Figures emerged recently with the intent to show how poorly the Glazers have managed Manchester United with statistics about capital expenditure on infrastructure in the last 11 years really drawing the attention of Newcastle eyes.
While the likes of Rio Ferdinand have told us to sort it out ourselves whilst hypocritically criticising the Manchester United owners, figures designed to show how far the Red Devils have fallen have actually strengthened our argument further.
Check out these latest figures collected by @SwissRamble, highlighting how much Mike Ashley has spent on infrastructure (just £7m!) compared to every other Premier League club over the past 10 years:
We fans have highlighted this issue for a while now; St James’ Park and Benton are not up to the standards expected in the top league.
Our training ground has been one that has been neglected to the point where it has become a laughing stock. Ask any fan about out training facilities and they’ll probably point towards that picture of players in ice bins and a paddling pool.
New players must be blindfolded when they arrive at Benton because it must be ridiculously embarrassing have a tour round the building and grounds.
St James’ Park is lovely…from a distance. The truth is that anything done to St James’ has been small and insignificant; mere paint jobs. For what is such a famous and brilliant stadium, it isn’t fun to be in the stadium purely because of the state of the place.
So, while I feel sympathy and empathy for Manchester United fans, I can’t help but feel frustrated that only £7 million has been spent on our infrastructure, the lowest in the league, and the media hardly bat an eyelid.
To add to this, it will come to no surprise to learn that we sit right at the bottom of the list for owner financing too with the grand total amount of absolute zero coming out of Mike Ashley’s pockets (or wallpaper?).
Let’s be clear too, a vast majority of the clubs above us in spending do not have the foundations that we do. Quite frankly, we should not be in the position we are in and given that we can generate £1,155 billion revenue, there are no excuses.
We once again have an array of evidence to prove how detrimental Mike Ashley is for our club. If anyone will listen to us, sadly, I’m not so sure.
Follow us on Twitter (@NUFCBlogcouk) and on Facebook HERE
One thing I’m certain of is Sky won’t send a reporter and camera crew round to find him and get answers.
No only the big six (spurs?) get that treatment
Sadly I don’t think there will be any protests at the ground of any size, unless organised in a designated space
Do we think there will be any Ashley out or Bruce out banners among the 10000?
No accept our place unfortunately its the Newcastle way.
Cc(Quote)
Ashley talking about “ dark forces” ????
Blackandwhite9(Quote)
Your accounting strategy seems to be the same as that used in shipping. Draw a line above the Titanic and work up.
I see owners financing starts 2 years AFTER Ashley threw in 120 million to keep the club afloat, and does not included numerous loans of 10, 20 and 30 million, which were all paid back.
So what you are doing essentially is criticising Ashley for running the club well as a business.
As for our facilities being a “laughing stock”, apart from you, who else says that? Yes, the fans have criticised our development and the odd lick of paint is needed, but you really are grasping at straws.
Isn’t it time you considered supporting another club, if you can call what you do supporting?
BykerBill(Quote)
BykerBill:
Your accounting strategy seems to be the same as that used in shipping. Draw a line above the Titanic and work up.
I see owners financing starts 2 years AFTER Ashley threw in 120 million to keep the club afloat, and does not included numerous loans of 10, 20 and 30 million, which were all paid back.
So what you are doing essentially is criticising Ashley for running the club well as a business.
As for our facilities being a “laughing stock”, apart from you, who else says that?Yes, the fans have criticisedour developmentand the odd lick of paint is needed, but you really are grasping at straws.
Isn’t it time you considered supporting another club, if you can call what you do supporting?
Potrciestreet(Quote)
I guess what you’re saying then is that Bruce is over performing with the resources he has?!
I don’t think that’s true, I actually think with a better manager we could at least be on par with Villa (9 points more than we have now).
Of course our facilities could be better – but look at where Spurs are in your table & has it brought them success? – there star man wants out.
I don’t believe our facilities can be that sub standard based on attracting players like ASM & Wilson. They could be better, but I reckon they are better than a wheel bin and paddling pool to be fair.
My frustration with Ashley has always been that with a little extra we could be so much more.
I don’t expect him to pump hundreds of millions in. But hire a good manager & put an extra £30-40m in each season & I think we see a mid to top half team easy.
Some may see that as lack of ambition, but I’m being realistic. The teams around the 50pts mark now are Everton, Arsenal & Leeds – id take being in that bunch on a regular bases because breaking beyond that (taking WH out of it) would cost hundreds of millions in transfer windows.
Sharpy17(Quote)
can’t believe there are still people like byker bill, ashley, without doubt, is the worst owner we have ever had, and probably the worst there has ever been anywhere. he is using our football club as a cash cow and what’s more he has ruined my interest in football. it must be horrible to watch newcastle now, it’s bad enough watching the highlights on match of the day. we get the odd good match like at leicester[ even though I have a sneaking feeling leicester were bribed] but usually it is rubbish, so hopefully ashley will go soon but I doubt it. 🙁
john marshall(Quote)