Ashley’s mad anti-Prem NO

MIKE ASHLEY has overseen Newcastle United falling hundreds of millions of pounds in income behind rivals during his 13 years in charge.

But his decision to vote AGAINST a $500million TV windfall for the Premier League this week was his maddest move yet.

Ashley’s toys have come out of the pram.

He is refusing to play along with the other 19 clubs, even when huge sums of cash are being raised on his club’s behalf.

Premier League supremo Richard Masters struck a deal with beIN Sports worth £367m, £18m per club, while other leagues are suffering broadcast deals collapsing.

Ashley is on the side of Saudi Arabia and their sovereign wealth fund, the PIF, who wanted to give him £300m for control of St James’ Park.

The same Saudi Arabia who the World Trade Organisation and most sporting organisations say allow piracy of their events. In a nutshell, Ashley is voting NO to income flooding into the Premier League – and his cl club – from beIN

Spo Sports. And Ashley (above) also has legal action rumbling on to force his stalled deal with Saudi to go through.

He wants his £300m and, thanks to fan pressure, has a few North East MPs jumping to the same tune.

Some are Labour MPs, arguing on the same side as Boris Johnson cash donor Jamie Reuben and broker Amanda Staveley, who wanted to take 10 per cent stakes of the Toon as part of the Saudi deal.

Fan hate-figure Ashley has become a man of the people fighting for his right to sell to Saudi.

Amid the bluster and posturing, sports business expert Prof Simon Chadwick is not expecting the Saudis to rekindle their bid, given “the reputational damage” the episode “inflicted upon the country”, which was “opportunism gone wrong”.