Mike Ashley hatchet job on BBC1 last night

[anonymous-user]

Did anyone catch this on BBC1 (NE&C) lat night? A half witted attempt by the BBC in the NE to stith up Mike Ashley. It was so well researched that at one point they got the name of his business wrong and the only industry person they could dredge up to diss him was the old dinosaur Dave Whelan whose hatred of Ashley is well known. Whelans criticism seemed to be based on the fact that it is improper for football club chairmen (a position Ashley has never even held) to wear replica to games, mix with fans and drink beer!

[madtriumphman]

Mike Ashley is a legend..........he helped take the toon doon!!

[anonymous-user]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Must admit I did not realise that he had bought the brands: Karrimor, Slazenger, Dunlop, Lonsdale and others.

It does explain why those respective brands are churning out absolute tat compared to their previous products.
I remember when Karrimor was the Mutts Nutts in the Outdoor circles.

He bought Donnay back in the early 90's and Dunlop / Slaz about 10 years ago. He also owns Lillywhites.

[mouseymousey]

unrepentant said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Must admit I did not realise that he had bought the brands: Karrimor, Slazenger, Dunlop, Lonsdale and others.

It does explain why those respective brands are churning out absolute tat compared to their previous products.
I remember when Karrimor was the Mutts Nutts in the Outdoor circles.

He bought Donnay back in the early 90's and Dunlop / Slaz about 10 years ago. He also owns Lillywhites.

What he's done to Lillywhites is noting short of a disgrace. I remember when it used to be a proper sports shop, a real flagship. Now it's just another 'Sports' Direct turning out cheap tat.

[snowy slopes]

Lillywhites can now be found at most outlet centres, selling ste lonsdale trainers, and other various products, the level of steness depending on how much you cant afford. Chav central in otherwords, oh, and TBF mike ashley didnt help the situation, but for me( a toon fan through and through) the reason we went down is purely down to want-a-way so called stars not performing. I'm thinking specifically of owen and martins, who, when the inevitable happened, straight away on the phone to their respective agents bleating about needing to play at the top level so they can play for their country. I now laugh my arse off every time i see owen on the bench, serves him right.

[mouseymousey]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

mouseymousey said:

What he's done to Lillywhites is noting short of a disgrace. I remember when it used to be a proper sports shop, a real flagship. Now it's just another 'Sports' Direct turning out cheap tat.

As I am now a Northerner, I have not been to LillyWhites in years.
Memories of it held it in the same esteem as a Harrods for Sports almost.


fked now then ?

Yes, you're spot on, Lillywhites used to be like the Harrods of sport but it is now fked. It's just a big Sports Direct.

[5pen]

Growing up during the 80s a trip to Lillywhites was a treat for me. My favourite shop.

Popped my head in the door the other day to be faced with scruffy piles of crappy trainers, the floor covered with rubbish, notices written on flourescent paper, all in all, a complete shambles.

I couldn't face further investigation, but is it like this on all (5?) floors now?

[anonymous-user]

The thing with Lillywhites is before SD bought it it was unprofitable and fairly archaic in the way it was run. There was almost certinly no other suitor for it at the time so if SD hadn't bought it there would probably no longer be a Lillywhites at all. A site of that size in that location needs a lot of turnover with decent margins and they weren't getting it.