WAR OF WORDS
In letter to politicians he: n Defends record at club n Says he’s been portrayed as a panto villain n MP Chi Onwurah sticks to her guns and invites Ashley to meeting
NUFC owner Mike Ashley hits back at MP over petition to Parliament
NEWCASTLE Central MP Chi Onwurah has defended her actions after Mike Ashley criticised her over her petition on Newcastle United.
Ms Onwurah handed in a parliamentary petition last month, which stated that the United owner should provide greater support to manager Rafa Benitez via “investment in players, training facilities and community engagement”.
However, the Sports Direct magnate has defended his record as the club’s owner and says he believes he is being portrayed as a “pantomime villain” by the “media circus” and MPs.
He wrote a letter to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in which he claimed the petition presented a “wholly inaccurate assessment of the situation at Newcastle United” and was both “irresponsible and misleading”.
Ashley also alleged that employees at Sports Direct, Keith Bishop Associates and the club itself have received “unacceptable abuse” via social media, email and phone as a result of the petition.
Both Ashley and United insiders insisted that “to the best of our knowledge”, Onwurah did not attempt to contact the club before publishing the petition, and stress they have not had direct communication from the MP in recent months.
They alleged Onwurah was attempting to create a “media circus” around the club at a time when fans have thrown their support behind Benitez following the manager’s criticism of the club’s transfer policy.
They also felt the MP had ignored the work of the club’s foundation.
Onwurah’s petition was presented to Parliament on July 24 in response to Benitez voicing his public frustrations at the club’s transfer policy.
Now Ms Onwurah has responded to Ashley’s comments.
She said: “I am pleased that Mr Ashley has finally decided to speak about his investment in Newcastle United, even if it is to the Secretary of State rather than the numerous fans, media and others who have attempted to engage with him over the years.”
She showed a letter in which she invited Ashley for a meeting, in November 2013, to discuss issues relating to the club and claimed his office responded by declining her offer.
Talking about Ashley’s letter to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, she added: “His letter does not address the central point: the lack of investment in players which has left the club with one of the lowest net spend figures in the Premier League.
“The petition is merely a reflection of the concerns and strength and depth of feeling of so many Newcastle United fans who contacted me as their Member of Parliament.
“I was particularly concerned by the ‘If Rafa Goes, We Go’ petition. Knowing how important a role Newcastle United plays in the lives of many of my constituents I do not feel they should have to choose between their club and its ownership.
“A quick review of social media will show the petition was overwhelmingly positively received by fans unable to get Mr Ashley’s attention by other means.
“I’m very upset to hear that abuse has been directed at Sports Direct staff. I invite Mr Ashley to join me in my long-standing efforts to ensure the proper regulation of social media.
“However Mr Ashley knows very well that the calls to boycott Sports Direct existed long before my petition and are generally connected to his appalling behaviour as a business owner rather than his record as a football club owner.
“Also at no time have I criticised the Newcastle United Foundation which does wonderful work in the community and whose funding is not, as Mr Ashley implies, entirely a consequence of his ownership.
“I will be writing to the Secretary of State, Jeremy Wright, to offer a meeting with myself and fans so he can judge for himself the depth of feeling on this issue. “Mr Ashley knows I am a fan of Newcastle United as well as the MP for St James’ Park.
“I admit to being motivated in part by my support for the club and desire to see beautiful Premiership football continue to be played at St James Park.”