SPAGHETTI OOPS
Ashley took Rafa and the Toon players for rare crisis talks over spag bol and risotto at a smart Italian restaurant but they left as many questions as ever while fan protests continued outside
MIKE ASHLEY tucked into spaghetti bolognese and a couple of pints of beer.
Sitting next to him, Rafa Benitez had his favourite seafood risotto.
Inside the smart Rialto Italian restaurant, in Ponteland, Newcastle stars, boss Benitez and his staff held a very rare, and personal, summit with billionaire Sports Direct tycoon Ashley.
Ashley shunned the chance to make a stirring speech – it is not his style – and instead had informal chats with many of the players during the three-hour soiree.
There was a promise of a free holiday for the players if they can avoid relegation.
And Ashley clarified his ownership – insisting he will not be selling up any time soon.
Senior stars like Matt Ritchie and Jamaal Lascelles moved in closer to Ashley late in the evening to talk more and stayed longer than team-mates such as Kenedy.
It all looked very animated and convivial, with the Champions League on in the background. This was Ashley
taking the temperature of his club – which is ailing this season after a summer of friction that limited Benitez’s transfer kitty.
Ashley fed and watered his players ahead of a trip to Old Trafford tomorrow, where he is due to attend his third game in a row – after not attending one for 16 months.
MD Lee Charnley settled the £2,500 bill and Benitez will hope that does not come out of the transfer budget.
The clear message from Benitez is that Ashley has got to nourish the club long term.
Does this mean a thaw in relations between Benitez and Ashley? It is understood there were no contract talks or mention of signings for January.
Benitez will welcome Ashley becoming more engaged, but will remain very cynical that anything will change. A broken
promise of getting “every penny the club generates” will have hung awkwardly over the evening, and will not be solved by one night out.
When midfielder Ritchie emerged and was asked if the evening had been productive, he replied: “Yeah, good...” Lascelles strolled home on foot.
By the time Ashley left it was a quiet night out, no more. Fresh from a protest meeting in Newcastle held earlier, fans waved Sports Redirect banners and sang: “Where’s the money gone?” A happy Ashley left in his car and last night firmly denied he made any insulting gestures to fans or the waiting media.
Why the excitement over an Italian meal? Because Ashley has been so hands-off and built
no face-to-face relationship with Benitez. It’s maybe too late to persuade the Spaniard to sign a new deal in June. And any fresh promises will need to be nailed down in writing. Trust needs to be rebuilt from scratch. It may even be too late indeed to stop Newcastle from going down in a season where rivals have spent £100million, and they made a £20m profit. The transfer window damage is done. At the same time at the Newcastle Labour Club next to St James’ Park, the 500-strong Magpie Group were organising, and asking: “How do we get rid of Ashley?” Local MP Chi Onwurah (above) said she was “following the money” in her investigations and demanded more financial transparency. She added:
“Ashley is a very stubborn man. I’ve spent the last five years not p ***** g him off and it’s got us nowhere, so I don’t see how p ***** g him off can be worse!
“I think Newcastle United, as a Labour politician, is not a rich man’s toy. It’s an asset of our city. I think the fans put so much in – the season tickets, the cheers – that they deserve some say in the running of the club.
“We only have one club, it supports our economy and it’s important for our prosperity.”
The Toon seek their first win in eight league games against Manchester United.
Twenty years ago, the two Uniteds were vying for the league title. Former Magpies boss Kevin Keegan pulled in 1,600 at a book launch in Gateshead this week, and demanded that fans be allowed to “dream” again.
The reality for now is one win in 13 games, 146 days ago, dating back to last season.
Fewest shots in the top flight? Lowest share of possession? Least crosses? Newcastle. That sort of form is pasta joke.
Buying a meal is one small step. But it has to be more than a PR exercise, and followed by firm and lasting commitments to let Benitez build.