Newcastle fans on Twitter slate Ashley despite organising meeting with Benitez

According to The Chronicle, Mike Ashley has done something very unlike Mike Ashley. The Newcastle United owner has reportedly invited Rafa Benitez and the Newcastle squad out for a meal as he aims to break the ice with Benitez and try to lift the spirits of the squad after their woeful start to the Premier League.

Mike Ashley and Rafa Benitez have agreed to meet face to face and will talk over a meal this week. #NUFC https://t.co/JJECIyHBOf

— The Chronicle (@ChronicleNUFC) October 1, 2018

Mike Ashley ended his 16-month absence from St James Park when he returned to the stadium to see Leicester City win 2-0 on Saturday. However, a lot of fans are adamant that they aren’t going to buy into the Sports Direct owner’s apparent peace offering. Instead, the Magpies believe this is just Ashley’s way of trying to relieve some of the pressure that is mounting up on him at the moment.

It’s never good when your club’s owner and manager haven’t spoken in four months but after Benitez claimed Ashley was always welcome at St James Park and at training it seems the 54-year-old has decided to maybe try and patch up the situation. For the Geordies, nothing will be resolved until the club is free from Ashley’s stranglehold, but if they can at least lift the players’ spirits and get Benitez talking to Ashley again, then in the short-term, the meeting will be a good thing for the club.

You can read The Geordies’ verdict on Ashley here:

https://twitter.com/dunelmcuths/status/1046639303546277889

Typical Ashley. Instead of picking up the phone and talking to Rafa, there is a news story that he might have a conversation. Amazing….

— Peter Loadman (@PeterLoadman) October 1, 2018