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Opinion

Mike Ashley is an absolute disgrace

3 years ago
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If I was writing an article on the sins of Mike Ashley, I wouldn’t know where to start.

Due to my offerings for The Mag, I yesterday had the pleasure of being contacted by a national freelance journalist with links to national publications and the news.

We spoke at length about why I have boycotted the club for 13 years now and how I cope with missing out on the team I love. There was of course one simple answer.

I can see a few more boycotts starting this season, if ever anyone needed provocation this was the eureka moment. Being a businessman who works on a shoestring is one thing, taking the water is another.

I was asked about what I do on match day and how I feel about maybe never going back, ‘relieved’ was my answer – but it shouldn’t be like that. The fact I hate watching the team is another sad fact of life.

The main focus for me though was explaining why life under Mike Ashley is so sadly infuriating when most of the country simply think that we are in our natural place. Pundits, conditioning, the lowering of expectations and inclusiveness of the ‘big six’, is my view.

Why are Arsenal in the big league when they finished eighth, because they get 60,000?

No, Leicester City may not get those crowds but West Ham United do, also, they both finished above Arsenal and Spurs as well. The self-proclaimed big six are just that but the Premier League support them all.

So on to my latest Mike Ashley criticisms. If ever there was a time to step up to the mark as owner, it is now. Someone wants to remind Ashley that money invested needn’t just come from the money generated by the club, you can spend your own!

Yes the pandemic may have meant no crowds and reimbursement (late as usual), it did though provide EPL prize money and TV money, to be offset against overheads like wages. I personally can’t see a loss situation. On a personal note for Mike Ashley I hear of a near £800m upturn or so, in terms of his wealth increasing across his business empire in the past year.

Look at it this way, the takeover will or won’t happen, Mike Ashley knows the score by now and knew it before the deferred arbitration. He is hiding behind the pretence of a takeover.

Option one is it goes through early next year (is that a pig flying past my window), if it is to happen surely it’s dependent on not getting relegated. Anything spent will add to the value?

Reality option two, is that the deal as it was, is dead, all are keen to see it as still alive apart from the real key players with the mega bucks who have lost interest. If this is the case then NUFC becomes Ashley the owner’s, sole responsibility.

Either way, Mike Ashley should be pumping money into his investment, not just to compete but to flourish and develop (there goes another flying pig). Instead he hides behind a failed takeover when he should be safeguarding his asset. He gambles as usual.

Let’s hope the whole country soon get the message, I doubt it will come from my interview yesterday so let’s see some high profile key players spread the message. Or have a proper boycott!

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