Ashley is stoking fires of backlash
ALAN SHEARER pulled no punches with his candid comments on Mike Ashley’s latest announcement about selling Newcastle
United.
The Toon legend was underwhelmed by owner Ashley’s claim he’s found a possible buyer.
“I can’t get excited at all about the potential takeover at #NUFC,” wrote Shearer on Twitter. “We have been there before and heard it all before. It seems that these rumours always resurface around the January transfer window & it’s a bit like Groundhog Day to be honest.”
Shearer (below) is fully entitled to be suspicious, though, after previous takeover flops involving Amanda Staveley and Barry Moat.
My instant reaction whenever Ashley (above) or one of his employees issues a statement, is to recall 17 scathing words from Kevin Keegan’s tribunal win over the club.
“The club admitted that it repeatedly and intentionally misled the press, public and fans of Newcastle,” is a damning indictment that’s very hard to forget.
For the sake of the fans, I hope Ashley is ready to walk.
But I won’t believe it until a takeover deal is actually signed.
Newcastle, under Ashley, are a club drifting aimlessly. A club mired in mediocrity and going nowhere.
Its vast potential – 50,000+ every home game – is wilfully wasted.
Sadly, as events prove, only a small fraction of that huge support are willing to channel their disquiet into open revolt against the owner.
In a region famous for its Labour Party and trade union activism, it’s surprising to find such a strange mix of anger and apathy surrounding Ashley.
Today’s proposed boycott of the televised Wolves home game was wisely postponed by the rebel Magpie Group so as not to negatively impact on prospective buyers.
Their campaign attracted significant social media traction and successfully targeted Ashley’s business interests.
But, just five months into the protests, the boycott call probably came too soon for many unconvinced season-ticket holders.
The protesters may have misjudged their strength to land a telling blow on the billionaire retail heavyweight this time.
But, paradoxically, if Ashley’s sale patter turns out to be more hot air, then the fallout in 2019 may prove to be the recruiting sergeant the Magpie Group didn’t have this time.