After Jeremy Corbyn labelled Mike Ashley one of the worst examples of ‘bad owners’ in the Premier League and NUFC hit back with a defensive statement, the Magpie Group have now had their say – and they’ve hit the nail on the head with several hard hitting stats.
Here’s what the protest group have had to say in response to the club’s statement defending the NUFC owner earlier this week:
“In response to NUFC’s statement, we feel it is blatantly obvious that Mike Ashley HAS put his business interests above everything else. The growth of the club has completely stagnated since his arrival.
“In 2007 our commercial revenue was £28m, in 2018 it was £27m.
“Initially you may think it’s only £1m difference, but when you consider the growth of the Premier League over those 11yrs and how other clubs’ commercial revenue has risen in line with that, then you realise it’s a massive red flag.
“For example, West Ham United’s commercial revenue was £16m in 2007 and jumped up to £31m in 2018. It is worth noting they were also relegated during that time period.
“The difference is they are not hampered by one man’s business interests.
“Mike Ashley’s retail shop signs have been plastered all over St. James’ Park & the training ground since his arrival and has been a constant eye-sore at what Sir Bobby Robson once dubbed ‘the cathedral on the hill’. They have only started paying a fee for this in recent years, the latest figure 2m a year. In our opinion, a measly figure for the in-your-face exposure they receive on a global scale as well as the fact they didn’t pay before that.
“We don’t think it’s a company which inspires others to be associated alongside it (and in turn NUFC) either, considering 76 ambulances were called to the retailers main warehouse in under 2 years.
“When you look at the finances of NUFC and Tottenham when Ashley took over to now, it is another clear demonstration of the complete stagnation he has brought to the club financially. In short, NUFC is being used as a billboard ad and not being run as a club
looking to grow.“Of course, NUFC are not Bury or Coventry City and are not in financial ruin. Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley like to hide behind phrases like ‘well run’ and ‘financially responsible’ to deflect criticism and create a straw man argument. No-one is saying they are in the same position as those clubs mentioned, whose plights are utterly shocking to see.
“NUFC is a club being suffocated by one man’s interest, unable to grow – existing to simply exist.
“If Mike Ashley and his MD were so proud of being financially sustainable, they would not allow his retail company to seemingly prevent the club from growing further.
“When anyone takes a look at the commercial deal he has put in place at Rangers FC we think it becomes very obvious what Mike Ashley’s main interest is in owning a football club.
“As a well run club’ the club say in their statement – consider the appointments made since Mike Ashley’s ownership; Dennis Wise as Director of Football, during which he lied to then manager Kevin Keegan, asking him to look up a player on blurry YouTube videos that the
club wanted to sign and then admitting to him the deal was actually a favour for agents. ‘Treated like dirt’ was how Keegan described his experience under Ashley and his under-qualified directors. Keegan also went on to express his surprise that the FA hadn’t
investigated the deal. Remember though – ‘as a well-run club’.“Or remember the time when Jonas Gutierrez won a tribunal case against the club for discrimination, after he was diagnosed with cancer. During the tribunal our current MD Lee Charnley was described as ‘lacking credibility’. Remember – ‘as a well-run club’.
“There is also the case of the lease on the land behind the Gallowgate End. The land was sold by Mike Ashley for £9m, can the club confirm whether Ashley has made any profit from the lease being sold in any way? Not only this, but there are plans to build apartments &
offices and there has been nothing mentioned around safeguarding the possibility of Gallowgate End expansion. Can this be confirmed or is this the club not being allowed to grow once again? If any deal done by Mike Ashley has or will prevent the ground’s potential
expansion in the future, then that is an absolute disgrace. But don’t forget – ‘as a well-run club’.“There are countless other decisions that have been made which ultimately led to relegation twice so far during Ashley’s reign – it is a completely dysfunctional football club which deserves all of the scrutiny it is receiving and more.
“Ultimately if Ashley is so transparent and a good businessman, he would see no issue in having fan representatives on the board. He would work with us, not against us; actions speak louder than words.“
Ashley Out.
The Magpie Group
Well said.
Mike Ashley is the very definition of a bad owner, and no carefully worded club statement should be able to convince you otherwise.
Absolutely spot on – Ashley continues to pull the wool over the eyes of the Fa – SKY – BBC etc – you have to ask the question when will this be investigated properly? or at all,
Graham Wilson(Quote)