The Toon army in the Transfer Tavern were delighted to hear that Mike Ashley has put Newcastle United up for sale this week.
After ten years at the helm, controversial owner Ashley is set to make way for new investors once a sale has been agreed. Ashley has implied that he cannot match the current level of investment that is required to compete in the Premier League, and his comments speak volumes for how far the game has developed economically during the past decade.
The beer-bellied businessman, famously known for his ownership of the retail store Sports Direct, had the attention of the British media from the beginning of his reign at St James’ Park after regularly sporting a replica Newcastle shirt on match days. However, Ashley’s efforts to relate to the Newcastle supporters through his choice of match-day attire seem rather ironic in hindsight.
Ashley proved how little he understood about the identity of the club and also left his personal legacy in tatters, after he made the dreadful decision to change the name of St James’ Park to the Sports Direct Arena in 2011. Indeed, the punters in the Tavern say it was a decision that demonstrated a complete lack of connection with the Newcastle faithful.
Now that Ashley has confirmed the club are up for sale, the Toon army are eagerly anticipating the arrival of a new owner within the coming months. One name who has stirred interest amongst the Newcastle supporters is British businesswoman Amanda Staveley.
Unsurprisingly, Staveley is commanding plenty of interest from the expectant Newcastle supporters considering the staggering £28 billion she is rumoured to have at her disposal.
This is what the fans had to say on twitter regarding Staveley’s interest…
https://twitter.com/NUFC_Leazes/status/920274895606513664
To quote Delia Smith "WHERE ARE YOU? AMANDA STAVELEY" #NUFC
— Himanshu Dhingra (@HD_07) October 16, 2017
Amanda Staveley. There’s a canny footy club up in the north east waiting for someone with ambition to buy it. Do not let us down #NUFC
— Paul Doolan (@DoolanPd) October 17, 2017
https://twitter.com/stephencave3/status/920045437045891072
https://twitter.com/colonelcorduroy/status/920036689048932352
https://twitter.com/_MSC26/status/920030325773864971
Has anyone sent Amanda Staveley some pictures of our bridges yet?#NUFC
— Andy (@andylockhart88) October 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/garethmunting/status/919988100373319680
Newcastle up for sale finally Ashley giving the fans what they want GET IN now all we need is an ambitious buyer #AmandaStaveley #NUFC
— mark barrett (@markbarrett4) October 16, 2017
Let’s all just hope that Amanda Staveley is ready to come visit Newcastle again with her cheque. The idea of Middle East money and Rafa
— Martin Dean (@_MartinDean) October 16, 2017
