“I think I’ll start with people from Newcastle, not in some cave in Afghanistan,” Ashley told UK paper The Telegraph.

Rumors have been swirling that Ashley is looking for club investors after his firm Sports Direct took a bath this year in the profits (down 50%). Ashley primarily blames it on the disagreeable weather conditions in England; looks like he’s a got a ways to go in working this out.

Back up to those futbol crazed Bin Laden’s for a second…

The Telegraph also reports that The Saudi Binladin Group, which run by Osama bin Laden’s half-brother Bakr bin Laden, distanced themselves from the Al-Qaeda founder some years ago.

Now I am no great fiscal mind, far from it in fact. But have we considered a name change for the Binladin Group? Even my cut-rate sensibility tells me that association with known terrorists – not really that great for brand equity.

What do they do exactly? Who knows. And I’m not going to be the guy who gets his I.P. address flagged for visiting that website. Nope.

Links:

Mike Ashley Rules Out Newcastle Sale to Bin Laden Family
Newcastle Gets $263 Million Buy Out Offer
Why Mike Ashley Won’t Sell Newcastle United Just Yet