Newsletter

Get your daily update and weekly newsletter by signing up today!

News

Newcastle MP asks Culture Secretary for inquiry into Mike Ashley and NUFC after no reply in 6 months

5 years ago
Share

Newcastle fans and MP for Newcastle Central, Chi Onwurah, has once again been left with no alternative but to write to Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright, with regard to Mike Ashley and the situation at Newcastle United.

Chi Onwurah’s constituency includes St James Park and back on 24 July 2018 she presented a petition to the House of Commons on behalf of constituents.

The petition highlighting the disgraceful way Mike Ashley runs Newcastle United.

This was countered with a letter ‘from’ Mike Ashley (no doubt prepared by Keith Bishop or one of his other minions) to the Culture Secretary, and made public by Ashley’s people on 7 August 2018, which attacked Chi Onwurah and laughably claimed that he is an excellent owner of Newcastle United (read it HERE).

In response to that Mike Ashley letter, Chi Onwurah responded, saying she wasn’t going to let the matter lie and would be writing to Jeremy Wright (Culture Secretary of State) to pursue the matter further.

She then wrote to Jeremy Wright on 24 August 2018, the Newcastle Central MP asking the Secretary of State to ‘Initiate an investigation into the financial relationship between Mr Ashley, Sports Direct, NUFC and Newcastle United Foundation.’

Jeremy Wright replied (see HERE) to Chi Onwurah in November 2018.

In February 2019, Chi Onwurah revealed that she had written to Mike Ashley via Newcastle United 11 weeks earlier (5 December 2018) but was still to receive even the courtesy of a reply.

Now we have got to June 2019, the Newcastle Central MP says that six months later there has still been no reply from Mike Ashley or anybody else at Newcastle United.

Chi Onwurah stating that this has left her with no alternative but to once again write to the Culture Secretary (letter reproduced below via Chi Onwurah’s own parliamentary website).

The letter calling for an inquiry into reporting requirements for Premier League clubs, with Newcastle United and Mike Ashley to be at the heart of that inquiry, also pointing out that the clock is ticking and it is almost a year now since she presented that petition to the House of Commons.

The Mag – 22 February 2019:

There is little doubt of the contempt that Mike Ashley and his stooges/minions such as Lee Charnley have for the supporters of Newcastle United.

The whole club is rotten and of course Mike Ashley acts in a similar way to so many other groups of people, whether it is the vast majority of Sports Direct employees, or indeed politicians.

Whilst understandably at the moment, the stock of politicians is at an all-time low, with regard to one subject in particular.

In this instance, it is a disgrace when Mike Ashley and his employees feel this is an acceptable way to behave.

Chi Onwurah is the Newcastle Central MP which includes St James Park, and has been asking Mike Ashley and Newcastle United for answers on behalf of some of her concerned constituents, as well as the wider Newcastle United fanbase, as well as by association all football fans.

The Newcastle MP has now revealed that she sent a letter to Mike Ashley and his minions at Newcastle United fully over 11 weeks ago.

The letter was sent via the club’s head of media and content, Lee Marshall, who is also allegedly the club’s Supporter Liaison Officer (SLO).

Chi Onwurah was asking for answers from Mike Ashley and/or his NUFC staff and said that Ashley made clear to her at a recent meeting that his stooge, Lee Charnley, would/should provide answers.

To date she has still not even had the courtesy of a reply to her letter/questions (see below).

Little surprise to any of us, the letter was actually sent by the Newcastle MP on 5 December 2018, two days after Mike Ashley appeared on TV to tell everybody a sale of the club was imminent.

Almost 12 weeks after that TV appearance, he hasn’t had the courtesy either to even feel the need to address the concerns of Newcastle fans as to exactly what has happened and what his intentions are with the football club.

Chi Onwurah via Twitter:

“In December I wrote to Newcastle United to try and have a constructive dialogue on the issues constituents have raised.

“Over ten weeks later, I have still to receive a response.

“So I’m publishing the letter and will be pursuing answers with the Secretary of State.”

The Newcastle Central MP adding:

“To clarify, at my meeting with Mr Ashley he was very clear that the day to day running, finances and other policies were the responsibility of Mr Charnley and it was for him to provide answers.”

In her letter to the club dated 5 December 2018, the Newcastle Central MP asked:

‘Have assets which were part of Mr Ashley’s purchase been sold away from the club or moved into other entities owned by Mr Ashley?

‘Does Mr Ashley have equity in the club other than loans?

‘Does the club intend to publish its report to the Premier League?

‘Has NUFC considered setting up a Community Committee to engage in a co-ordinated way with with charities, Foundation, communities, council and local MPs?

‘What are the key diversity measures/target for NUFC and are they being met?’

Share

If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk

Have your say

© 2024 The Mag. All Rights Reserved. Design & Build by Mediaworks