Club’s future is on agenda at meeting

NEWCASTLE United fan group the Magpie Group are holding an open meeting next week to discuss the current ownership of the club.

The Magpie Group – a coalition of fan groups including the Ashley Out group, the Newcastle United Supporters Trust, the If Rafa Goes, We Go movement and Wor Flags – will hold their first public meeting at 7pm on Wednesday, September 5 to discuss “the ownership of the club”.

The group will also invite people to ”discuss ideas of what we can do to help for the betterment of Newcastle United” at the Newcastle Labour Club on Leazes Park Road.

The Magpie Group have convened two protests outside Sports Direct on Northumberland Street before the home matches against Spurs and Chelsea and have challenged some of the portrayals of the club in the national media since being formed last month, when it became clear that the club’s approach in the transfer market would jeopardise United’s hopes of keeping Rafa Benitez beyond a contract that expires in the summer.

United’s approach infuriated Benitez and in turn led to talk of once again challenging the club’s ownership – who have yet to respond to questions surrounding their financial situation, where the prize money banked for staying in the Premier League has been distributed or the owner’s way of running United.

The meeting promises guest speakers and they have appealed to anyone interested in the future of the club to come along.