Mike Ashley is a well-known name on Tyneside as far as football is concerned — but for all the wrong reasons. Now, Newcastle United fans seem to believe that he has pulled the final straw.
Ashley has come under heavy criticism by the black-and-white faithful for the way in which he has frugally and unfaithfully run their club. As far as Newcastle United fans are concerned, the man has presented himself as less of a chairman and more of a sporting tyrant.
But what exactly has Mike Ashley done over the years to earn him this wonderful title?
The answer is simple — the man prioritizes money over football, profit over performance and spending over spirit.
However, these bold statements would be nothing without examples and consequences. Take for example the (former) name of Newcastle United’s vast stadium — St. James’ Park. The 52,000 seated stadium stands as a monument of pride for the fans.
Newcastle fans angered after club accounts reveal over £34m in the bank http://t.co/NhqJGov6r6
— The Guardian (@guardian) April 15, 2015
It came as no surprise when Mike Ashley made the decision to tear the name St. James away from the stadium, only to rename it after a company he invested in. The fans reacted in indignation and embarrassment, to the fact that their beloved stadium had become a corporate shell for the personal gain of their penny-pinching owner.
‘Sports Direct.com Arena’ really doesn’t have that same ring to it. As the Newcastle fans will be fully aware of.
Historically, disapproval and indignation amongst the masses leads to protest, and that’s exactly where boycotting comes into the frame.
Many Newcastle fans have apparently made the decision to boycott their team’s next home game against Tottenham Hotspur, in the hopes that it will send message to Mike Ashley, regarding the damage he has caused to the club, and fans’ collective dignity.
If this were to happen, it wouldn’t be the first time the Newcastle fan-base protested in the masses. Earlier this season, an online demonstration was set up in order to eject Alan Pardew from his managerial hotseat — a campaign that was bluntly titled ‘SackPardew.com‘ – written and formatted in a style that was a mocking parody of Mike Ashley’s investment in SportsDirect.
Newcastle United have had a relatively poor season as far as form is concerned, save for a brief run of good form under Alan Pardew, which is ironic given the nature of the protests, and the blame for this rests on the shoulders of the chairman — whose money-making mentality has been blamed for the clubs lack of ambition.
The Magpies’ fanbase tends to hold the belief that a chairman who would be more focused on the actual game of football rather than the revenue earned from the division it is played in would improve the quality of football seen on Tyneside. As the club would be able to progress moreso with a sense of conviction and determination that has been scarce from most performances this season.
Newcastle currently sit 13th in the Premier League table and 11 points clear of the drop-zone. The danger of losing their league status doesn’t look to be a serious threat, albeit not mathematically safe; but having conceded 51 goals this season, topped with 2 more derby defeats, adds to the unrest up in the North East.
Whether or not this boycott will actually take place is unclear, but given the recent conviction of the Newcastle fans to turn their club around, it would be unwise to rule it out.
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