Fire Sale, Everything Must Go

I do think sometimes that the money men in football are a bit unappreciated and misunderstood. However, there are some who have brought their way into the footballing landscape that it is very hard to get an understanding or appreciation of.

Mike Ashley has to be one of those people, because I really cannot fathom the man or his actions, well most of the time anyway.

There are, at least, two sides to every story and with much that goes on in Newcastle in the past couple of years those side to these stories do seem to be poles apart. Unquestionably despite what I and many others took as good intentions in the beginning has been followed by decisions and actions made which have taken the club backwards, fast.

Newcastle is one of those few clubs that no matter what the back-story is, should consider it a huge shortcoming to not be in the top league.

Recently the drama has focused on who the manager will be, with the return of Alan Shearer lasting but a few weeks, and with the only realistic takeover bid being rejected. The story of modern football failure in the big clubs is all too similar, and usually rests with the ego of men who think they know better than the fans.

I saw today that Ashley now wishes to rename St James Park to take advantage of an avenue of revenue that some other clubs have exploited. Surely this decision is a year too late or a year too early to be justified in a maximising of revenue argument? But more serious, and more in keeping with the general feeling is that this is not some new stadium, it already has a name. St James’ Park. It is a part of the tradition and soul of the club that this millionaire has snapped up and plays around with like a child with a train set. In buying the bricks, the club the pitch and the team we have yet another owner who thinks they own the soul of the football club.

What next? Doing away with the famous black and white stripes? A new nickname? What else is up in this firesale?

What must be worse for Newcastle fans is that it would appear they will not be able to force the owner out until they re-establish themselves with a Premier League slot, as it would appear the value of the club has plummeted under the current owners stewardship.

Newcastle’s fans are often described as “long suffering” that seems a bit like an understatement to me right now.