Mike Ashley has today apologised for recent decisions made by retail giant Sports Direct, after facing a nationwide backlash during the coronavirus crisis.
Ashley, the founder, CEO, and majority shareholder of the company, has come under immense pressure from cabinet ministers and the general public after initially ignoring Government orders to close its stores.
Here’s what he’s had to say, followed by Piers Morgans damning response – with him challenging the ‘disgraceful’ NUFC owner to donate some of his millions to the NHS ‘right now’ if he’s really sorry:
This comes after Mike Ashley’s attempt to keep his stores open during the COID-19 crisis, with claiming his staff should be classed as ‘key workers’ – all to sell sports gear..
It was also found that Sports Direct had raised the price by as much as 50% on items such as dumbells, resistance bands and skipping ropes – a subject he has avoided confronting in his open letter.
Only last night did BBC East Midlands report on the horrific working conditions the company’s staff were being forced to work under, with their regional secretary urging our football club owner to ‘stop putting profit before people’s health.’
In an attempt to claw back some of the limited public opinion that he has left, Ashley has vowed to commit lorries to the NHS to help win the fight against the global disease – but Piers Morgan wants an immediate donation made if he’s serious about his apology.
He may well help out now, but surely this can only be seen as a PR stunt.
We think actions speak louder than words on this one.
Perhaps Mr. Ashley could justify his display of sincerity by promising to use a small part of his vast wealth to pay the wages of his downtrodden workforce during this crisis? That would validate his apology and get him some real credibility as a human being with a social conscience. Go for it Mike, you know that it will make you feel so good inside.
Gerry Rouse(Quote)
The mans a total arsehole boycott all his stores ! When we get back to normal.
davep(Quote)
A leopard will never change its spots!
A change like this is not in his nature!
LC(Quote)
There are only two things that Mike Ashley is interested in – and that is himself and money.
He has been a proven liar in court and his actions show what kind of avaricious and manipulative individual he is. In addition he does not care a jot about his workers or his paying public at Newcastle United. He is not genuinely interested in anything but profit and never will be. I trust everyone remembers his actions and not, as Piers Morgan says, his ‘crocodile tears’ and boycotts his stores throughout the country when everything returns to normal.
We don’t need a parasite like this in our society or our football club.
taken4mugs(Quote)
Surprised he’s not also offering up his zero hours workers as vaccine guinea pigs. This is a man who never does anything for nothing.
sickandtired(Quote)
To the rest of the nation,Newcastle fans have had all his mismanaging for 12years, he is a soulless,greedy capitalist plutocrat,enjoying the agony he puts us through ,a truly horrible man , I only hop people now see him for what he is and completely boycott his stores. Pure evil.
Stu mclean(Quote)
How much has Morgan given?
JFA127(Quote)