Bruce backs Ashley's stance on controversial PPV issue

Steve Bruce has backed Mike Ashley’s stance on pay-perview games.

Newcastle United’s owner issued a statement ahead of a Premier League meeting last week on the unpopular £14.95 charge for additional TV games.

"Charging £14.95 for single televised matches in the current climate, it is not acceptable to any football fan,” said Ashley.

“Supporters have overwhelmingly rejected this offer and the Premier League must now act. Why not make it much more accessible at £4.95 per match until Christmas?”

The club had originally bac ke d th e p ro p o s a l , ac - cording to Ashley, "because there were no realistic or any viable alternatives put forward to enable supporters to watch (behind-closeddoors) matches”.

Many United fans donated to the Newcastle West End Foodbank rather than pay extra to watch the recent home game against Manchester Un i te d , a n d th e pay- p e r - view arrangements are set to change.

And United head coach Bruce said: “I agree with him (Ashley) – I think £15 is far too much.

"When people pay their subscriptions to Sky and BT, whatever it is, you know, I think £15 for a game is too much, so I’m all for it.

"Also, if we’re not careful, we’ll over-saturate it too.

"We’re seeing every game, eight, 10 games a weekend. For me, it’s not a spectacle.

"We’re all delighted we’re playing some sort of football, but it’s not the spectacle we all witnessed, whether we’re in the stadium or watching on the TV. It’s not the same.

"At this particularly difficult time, a fiver’s enough. I’m all for it.”