Cup bonus: £20m Cup win: priceless
SO winning the FA Cup would be worth £20m to Newcastle United’s intrepid players should they achieve such a rarity beneath Wembley’s arch come the end of this season.
That’s the bonus being dangled by owner Mike Ashley among other such financial treasures.
Well, for me and all United fans, especially those as old as myself who have therefore suffered many more barren years, it would be priceless.
Think about it – United haven’t secured a domestic trophy of consequence since the old pot was captured by Wor Jackie and his illustrious lot way back in the mists of 1955.
It was the Magpies’ third Wembley success in five glorious seasons.
But that was a whopping 62 years ago and despite making finals in 1974, 1998 and 1999 it has never happened since.
I was a young whippersnapper when I joyfully watched that trio of triumphs on a black-and-white telly and I’m now an OAP.
That tells outsiders like Ashley how long people of passion and loyalty have put up with dross.
Probably it’s a grand gesture that Ashley will not have to fulfil given that Newcastle went out of this season’s League Cup at the first hurdle, at home, and against a team a division down.
Especially as Rafa Benitez will be putting all his energy into Premier League survival as a priority.
However I swear I saw a pink pig fly past our window the other day!
Miracles can happen, do happen. In the last 30 years we’ve witnessed Coventry City (1987), Wimbledon (1988), Portsmouth (2008) and Wigan Athletic (2013) triumph over odds and, dare I mention it, way back in 1973, Sunderland from the second tier of football.
The overall bonus scheme will see the players share £4m if they stay up with an extra £1m for every place above 17th.
Does that make winning the FA Cup five times more important at £20m? No, of course not. The £4m is Ashley being cautious about a payment he will have to make I hope but willing to have a punt on Wembley success which is far more of a long shot.
Blimey, before the bonus scheme was finally agreed this week United were already out of the League Cup, so one set of figures no longer had to be considered. After two relegations in his 10-year tenure, Ashley must surely not wish to be saddled with the worst hattrick in football. That’s worth £4m to him, small change I reckon.