After claiming to have received ‘evidence’ that a rumoured takeover at the club ‘is real’, Newcastle fanzine True Faith are now asking the Magpie Group to ‘call off’ the boycott planned for Sunday’s game against Wolves at St James’ Park.
Now, the takeover talk does seem genuine this time, with True Faith seemingly like the last people to jump on a takeover bandwagon given their scepticism in the past and all other outlets confirming that it’s ‘serious’ this time, but what about all of those fans who have committed to a boycott that the likes of True Faith have been promoting for weeks on end now?
Ok, things look like they could be changing, but Ashley still owns the club. It’s clearly not done and dusted just yet, so would it not be naive to cancel any boycott before we have evidence that a takeover is complete?
Here’s a snippet from their latest piece written by True Faith founder Michael Martin:
You don’t need this fanzine to let on that the talk of the Tyne is a potential sale of Newcastle United to new owners.
Every bit of evidence we have received privately and which is being covered in the media suggests this is real.
A successful takeover will be greatly enhanced by Newcastle United’s Premier League status looking more positive than it does now. Therefore it is the agreed editorial position of TRUE FAITH (my that sounds high and mighty) to withdraw our support for any match boycott of this Sunday’s home game at St James’ Park versus Wolves.
We believe the boycott is no longer in the long term interests of Newcastle United at this moment in time and should be cancelled. We will be attending this Sunday’s match and encourage everyone to do so in order to give Rafa and the team the kind of support that will help them collect three points, move us towards Premier League safety and help smooth any takeover.
However, should the takeover not occur we will of course support further action including boycotts providing they have the broad support of match-going supporters.
We call upon The Magpie Group to call off Sunday’s planned boycott.
TRUE FAITH – CALL OFF #BOYCOTTWOLVES https://t.co/35ouDDHIjw
— Michael Martin (@tfMichael1892) December 5, 2018
It’s worth noting that it’s the Magpie Group’s call, but this call to cancel the boycott is going to have a major knock on effect, with anyone who was on the fence likely to now turn up to the game IF they’re reading this plea from True Faith’s Michael Martin.
As the Chronicle’s Mark Douglas highlights below, True Faith have generally had real scepticism when it comes to Ashley and any potential takeover, so this late change of heart would suggest something serious really is in the offing here.
@tfalex1892 writes "every bit of evidence we have received privately and which is being covered in the media suggests this is real".
From an outlet that has a healthy scepticism (and a guy whose opinion I hugely respect), that is an important intervention.
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) December 5, 2018
We live in hope, but do you agree with their call to cancel the boycott so late in the day – especially when so many (including myself!) have made plans NOT to turn up?
It B.S. when it came out of Ashley mouth a week before a mass boycott of a live pl game you can’t believe it.
Nufc11(Quote)
Too many lies and false dawns, need something more concrete than this.
Another ruse by Ashley to avoid January spend, any deal won’t be done by January anyway so double whammy for Rafa, toon and fans, but let’s hope I’m wrong
Geordie exile(Quote)
A week building upto the boycott and low and behold more Ashley propaganda. Until it is officially announced that we are no longer under the ownership of the Ashley regime I would say full steam ahead
scot(Quote)
As much as I want Ashley and Charnley out of our club, there is no way I would boycott a match in protest to ownership. Ever since 1955 I have faithfully supported the men who have taken the field in Black & White.
No matter the problem with any ownership the team should not suffer from lack of support.
Brian Hall(Quote)