After the Newcastle United board pulled out a surprising gesture, offering ten free home games to season ticket holders in a bid to encourage protesting supporters to return to St. James’ Park, these Magpies supporters are questioning the whole initiative and putting it down to a ‘desperate’ Mike Ashley tactic.
Due to the controversial ownership surrounding Ashley’s tenure over the last decade or so, this season has seen a particular rise in supporters not attending home games in a bid to try and oust the Sports Direct owner and send a message to the board over their dissatisfaction with the club’s direction.
Despite results on the pitch seeming better than ever, recently drawing to Premier League champions Manchester City and going on a two-game winning streak, some unhappy supporters are still not swayed and hint they won’t return until something changes upstairs.
The club’s latest move, a seemingly generous one to offer free half-season tickets for the remainder of the campaign, has been put down to just another Ashley tactic to fill the ground – here’s what they had to say on Twitter.
Painfully desperate.
— Ali Al-Mufti (@AliAlMufti86) December 9, 2019
Desperate sad and pathetic
— Ryan cresswell (@Ryancresswell10) December 9, 2019
It is desperate, cynical, insulting. It is also generous and caring. There are two ways to look at it, but I think we all know the true intentions of the owner. It also proves that ticket sales are not particularly important, but atmosphere is. Unprecedented in business I’d say.
— Joe Fowler (@KumaYama100) December 9, 2019
Desperate…
— Gary Hardy (@hardy1473) December 9, 2019
Still boycott. Nothings changed. Empty seats have him rattled.
— Bubs (@slf_bubs) December 9, 2019
It smells of absolute desperation.
— Danne Med Skägget (@DanneMedSkagget) December 9, 2019
I think ST holders so apply for these tickets and then ensure that the seat stays empty. This will mean Ashley cannot sell them on a game by game basis and will keep the visual impact of the stadium being half empty #NUFC
— Paul Dodds (@Paul_Dodds) December 9, 2019
