Bin the saw man

SPARE a thought for Newcastle

United fans.

You wait 12 years to see the back of Mike Ashley.

Then you get a man nicknamed “Mr Bone Saw” by the US media, reportedly bidding to be your transformational new owner.

You boycott games, angry that Ashley uses your club to advertise his Sports Direct empire to a global Premier League audience.

But next up could be Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS), and his Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund... ready to use Newcastle United as a sporting symbol of a supposedly reformed Saudi Arabia.

Ashley (above) was once accused of “not treating staff as humans” by MPs, and was singled out as a “bad owner”.

To trump that, a UN report released last June concluded Bin Salman and other senior Saudi officials are liable, backed by “credible evidence”, for the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, killed and dismembered, using a bone saw, when visiting their consulate in Turkey.

Ashley’s on his way out? Get in! An unambitious, uncaring tycoon who tried to rename St James’ Park, saw off Kevin Keegan, dumped on Alan Shearer, appointed Joe Kinnear, presided over two relegations, and couldn’t keep Rafa Benitez.

Good riddance.

MbS and his cronies are on their way to save you? Er, get in?

Known for locking away reformist thinkers, clerics and critics. Known for a “dark reality” according to Human Rights Watch, of arresting women’s rights activists, some claiming to have been sexually assaulted and tortured by whipping and electric shocks.

But never mind. They’ve got £340million, plus £200m to spend on players. A new training ground. A new world-famous manager. Rafa back?

Aren’t you a hypocrite if you protest, and even boycott, Ashley’s Toon, but turn a blind eye for MbS and the Saudis?

If a takeover is finalised, and that’s far from guaranteed, the Geordie club would be walking from one ownership storm into a much worse row.