MP awaits reply to NUfC letter 10 weeks later
SERIES OF QUESTIONS ON FINANCES ARE AS YET UNANSWERED
NEWCASTLE MP Chi Onwurah says she is still waiting for a response from Newcastle United Football Club 10 weeks after sending it a series of questions about the club’s finances.
Ms Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central, wanted to know more about the relationship between the club and its owner, businessman Mike Ashley, including whether any of the club’s assets have been transferred into his other businesses.
She wrote to the club on December 5 and has now published the letter, saying she has received no reply.
Sources at the club pointed out that while she had not had a formal written response, she had met with Mr Ashley and NUFC managing director Lee Charnley since the letter was sent.
Ms Onwurah said she would be raising concerns with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Matt Hancock.
She said on Twitter: “In December I wrote to NUFC to try to have a constructive dialogue on the issues constituents have raised. Over 10 weeks later, I have still to receive a response so I’m publishing the letter and will be pursuing answers with the Secretary of State.”
It’s the latest step in her efforts to force managers at the club to reveal more about its finances and how exactly they relate to Mr Ashley’s other business concerns.
In January she led a House of Commons debate about the Magpies, and the management of top football clubs in general, calling for “effective regulation so that financial transparency allows the beautiful game’s true splendour to shine forth once more”.
And she said: “We don’t know what income the club is generating and if that money is being used on the club.” In her letter, Ms Onwurah asked:
■ Have assets which were part of Mr Ashley’s purchase been sold away from the club or moved into other entities owned by Mr Ashley?
■ Does Mr Ashley have equity in the club other than loans?
■ Does the club intend to publish its report to the Premier League?
■ Has NUFC considered setting up a Community Committee to engage in a co-ordinated way with charities, foundations, communities, council and local MPs?
■ What are the key diversity measures/target for NUFC and are they being met? The letter was addressed to Lee Marshall, the club’s head of media and content.
I n response to Ms Onwurah’s complaint that the letter hadn’t been answered, Mr Marshall tweeted: “Hi Chi, it’s been great to chat with you a couple of times since your letter.
“I hope the subsequent face-to-face meeting you had with Mike Ashley was constructive.” Newcastle United declined to make any further comment.