneside without a deal being struck.

United have refused to discuss their bold bid and it is not clear why it has failed.

Talent

But what is clear is that United are determined not to be left behind by the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Leeds United and Rangers who are in the process of establishing links in Australia.

Rangers have already taken over one top Aussie club Northern Spirit.

Exacly how much it would cost United to buy Carlton is unclear. However Rangers paid B#1.25m for a 50 per cent share in Northern Spirit and so the cost of buying into these clubs is clearly not prohibitive for big outfits in this country.

A source in Sydney told me today: "Newcastle United have been in Australia trying to buy Melbourne Carlton and as far as we know they had not done so.

"Why? We don't know."

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000

Answers

Just reading we have a partnership with South Jersey Barons in America for the exchange of players .. is that old news ?

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000

Full item also on News Front page of DAILY TOON

Come on all you Aussie people....give us the gen on Melbourne Carlton. What level of 'top club' are they.....who could we compare them with over here.....us in the EPL or someone like Watford, Palace, Blackburn, Forest in Div 1 or lower than that?

We need information!

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000

It seems so obvious we should buy the other Newcastle and re-name them United. Why bother with Melbourne? The problem however is that the Aussie Toon is bottom of their league.

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000

Well, that's a summer job for YBR sorted out then. The warm weather would do him good. Dunno 'bout them Sheilas tho.

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000

Barry,

I saw Oz NUFC a couple of weeks ago v NZ Soccer Kingz. Believe me, we don;t want to buy a stake in them - all sorts of financial trouble and they were stuffed 5-1.

If you're gonna invest in a club, why not invest in the best club in the region? makes sense to me...

Can't help you with Carlton etc - gus? Loony? Tynedale?

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000

Slight snag with your plan Screach - their "summer" coincides with our footy season.
Other than that it's a cracking idea!

:-{)

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000

Ye daft bugga Clarky. I meant a job in wor summer, not theirs. Even their winter has to be warmer than wor "summer".

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000

where does team-talk get their facts from.viduka never played for them if i remember rightly he was already o.s when they were formed 4or5 years ago they have already changed hands. and a guy called peter jess owns them.he has a company that managers aussie rules players an ex client is one kathy freeman who he suing at the moment they say he bought carlton just after crystal palace bought into northen spirit? looking for a quick buck [not a soccer man]

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000

So what about this Jersey stuff , you all seem to be ignoring that or am i being a complete tw@ again ?

-- Anonymous, November 15, 2000

Why the Aussie deal died. According to the Ronnie Carlton's bitter rivals are Collingwood who just happen to play in black and white stripes.

-- Anonymous, November 15, 2000

Sorry lads and lasses, just back from me hols, I didn't think anybody read my comments!

The Carlton/Collingwood thing is in Aussie rules football.

Carlton were a new club formed when the league went non ethnic.

The 2 Aussie rules teams wanted to get into "Soccer" to use their grounds over summer and therefore have revenue all year round. Collingwood folded after a year.

Carlton nearly went broke and sold the footy club holding to the soccer club.

Viduka played for Melbourne Knights and had left OZ as had Kewell before Carlton had formed.

They can be compared with a Notionless Div 2 side. They are mid table NSL, not the best in the local competition as someone suggested.

They have a crappy pitch and are now playing home games wherever they can find a decent pitch or a council to let them play. They are short of cash and are actively seeking someone to invest. It may be that they approached us to buy them.

If anyone wants anymore I will continue later.

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000