Mike Ashley Still Calls It…St.James’ Park!

Derek Llambias has revealed he and Mike Ashley still call St.James’ Park…St.James’ Park, now I really think they are messing with our heads!

Derek Llambias: “Do you think me and Mike call it the Sports Direct Arena? We call it St James’ Park, because it is St James’ Park.”

Naming rights is such a passionate thing, but it’s not about being disrespectful or taking away the tradition or history of the club, it’s about trying to get another Yohan Cabaye out there on the pitch, he said.

Do you think me and Mike call it the Sports Direct Arena? We call it St James’ Park, because it is St James’ Park.

But, to optimise our commercial side, we needed to get that in there. Other clubs do it.

Mike is a Chelsea supporter. Everyone thinks he is a Tottenham supporter, by the way, and that upsets him.

But if Stamford Bridge was changing names, he’d have a view. It will always be Stamford Bridge.

The same goes for St James’. But we have to do our best for the club and for the people who turn up to see the games”.