Fans warn Mike Ashley of trouble ahead
ANGER at Mike Ashley’s decision to rename St James’ Park will not die down, official supporter groups have warned. More than 20,000 fans have now put their names to a petition demanding a U-turn on the renaming of the ground to SportsDirect.com@St James’ Park.
On Saturday thousands stood defiant outside the club’s Milburn Entrance, demonstrating against the change and making fresh demands of “Ashley out”.
Last night the official supporters ’ trust said the renaming was “completely wrong” and was “trying to strip the club of its heritage”.
Neil Mitchell, interim chairman of the Newcastle United Supporters ’ Trust (NUST), said: “I don’t think any of the anger among the fans over issues like the name change will die away.
“You’re talking about the very essence of Newcastle United . Fans feel like so much has already been taken from the club and now their history and heritage is being stripped away.
“It’s been sold to us as a scheme for revenue generation, but the whole thing seems like a marketing ploy for Sports Direct.
“Much of the problem seems to be the way the decision has been communicated to us. I’ve spoken to our fans at length, and there’s a lot of intelligence there. If we had been consulted we can understand the club needs funds.
“But when we are just told and expected to accept it, I feel like the club has been taken off the market and now they are just doing what they want with it.”
The remarks come ahead of the Trust ’s planned progress on their Yes We Can campaign this week, which seeks to raise enough funds for fans to buy-out current owner Mike Ashley.
The website set-up to help co-ordinate the effort – www.nust.org.uk – reached 20,000 signatures opposing the name change over the weekend.
Organisers plan to continue with their proposal, despite sportswear mogul Ashley taking the club off the market, after 13 unsuccessful months of trying to find a buyer.
Steve Wraith, editor of Players Inc fanzine, is among critics of the name switch. He said: “I can’t tell if Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias are making this decisions intentionally, or out of naivety. It just seems like once again they’ve completely misread the situation. Changing the name is ridiculous.” From 1.30pm, on Saturday thousands of fans gathered outside the players and officials entrance at the ground with banners reading: “Saint Robson, Saint Shearer, Saint James”.
Chris Cheetham, 21, of Ferryhill, County Durham, said: “The club is on its bare bones as it is. We can’t take any more and so enough is enough.”
Andy Milne, 28, an IT worker, from Wallsend, North Tyneside, said: “I think it’s a joke. If it was a new stadium fair enough, but it’s not.”
Police said the demonstration passed off peacefully.
