ANGER at Mike Ashley’s decision to rename St James’ Park will rage on, official supporter groups have warned. More than 20,000 fans have put their names to a petition demanding a U-turn on rebranding the ground SportsDirect.com@St James’ Park. On Saturday, thousands stood defiant outside the club’s Milburn Entrance, demonstrating against the change.
Neil Mitchell, interim chairman of the Newcastle United Supporters ’ Trust , 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.
“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.”
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 the current owner.
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 Ashley taking the club off the market after 13 months of trying to find a buyer.
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”.
Fans got behind the team during Saturday’s win over Peterborough but repeatedly sang in support of St James’ Park and calling for Ashley to go. Meanwhile, Ashley has enlisted a Merseyside firm to help him flush out stadium and shirt sponsors from overseas.
The club has announced plans to launch a global campaign to find new sponsors with the help of marketing company Ampersand.
The search for new sponsors will see promotional material sent out all over the world to what it calls “high-calibre brands”.
Newcastle United ’s commercial director Barry Webber said: “Now we have an opportunity to potentially bring in a new family of partners that can become part of our huge club and join us on our journey back into the top-flight of English football.”
Emma Blackmore, managing director of Ampersand, said: “ Newcastle ’s target demographic is spread across the globe and comprises a range of high-calibre brands.”
The marketing campaign comprises of a brochure, Powerpoint presentation, direct mail material and a DVD.
