Classless Newcastle United STILL yet to acknowledge summer exit for long-serving player

It sums up the level of neglect in and around Newcastle United right now that we didn't even bother confirming the departure of a senior player.

Christian Atsu's contract officially expired at the end of June, yet he confirmed to his Twitter followers that his time on Tyneside had come to an end almost SIX weeks ago now.

Was he a first-team regular? No. Should we have handed him a new deal? Again, no. He wasn't the best and hardly played last season, but he helped us get promoted, tried his best, did a lot for the community and is, by all accounts, a very nice bloke.

The fact NUFC didn't even acknowledge his five-year stint at St James' Park sums up what a soulless club we've become under Mike Ashley, but also highlights how just about everything has been neglected this summer.

It took an age to announce Castore as our new kit suppliers, the annual accounts are way overdue, we have no idea if Andy Carroll has been given a new deal, we haven't made a single signing and are in the dark regarding season tickets - despite the fact our first game of the 2021/22 season is just FOUR weeks on Sunday.

We are a shell of a club and dire need of new direction. This situation with Atsu may seem insignificant, yet it speaks volumes - not just about our lifeless summer but classless approach under the current owner.

Good luck to Christian and thanks for your efforts while wearing the black and white shirt.