Newcastle United fans do not like Mike Ashley.
Yet here we are in 2021, and the fans and the owner all want the same thing.
Ashley is desperate to sell the club, and wants to sell it to Amanda Staveley’s consortium. And he’s got the Toon Army cheering on his efforts.
Considering how detested he is on Tyneside, it’s somewhat strange to see fans and Ashley pulling in the same direction.
The fans and the club want a takeover, and it’s the Premier League who stand in our way.
While the club suffered a setback having lost two High Court judgements, Ashley remains defiant.
According to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, Ashley still feels like he is ‘in a strong position to win this case’ despite the High Court judgements.
“He’ll fight tooth and nail for this to be pushed through, and he wants to give Newcastle United supporters and the region what they want and what they deserve,” Downie said.
Ashley’s charm offensive is great for PR, but it will mean nothing unless a deal is done.
And more importantly, it distracts from the real problem right now – the football.
Ashley can’t see the woods for the trees
It’s rare that Newcastle fans hear from Ashley.
The only times we’ve heard from him in the past year is when he’s launching an assault on the Premier League. Had it not been for them, he’d no longer be Newcastle owner and have £305million in his pocket.
But as the takeover saga has rumbled on, matters on the pitch have got worse and worse.
As it stands, Newcastle are just three points clear of the relegation zone. However, they face a string of matches without key players.
Injury problems are mounting up, while there is tension between players and manager according to reports.
All signs point to one thing – relegation.
Why stick with Bruce?
Steve Bruce’s tenure as manager has been shocking. Particularly this season, the Magpies have been terrible. Yet Ashley has watched on as Bruce takes the club closer and closer to the Championship.
Had Ashley acted earlier, he could have brought someone else in to guide the club to safety. In turn, he would be protecting the value of his club. Newcastle United will not be worth £305million in the Championship.
The owner’s defiance to sell Newcastle to Staveley is what fans want to hear. In the long term, it’s what we need. But in the short term, Ashley is neglecting his responsibilities as owner.
He told Sky Sports that he wants to give Newcastle United supporters what they want. Well, Mr Ashley, what the majority of us want is to stay in the Premier League. And for a while now, Bruce hasn’t looked capable of doing that.
As the legal battle rumbles on, these are all empty words from the owner.
Newcastle’s future will not be decided in the courtroom. It will be decided on the pitch.
Ashley has gambled with the club’s future by sticking with Bruce. Now he’s under huge pressure to guide us to safety.
Whatever he does, Bruce’s reign will not be considered a success. Survival is not success.
Mike Ashley’s commitment to selling the club is certainly a positive. But it should not disguise the fact that he has done nothing to secure our immediate future in the top flight of English football.
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