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15/09/2008
Ashley To Sell Newcastle Following Fans Protests
Following protests by angry Newcastle United supporters, billionaire Magpies owner Mike Ashley has announced he has "got the message" and is ready to sell the troubled club.
Ashley, who bought the club in 2007 and spent £250 million, released a lengthy statement yesterday saying he was no longer prepared to "subsidise" Newcastle United.
He said: "I have really loved taking my kids to the games, being next to them and all the fans. But I am now a dad who can't take his kids to a football game on a Saturday because I am advised that we would be assaulted."
Ashley has been under increased pressure, following the departure of manager Kevin Keegan, who left after just eight months in charge of the side. He claimed his position was undermined by his lack of say over the club's transfer dealings.
Protests against Ashley and the Newcastle board of directors followed, including demonstrations in and outside the ground during Saturday's home defeat to Hull, who beat Newcastle 2-1.
Thousands of angry protestors demanded Ashley's resignation, and called for the removal of executive director (football) Dennis Wise.
"I am putting the club up for sale," the 43-year-old said. "I hope that the fans get what they want and that the next owner is someone who can lavish the amount of money on the club that the fans want."
He added: "This will not be a fire sale. Newcastle is now in a much stronger position than it was in 2007. It is planning for the future and it is sustainable."
Despite the effort of Mike Ashley - who in his statement said he spent £134m purchasing the Magpies, and a further £110m investing in it - the club remains in debt.
"Even worse than that, the club still owes millions of pounds in transfer fees," he said. "I shall be paying out many more millions of pounds in transfer fees. I shall be paying out many more millions over the coming year to pay for players bought by the club before I arrived."
He added that he did not buy the club to make money, but rather he is a football fan and had "the interests of Newcastle at heart".
He concluded: "You don't need to demonstrate against me again because I have got the message."
(JM)
Ashley, who bought the club in 2007 and spent £250 million, released a lengthy statement yesterday saying he was no longer prepared to "subsidise" Newcastle United.
He said: "I have really loved taking my kids to the games, being next to them and all the fans. But I am now a dad who can't take his kids to a football game on a Saturday because I am advised that we would be assaulted."
Ashley has been under increased pressure, following the departure of manager Kevin Keegan, who left after just eight months in charge of the side. He claimed his position was undermined by his lack of say over the club's transfer dealings.
Protests against Ashley and the Newcastle board of directors followed, including demonstrations in and outside the ground during Saturday's home defeat to Hull, who beat Newcastle 2-1.
Thousands of angry protestors demanded Ashley's resignation, and called for the removal of executive director (football) Dennis Wise.
"I am putting the club up for sale," the 43-year-old said. "I hope that the fans get what they want and that the next owner is someone who can lavish the amount of money on the club that the fans want."
He added: "This will not be a fire sale. Newcastle is now in a much stronger position than it was in 2007. It is planning for the future and it is sustainable."
Despite the effort of Mike Ashley - who in his statement said he spent £134m purchasing the Magpies, and a further £110m investing in it - the club remains in debt.
"Even worse than that, the club still owes millions of pounds in transfer fees," he said. "I shall be paying out many more millions of pounds in transfer fees. I shall be paying out many more millions over the coming year to pay for players bought by the club before I arrived."
He added that he did not buy the club to make money, but rather he is a football fan and had "the interests of Newcastle at heart".
He concluded: "You don't need to demonstrate against me again because I have got the message."
(JM)
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