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Mike Ashley issues official denial he had conversation with Manchester United boss

4 years ago
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Earlier today, The Athletic reported that Mike Ashley had met Ed Woodward.

The report saying that the pair had spoken 10 days ago at St James Park, when Manchester United were defeated 1-0.

When the Newcastle owner met the Man Utd Executive Vice-Chairman, The Athletic stated that Mike Ashley said to Ed Woodward: ‘The most unpopular man in football meets the second most unpopular man in football.’

Despite it appearing to most people to be a comical throwaway line, Mike Ashley has reacted instantly to it, getting Newcastle United officials to tell the media that this conversation never took place.

The club in contact with the Chronicle on Ashley’s behalf to issue the denial, the NUFC owner clearly upset that it tarnishes his image even more that it is already…if indeed that is possible.

A lot of fans have pointed out that whilst the Newcastle United owner refuses to communicate with fans or allow the club to do on his behalf, on any number of issues of concern month after month and year after year…When it is instead something that personally affects Mike Ashley, he has no hesitation in acting.

Only eight days ago, Mike Ashley issued an official statement (see HERE) through the club, making laughable comments and a defence of himself as a football club owner, in response to comments made by Jeremy Corbyn.

Going back 10 weeks we had this message from organ grinder Mike Ashley, out out through his monkey, Lee Charnley, in the official match programme v Arsenal – 11 August 2019:

“I accept we need to do more from a communication perspective moving forward.

“There’s certainly a need to communicate more as a club and to let fans know where we are heading collectively.

“That goes beyond the responsibility of just the head coach or manager in isolation; something we have relied on far too heavily in the past.

“We want to give you more of an insight into what happens across the club, and you will therefore be hearing more from me…”

Forgive me if I have missed them but apart from communicating with PR statements when it is something that Mike Ashley isn’t happy about, where has all of this new open communication been from Lee Charnley and the football club?

From The Athletic report about Ed Woodward and Manchester United recruitment earlier today (16 October 2019):

‘Mike Ashley, the owner of Newcastle United, had his hand outstretched and a grin on his face.

Manchester United were in town and Ed Woodward, the club’s executive vice-chairman, had just appeared in the boardroom of St James’ Park.

Ashley went over to greet him and his opening line was probably an accurate reflection of the state of the two clubs.

“The most unpopular man in football meets the second most unpopular man in football,” he said.

At least Woodward could see the funny side.

Ashley then introduced him to one of his associates, who turned out to be a Manchester United supporter and wanted to know why the club kept announcing “all these noodle deals” rather than player signings.

Woodward’s explanation was that the two could go hand-in-hand and, without the “noodle deals”, it would be a lot harder to make the signings. Which sounded fair enough — and a line, almost certainly, he has had to trot out many times in his encounters with supporters.’

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