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Newcastle United: Mike Ashley is failing to right the wrongs

By Graeme Bell

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Mike Ashley, owner of Newcastle United and Lee Charnley, managing director of Newcastle United both look on from the stands during the Sky Bet Championship match between Newcastle United and Barnsley at St James' Park on May 7, 2017 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Mike Ashley, owner of Newcastle United and Lee Charnley, managing director of Newcastle United both look on from the stands during the Sky Bet Championship match between Newcastle United and Barnsley at St James' Park on May 7, 2017 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /
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Unrest in the North East.

Here we are again, the dark clouds of negativity are never far away from St James’ Park especially in the Mike Ashley era. What a difference a few days makes, from the great result and performance against West Ham to the disappointment of deadline day.

I can’t say I was surprised by the lack of activity on Thursday, as we have been there before under Mike Ashley’s ridiculous ownership. Newcastle fans were positive after the West Ham game, and that positive atmosphere should have lasted longer.

Rafael Benitez now knows what he has at his disposal until January, whether it is enough remains to be seen. Newcastle are dangerously short in some areas which is frightening, the need for a number ten was and still is monumental.

The decision to let Siem De Jong return to Ajax could be a mistake after a decent pre-season. The positive aspect of the transfer window now being closed is that there are no more distractions. Players know where they will be for at least the next four months.

I do wonder whether Mike Ashley will ever learn, and it baffles me that he cannot see what an opportunity he has to right some wrongs. Rafael Benitez is the best manager Newcastle have had in years, the club will not attract another of his caliber as long as Ashley is around. If Benitez was backed even just a little bit more, he could take the club a long way.

There was a huge opportunity to harness the positive atmosphere of last season and take it into the Premier League campaign. Benitez wasn’t asking for much, his “demands” were not unrealistic for a club that had been newly-promoted.

Mike Ashley is a gambler and he continues to gamble with Newcastle’s Premier League status. The Newcastle owner stated that he could not take another relegation – then why not back the best manager we have had in years?

There are so many restraints for Benitez to work under, it means he cannot take Newcastle anywhere near as far as he wants to. The Spaniard is an ambitious manager, unfortunately for Newcastle, they do not have an owner with a crumb of ambition.

Some Newcastle fans have not returned to St James’ Park after some of the ridiculous decisions Ashley has made in the past. The Newcastle owner has experienced a lot of hatred towards him (deservedly so). However, it will not compare to what will come if Benitez walks away.

Maybe I was a bit naive but when Benitez arrived at the club, I genuinely thought Mike Ashley had learned his lessons. I had a belief that we would go a long way, but that belief has been drained away yet again by an owner who simply does not care about the club or the fans.

What is the point in owning a football club with a fantastic fanbase and manager and not invest in it? Benitez and the fans deserve better.

I cannot believe that there aren’t any potential buyers out there. With an ambitious owner backing Benitez, Newcastle can and would thrive.

Next: September is a critical month for Newcastle United

An open letter to Mike Ashley has gone viral in recent days, and it expresses what a lot of Newcastle fans are feeling. The only issue is the one person that NEEDS and MUST read it, probably never will.