“The club can never go anywhere under Mike Ashley – I promise you that.”
They were Kevin Keegan’s words about the Newcastle United owner back in 2010 – and, almost 9 years on, his famous quote has proved to be absolutely true once again.
Rafa Benitez was the best thing that had happened to Newcastle United during Ashley’s miserable 12 years at the club, but he’s still found a way to let it all end in tears, allowing a world class manager who WANTED to stay to walk away.
The quote below from King Kev never felt so relevant as it does today. This club really will go nowhere for as long as Mike Ashley is in charge.
Mike Ashley has not only allowed us to suffer two relegations, but he’s now completely disrespected and dispatched our greatest goalscorer in Alan Shearer, a club legend in Kevin Keegan and the greatest manager we’ve had since Sir Bobby in Rafa Benitez.
If Mike Ashley couldn’t appreciate what he had in Rafa Benitez and wasn’t willing to compromise to keep him, then when will he ever learn? The fact is he won’t – with Rafa leaving without much of a fight from NUFC proving that.
The club will claim they ‘tried’, but the fact they’ve announced ‘nothing can be agreed’ several days before his contract was due to expire sums it up.
What’s more, we’re now being linked with the likes of Avram Grant and Anthony Hudson (a failed MLS coach) as potential replacements.
Newcastle United isn’t a football club to Mike Ashley. It’s a cash cow he’ll milk for all it’s worth. He treats it like a business and won’t change for no one – no matter how many people he hurts in the process.
One man isn’t bigger than Newcastle United, but this club will remain dormant until he has gone, with the fans being the only thing ready to erupt at this stage.
I just hope the damage hasn’t been done by the time a takeover finally happens – whether it be in 2 months or 2 years time.
It’s war
Larry toon hants(Quote)
Kev naars nowt. We would be fine under Ashley but the takeover isn’t too far away.
t00nraider(Quote)
If we don’t appoint Mourinho as our next manager we are not getting sold which I don’t think will happen anyway.
Any manager that the the vermin appoint’s will put the icing on the cake why appoint a manager if your selling the club.
Protests let it begin now until the RAT has gone
David(Quote)
Well said Kev, your words couldn’t be truer.
Plaigombi(Quote)
I don’t believe there is a takeover on offer, fat slug and his **** licking cronies have set us up, why would they insist on Rafa signature if club being taken over and essential to keep fans and players on side for new owners. Would love to Bump into fat t**t one dark night…
Geordie exile(Quote)
I was never a lover of Rafa and to me he was playing a game as much as Ashley is. Ashley will not sell Newcastle. Easy as that. Why would he? He’s taken so much money out the club and if he sells it that all goes with him. What we now need to worry about is losing our few good players that we have so he can take yet more money out. We will find out two or three days before the transfer window closes that the deal has fallen thro but in the mean time he will have endorsed the sale of at least two major players
Danny(Quote)