Club’s top brass is set to face fans
THE prospect of hearing from Newcastle’s hierarchy for the first time since June has been raised with news the club will be hosting their latest Fans’ Forum next month.
It is understood a date of late April has been set for the meeting – in the week before the critical West Brom game at St James’ Park – and there is sure to be plenty of interest in what emerges from it.
The takeover issue and Rafa Benitez’s future are both looming large on the black-and-white agenda.
Supporters’ representatives were asking for questions from fans on social media ahead of the date being confirmed.
Managing-director Lee Charnley – who has not spoken publicly about United recently – is expected to be a club representative at the meeting.
The club’s Fans Forum has traditionally been a useful tool to communicate with supporters over a number of issues – from fan welfare right up to transfers and the club’s direction.
The last forum held by the club was in June when they addressed the lack of progress with transfers.
However, there has been plenty of water which has passed under the bridge since then, not least the much-talked-about takeover.
The club’s current attitude to that issue is while it is up for sale there have been no meaningful negotiations with anyone since the turn of the year.
Mike Ashley broke off talks with Amanda Staveley’s representatives late in 2017.
The Fans’ Forum is made up of 14 supporters representing different parts of the ground and interest groups and recently welcomed the Newcstle United Supporters Trust back into the fold after a long absence.
They also sent an open letter to the hierarchy in 2015 demanding answers about a raft of questions from Mike Ashley.