Following last season's relegation and the recent renaming of St. James' Park, Newcastle fans have had enough.
So they've set up the Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST), with the main aim to take over the ownership and running of the club from the grasp of Toon uber-villain Mike Ashley.
And it would seem that their admirable aims are not simply flights of fancy, if recent events in Germany's domestic league are anything to go by...
What's the Bundesliga got to do with Newcastle?
The Bundesliga's method of club ownership offers hope to the goals of the NUST. Each club in the top two divisions of German football must abide by the "50+1" rule, which stipulates that club members (the fans) must retain a majority stake in the club. It means that no more than 49% may be purchased by a single investor, making it impossible to buy out the club. It's effectively the direct opposite of the way clubs are run in England, where most are limited companies, allowing rich businessmen from Russia, the US and the Middle East to snap them up and do as they like with them.
Why has this made news recently?
Because last week German clubs were given the opportunity to abolish the "50+1" rule, after it was challenged by Hannover president Martin Kind, who wished to make clubs available for more investment. However, the clubs voted overwhelmingly to retain the rule, with just one voting for change and three abstaining, leaving the remaining 32 clubs happy as they are.
So how does this affect Newcastle?
It's not simply Newcastle, but any fans who have ambitions to start something similar at their club. While the members-based ownerships of European giants Real Madrid and Barcelona have been hailed as shining examples, it is the majority of clubs in the Bundesliga who are providing a real inspiration for NUST - for they are proving that clubs without massive global fanbases can still progress with a similar structure.
What are the disadvantages?
Some critics in Germany claim that it is holding the Bundesliga back from really competing with Europe's elite. This makes sense - without the type of investment that some English clubs have been fortunate enough to receive, German sides have been unable to shell out similar big bucks on transfers and contracts. But the fans seem far too happy with the many plus points being witnessed every week at domestic level to care too much.
Such as?
Obviously the fans are granted a much bigger say in the running of their club in comparison to their English equivalents. It can be no coincidence, then, that ticket prices for Bundesliga games are among the lowest in Europe, resulting in the highest average attendances on the continent. And with players like Franck Ribery, Luca Toni, Edin Dzeko and Grafite regularly on show, they're hardly lacking in stars. Also, unlike Europe's other major leagues, Germany's league champions are not always from a select few - there have been six different winners in the last 12 years.
Is it the future?
One would like to think so. UEFA certainly hope so, if a quote from their strategy document is to be believed: "In an ideal world, football clubs would be legally structured and governed in ways that prioritise sporting objectives above financial aspects. Moreover, all clubs would be controlled and run by their members - e.g. supporters - according to democratic principles." Here's hoping Newcastle can be the start of many...
