Have Newcastle's 'Ashley generation' had enough? - BBC Sport 

The Sports Direct signs at the training ground make me sick to my core.

We went to Newcastle for an FA Cup tie with Luton Town last year. It's a fantastic City & club, has a massive local fan base and deserves better. While I don't agree with how unsustainable a lot of clubs have become & spending for the sake of it doesn't necessarily mean success, this club definitely deserves an owner that is willing to invest some of their big profit into the club squad/infrastructure or community.

I honestly have so much respect for Rafa , the mans won so much with huge clubs but what is he doing now? Scraping relegating at a club where the owner doesn’t give him a pot to piss in. I’m a Newcastle fan but honestly he doesn’t deserve to be treated like this.

The fans deserve better and Newcastle is a great club

I think he’s a selfish owner who don’t care about the fans the way he should....they want good players and he’s not providing that

From paying we don't get relegated, to being 2nd in the Premier League after Boxing Day, This just shows that having an owner who cares about the club makes such a major difference. Onwards and Upwards, HWTL

As long as Mike Ashley keeps making a profit out of Newcastle United he's not going anywhere

I feel your pain, I'm a rangers fan.. Ashley should be banned from every club in Britain.

This just came up in my recommended The day I comment this, it is October 8th, 2022 and we are now 5th in the Prem and have a load of ambition. How times have changed.

Sad situation. They've got to start boycotting games or at least doing walk outs towards the end of matches. Once that starts happening he'll see the club's value start to fall and he'll want to get out ASAP

With infastructure like that and a fan base like that, it's astonishing this club hasn't been bought. With the right investment, the club can not only ressurect it's past but go so much further. I hope they become contenders once again, the fans and the city deserve it.

You fans need to stop spending money, Ashley is a profit man and if his profits drop he'll sell

9 months on and we are in the exact place we didn't want to be in!! No Rafa no hope and no ambition!!!

Mike Ashley is the epitome of everything wrong at Newcastle, and I say that, even as a Man United fan!

I don't get why the Fa hasn't stepped in and required Ashley to either sell or invest from profits earned. Ashley has turned Newcastle into a championship side pretending to be a Premier League side when in fact before his ownership they were one of the biggest clubs in the premier league era

All I can say is Ashley needs to go to save the club and to keep the fans, look what happened to us - From a Sunderland Fan

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Almost one year later and here we are in the same situation minus our world class manager who he foolishly let go again. Ashley had his chance back in 2012 when we finished 5th and had a great team to build on in Europe, who did he sign? Vernon Anita for £6 million.... Within a year, cabaye and demba ba left with no replacements and we sunk til we were inevitably relegated again. And to people saying this is the last draw, shame on yous because yous will all be there first game of the season again. Cancel your direct debits like I did then he can't take money from you anymore.

As a Liverpool fan I feel your pain.Unite and boycott games, merchandise etc etc. But what piss me off a lot is he let Rafa go and brought in Steve Bruce!

With Championship squad, less transfer fee than most championship club spent. It's a miracle nufc stay in premier league and rafa stays nufc.

3:37 WOWWWWW

I'm super happy for Rafa for the fact how the Newcastle fans are treating him. They both deserve each other. A very good manager combined with the one of the best fans in premier league. Just the sad thing is owner not keeping his promise and misusing the fans and the manager. You guys deserve much better things than this. Hope some days you'll be challenging top four again.

Hes a business man not a football man.toon army is playing into his profit game by buy buying your merchandise shirts n season tickets unfortunately. But you're all standing buy your club through out..... true fans i have to say.

I'm old enough to remember the entertainers and Sir Bobby's teams. What times they were. I don't expect those times again, but christ, can we just compete with the teams around us.,and maybe build from there.

It saddens me to say that I'll be leaving Newcastle United when my contract expires at the end of the season. The hierarchy of the club just isn't ambitious enough to take the club forward and unsupportive in my att

i just cant get over how he thinks hes bailed the club out by loaning them money, its his club you cant lend yourself money, besides he has had 12 years worth of Top advertising for sports direct inthe pl thats worth hundreds of millions,which he should pay newcastle for never mind they pay him a loan back.

Thank heavens he has gone it sounds silly but he has traumatised me how he unchallenged and uncaring just was content with us barley existing I remember going to games from 2007 to 2021 and wondering if Mike was ever at the club deciding on what was going on I’m sure he was unconcerned

The big mystery with Newcastle United, is why and how have they not won anything since 1969? Having come so so so close in 1996/97 season as well as the two FA Cup finals, is it because they weren't meant to win anything. Had Newcastle United, won the premier league title 96/97 I believe that they'd have been the most successful club since Liverpool rather than Manchester United.

All fans who are planning to attend the opening fixture against Arsenal need to change their minds and not turn up... Imagine an almost empty St James' Park live on the Sky Sports cameras, fat Mikey won't enjoy that sight!!!

