Since his acquisition of Newcastle United in May 2007, Mike Ashley and controversy haven’t been too far apart.
The many episodes of upset are varied but questionable as to their intent at the same time.
Well known ‘shy guy’ Ashley rode in on his steed and mingled like one of our own, swilling pints and painting the town red at regular intervals, he had a good PR bloke in Chris Mort as well. How the fans lapped it up.
Even after backing the boss that was here on his purchase in Sam Allardyce to the tune of something like a £15 million net spend plus free transfer signings in Mark Viduka and Geremi, he listened to the fans and brought home the one person that understands the fans better than anyone else. A true Newcastle legend in Kevin Keegan.
The buzz was well and truly engulfing Tyneside but things that happened behind the scenes caused Keegan to walk, although that was changed in court to being constructively dismissed.
Keegan siting unworkable conditions and we all know the score as to what he meant now. Ashley (or Llambias) employing someone not fit to lace Special K’s slip ons in Dennis Wise to oversee player recruitment.
Every deal that Keegan wanted to set up was ‘ruined’ or manipulated to fail behind the scenes and any ‘truths’ told in Keegan’s job interview were just a case of hot air. He was used.
Anyway, we know all the acts of treason by the club and it’s understandable as to the fans reactions or way in which they address the owners but it’s not through choice.
We have a bloke worth a couple of billion or so, who swans in here, upsets club legends, defaces the stadium in name and look, who then employs many people of amateurish standing.
Our stock has fallen.
We’re not a discount store or supermarket where the policy of piling high but sell it cheap attitude should be engraved.
We’re a massive club of untapped potential with a breathtaking following considering the years it’s been since we’ve won anything.
The clever amongst us know that Ashley bought the club to advertise his Sports Direct brand but in doing so, he’s losing the greatest thing about it. The support.
Morale is at an all time low as far as many are concerned with the bumblings of manager Alan Pardew just hammering the nails further into the coffin.
Words along the lines of not being able to compete with A,B or C just stink of a lack of ambition. The football just stinks of something else.
It’s a depression around here at present but it doesn’t have to be.
Why doesn’t Ashley want Newcastle United to succeed?
Surely that’s the best way to promote any brand?
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