RIO STANDS BY HIS DEFENCE OF ASHLEY

RIO FERDINAND defended his claims that Newcastle fans should be grateful for owner Mike Ashley despite a fierce reaction. Ferdinand says the comments are not linked to his business association with Ashley’s Sports Direct, who exclusively sell his clothing brand. He was challenged about that connection by host Jake Humphrey during BT Sport’s coverage of Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday. ‘I don’t even really know (Ashley) well,’ Ferdinand said. ‘I will get to know him. My issue has got nothing to do with my business dealings I’ve got with his company. ‘When they went down, he

spent £50million of his own money to get them up. Thank you, that should be. By the way, please say thank you for getting Rafa Benitez in! They’re lucky to have him!’ But Ferdinand’s claims were laced with inaccuracies. It was Benitez who approached Newcastle before being appointed in March 2016, and the money spent after relegation was generated by the club. After criticism overnight, Ferdinand posted a message on social media yesterday. It read: ‘NUFC fans good morning to you all!! Ya club’s turning a profit, no debt, oh & playing in the PL! Terrible!’ Ferdinand had also said: ‘I understand Mike Ashley. Why is he going to spend more and more money — millions and millions of pounds — when he’s actually looking to sell the club? ‘Newcastle are a yo-yo club. He doesn’t want to do that any more. What’s the problem?’ It was pointed out to Ferdinand that Newcastle have only been relegated twice from the Premier League, both under Ashley’s ownership. Fans also reminded him that the club returned a profit in the summer window despite Ashley’s promise that Benitez would get ‘every last penny generated’. As for Ferdinand’s claims the club is debt free, club legend Alan Shearer replied: ‘The last club accounts tell you they are over £140m in debt!!’