It’s July 2019 Rafas left Bruce appointed Takeover is pretty much dead in the water When will the FA take action

This was from 11 months ago and still nowts changed and nor will it for a long time but the worst thing for me is my granda had loved going to st james park to watch Newcastle United since he was a Bairn and now he doesn't bother going any more to put money in fat cashleys pocket and this is the case for a lot of elder people and it's heartbreaking tbh

Shame they don’t have some money with Rafa they could challenge top 4... with money tho

loads of my pals are geordies and it is a disgrace what that ashley is doing to the toon. I have been to watch you guys home and away with them a few times and your fans are class. you deserve to be up challenging the top boys, your stadium and fans and history say that, lets hope ashley goes very very soon, respect to you lot. always a villan tho, utv

Vote with your feet like we did! It will hurt but stop going, all of you! Then he will have to get rid!

Arsenal fan here, but I feel for Newcastle as a club, one of my favorites back in the day with Nolberto Solano and Shearer and Owen when he was really good...now they are a shadow of that great club because of Ashley

When Rafa goes I really do think we will ended up playing in league 1 like Sunderland!

Remember when Newcastle finished 5th in 2010-2011 just missing out on the champions league on the final day of the season. If they had an owner who cared about the club who knows what they could achieve.

So Rafa has left, tomorrow is the last day of his contract. What happens next is either going to break the club, or new owners will take us forward. If Ashley’s to sell, this is the year.

Now they've got the richest owner in the prem 😂

What do u expect from the sports direct guy?

Crazy to think with the players they've had,even recent ones, that they haven't spent more than £16m on a player.

I know it’s hard for a passionate bunch like the toon army, but you need to do SOMETHING. Last season we invaded the pitch, forced our owners out of the stadium, made a riot in our “stadium.” You need to do the same or simply just stop buying tickets

Feel sorry for Benitez, should have been rewarded not only with new contract but also financial backing to spend to drastically improve the squad who apart from Shelvey, most of them are at best championship players and not good enough at premier league level with another problem on the pitch is the lack of goals. If they are to get anywhere near back to where they once were, Ashley has to sell to a new consortium or new millionaire/billionaire business person who has football interest and go.

They think it's bad ffs imagine being a Bolton fan, a Wigan fan, a oxford fan....we missed all the good days

Such a shame Rafa had to leave. Like at Liverpool, it seemed, Rafa had found a home/club and its fans who really suited each other and it is a sad parting for both him and Newcastle Utd's fans!

The only way to hurt a man like mike Ashley is by the pocket don’t buy season tickets walk out don’t go back till he’s gone

Ashley was the bridge between Freddy Shepard and Amanda staveley pity the bridge wasn’t a stable one

Ashley is a proven businessman and has put Newcastle on a decent financial footing. We all recall what happened to Leeds Utd during the Risdale era. That said, it is inconceivable that Newcastle have been making a loss for the last few years. Not sure whether Ashley has been channelling losses through the club from his other business interests but the transfer record of £16m seems pitiful by today's standards so you would expect wage costs are not as high as other clubs that have speculated on big money signings. This together with the amount of money coming in from Sky or the parachute payments when they have been relegated makes you question these losses. There seems to have been no to little capital expenditure on the ground or facilities and I am pretty sure there was no huge debt inherited when Ashley took over the club quite some time ago now. What is also odd is that Ashley owns an asset that depreciates dramatically in the event of relegation from the Premier League. That value would go into free fall if Newcastle remained outside the Premier for a number of years. You would think he would want to invest in their squad to ensure Premier League status.

Hard to say this but the only way you will get rid of Assley is if not one of you turn up to the next couple of home games, its tough for the team and staff and the fans but its either that or a lynch mob.

Club is small change to Ashley, he will stay just to piss u all of. Get behind the team and a bit of success may get him to invest or better still, sell for a decent price as his house of frasier and debenhems venture will require lots of finance.

I feel bad for the fans Especially when they're in the stadium It looks like it's going to collapse any minute

The fans need to persuade the players to go on strike if he isn't getting the money there is no reason for him to be there.

What a great club it was

We are not UNITED anymore

Here man wa need Ashley oot. Let’s gan shout at shops man.

I wish Ashley would get behind Rafa we need to challenge again

Countries FAs need to step in and stop these things from happening

We are going nowhere. I was upset, devastated after Saturday when I left and I got so angry and annoyed with the team as they should have scored. Every one of these great fans are right. Either he invests or please leave he is disinterested and is letting us stagnate.

The club's a mess back the boycott

2:47 I know these lads

Wow wow wow non of tbis no more

I just want to see my club compete with the likes of Everton and Leicester it would be a dream to compete with teams like Tottenham

It's ok I will manage new castle in fifa 19

*Bolton are crippled in league one but Newcastle gets the media's attention...*

I feel for them. I’m a Leeds fan and we had Ken Bates who was right as fuck (a lot tighter than Ashley but I’m not here to be arguing over who has had it worse) so I get it, Newcastle deserve to be challenging at least 7th place

As a Born and Bred toon fan? I have stopped going to games for 10 years ago. Protesting and putting up Banners won’t do Shit? the only way to get mike Ashley out is to Stop buying tickets,stop buying merchandise and start boycotting the games. The Man is laughing at you fans. I love my club! but I am not wasting my hard earned money on games,just to see it go into Mike Ashley pocket.

