Ex footy chairman backs Toon owner Ashley over spending
FORMER Darlington chairman George Reynolds has defended Mike Ashley after the business tycoon came under fire for not spending enough at Newcastle United. The Sports Direct Tycoon was criticised this week after he said in an interview with Sky Sports that he didn’t have the money to compete with big teams in the premier league, such as Manchester City. Ashley is ranked as the 20th wealthiest person in Britain, worth an estimated £2.1bn according to Forbes magazine. Former Darlington Football Club chairman and convicted tax avoider George Reynolds has sprung to Mr Ashley’s defence. In an interview with the Sunday Sun, the former kitchen worktops tycoon who now runs an e-cigarette business, said the critisism of the chairman in the football industry is unfair. He said: “I think Mike Ashley is a good man. People criticise him but what you’ve got to think is there wouldn’t be a club left without him. People always blame the chairman – they point the finger and say spend more, but that’s not how business works.” Mr Reynolds was the archetypal football club chairman, pictured below, after he bought Darlington Football Club in 1999. The thenchairman famously built the team a new 25,000-seater stadium costing £20m before the club went into