Ashley should be listening to others

CHRIS Waugh, the first-class football correspondent of the Chronicle, often highlights the deficiencies of NUFC.

I wholeheartedly agree with him regards the first-class work of manager Rafa Benitez, but I believe Rafa’s hands are often tied behind his back.

Mike Ashley says he leaves the day to day running of the club to Lee Charnley and Rafa, but in truth, isn’t his finger always in the pie?

Instead of Rafa’s superior skills masterminding the incoming and outgoings of his

squad, he seemingly has to go cap in hand to Ashley, for seemingly trivial decisions.

It has been reported that Ashley never really wanted Newcastle United, or any other club. However, somehow he drifted into buying NUFC and since then, the Toon Army has had to retreat, and stomach 11-years of mismanagement, lack of foresight, ideas to expand, and sub-par performances on the pitch.

If he really wanted to loosen the rope around his neck, Ashley should sell up for a lesser figure, and relinquish the self-inflicted pressures for good.

Despite Chris Waugh’s prolific pen, Ashley probably won’t ever see his first-class articles and constructive solutions. It is a foolish man – or woman – in management, who won’t be guided by another opinion or suggestion.

John Gibson, the doyen of the Chronicle’s football correspondents, whose in-depth knowledge of NUFC