Mike Ashley resume needs to get out of Newcastle United ASAP Rafa Benitez is Newcastle United hope

It's the same with Man U.. Sad.

It’s time to boycott games... it’s not a club worth supporting under Ashley!

I grew up.watching toons challenging for title and European places..now it's a mess..I can't believe they got relegated twice..and to top it up Ashley says he will.put every penny the club generate..I guess he literally means pennies.not millions . Newcastle fans stay together and be tough..this nonsense will.soon pass away

I've got videos of the good ol days , it's all part of the rollercoaster ride we should just accept it and get behind Brucie and the team lifes far too short to be moaning for success.

I'm an Australian Newcastle fan I am 44 yrs old and have followed them since I was 16 and love the club with all my heart ,there is no doubt Mike Ashley is the worst owner not only in the Premier league but in all of sports#cans

Strong feelings expressed by fans. How much Wonga is enough, money speaks and ego and ambition can be a fine line. I enjoyed the period when KK managed the club, and he says support the club, what is going on off the pitch, well the tea lady was faithful and likely prayed for unity, but money can't buy you love.

Ashley Out don’t let this sink so like

What do we want ? ASHLEY OOT LOL

It's just a shame that Sunderland are a bigger club. Newcastle should be relegated for the way their fans drove Rafa out

There's clubs that have it much worst then Newcastle, do feel for them still though.

Im a Brighton fan but it is a little sad seeing what Mike Ashley has done. Really ruining a club with quite frankly a fantastic history. I'd be constantly fuming and angry until that man left my club

All cities have 2 teams and Newcastle has been fortunate to have one so can't understand Ashley's cowardice in investing even Glasgow rangers can go bust and you'll make cash

Santiago Nunez was Newcastles last great player and that's saying something

Now Wor Rafa has been shown the Door , Wait for the Backlash It's coming Ashley .

And now your manager is Steve Bruce

As a Newcastle supporter since 1994, and ex-season ticket holder, I’ve now lost interest in football all together. I won’t dedicate any more of my time and money

As a Newcastle fan, people need to stop buying from sports direct house of Fraser if you want a Newcastle kit go to JD... ASHLEY OUT

Even Danny ings is worth 20mil now... And Newcastle can't even spend that what the actual fuck

They deserve better

2 years later and it’s still the same. The club is now in ruins. Depressing and no ambition.

I know its hard for fans but you have to stop going, I have and I will not got back until Ashley is gone.

Really depressing

People who buy football clubs are only interested in the money they can make and boosting their own vanity . They don't give a toss about the clubs....

i feel sorry for these fans, i was there at st james park when my team chelsea beat newcastle 2-1 in sarris 1st season and the atmosphere and passion they show is a lot, that club deserves better than this clown running the circus

these are dark times because We saw Sir Robby put a club out for an intertoto sporting lokeren New castle had many english internations on the pitch and more including the Captain of Britain on the bench. mr ashley is polarizing because hes not a football man min 204 he said that then the cupboard was bare then the man sold out the fans by saying Raf had control of transfers which he did not putting 90mil into the house of fraser. then selling mirto to fulham for 22 mil at the end of the transfer window and not buying instead it was a loan swap for rondon the injured and unfit. the director of football operations is getting 10% of what other big clubs pay only one side has such a key post paid less. and it shows. fien you can balance a book when the tax man comes but look at just the telly revs v spending on grounds and players.. mostly on the cheap.. after the nice flash of cash personal loan the owner has shown little impact major names and just status quo bailing a leak and list in january and the club this size has gone down twice when the likes of smaller stadia and cities get into europe or even win the prem or cups. Senior Rafa is still a major manager but the talent forces him to park the bus and struggle with goals or shots on target when st james used to be one of the top 5 fortresses.

I laugh at the Geordies reminisning about the `good old days` under Keegan and Robson. Remind me what they won again? Nothing that's what. They've won nothing domestically for 65 years and I cannot see them ever winning a major cup again.

We have great owners now

Try being a blackburn fan

I don't expect the keegan Robson kind of team results just a chairman that cares tries to be ambitious and a manager who has a clue

My Uncle Is A Newcastle Fan, GO NEWCASTLE!

Why the hell would you buy a football club and have no ambition, no interest, no support to the team, no support to the club, treat the supporters like shite, WHY, we do not expect championship football, we don’t expect premiership titles, we just want to compete, finish in a decent position in the premiership, it’s not a lot to ask for.

The fans need to talk with their feet. Stop giving the bastard the money and he will soon change his tune. I know it's easier said than done, i'm a true fan of my club and don't want anyone to stop me seeing my team but think it's the only option toon fans have.

Try having Ellis Short as an owner