Former NUFC stopper Shaka Hislop has admitted that he’d prefer to see Newcastle relegated over ex-club West Ham this summer, claiming that it would force Mike Ashley to sell – something he believes must happen if we are ever to see ‘the best’ of Newcastle United.
This all came from the ex-Trinidad and Tobago international being asked whether he would prefer to see Newcastle or West Ham go down this season as a pundit for ESPN in America last night.
He chose Newcastle, however explains below why he had good intentions for doing so:
“I’ve picked Newcastle and I’ll tell you why – because that would force Mike Ashley to sell. And I think you will not see the best of Newcastle until Ashley sells.
“In case you haven’t gathered, I’m not much of an Ashley fan.
“I love Rafa Benitez, I really do.”
It’s a strange one. Relegation may force Ashley to finally sell up, but it would have catastrophic consequences on the pitch.
It would almost certainly mean the end for Rafa Benitez too, which makes Hislop’s explanation fall a little flat given he admits his love for the NUFC boss.
Ashley wants out regardless of whether we stay up or not, and we would be a far more attractive proposition as a Premier League club with Benitez in charge, so I’m not actually sure how much more likely it would be that Ashley left if we went down.
Don’t get me wrong, he’***** the nail on the head in saying we’ll never see the best NUFC until Ashley’s gone, however I’m not sure another relegation would be the answer!
