Jamie Henderson looks at Newcastle United’s fall from grace and their recent troubles on and off the field.
On the 15th June 2007 Newcastle United fans appeared to be in somewhat of a jubilant mood when Mike Ashley completed the takeover of the club and undoubtedly saved them from financial ruin.
The previous owners had ran the club into a debt totalling close to £134 million, a sum which was close to ending the history and existence of a club that had been a regular in the Premier League and footballing world for so long, a club that had entertained not only the Newcastle United supporters but neutrals alike.
Fans thought that the club had turned a corner and the club itself was now virtually debt free thanks to Mike Ashley.
After completing his takeover of the club Mike Ashley decided to install Sam Allardyce as the new manager of Newcastle United after Glenn Roeder had resigned a month prior. After being named as the new manager Sam Allardyce was given around £30m to spend that of which he used to bring in the likes of Joey Barton.
As the months passed the results never came in and after 24 games in charge which included only 8 wins, 6 draws and 10 losses the fans voiced their anger at Allardyce and Mike Ashley quite willingly swung the sword and ended Sam Allardyce’ tenure at Newcastle United. The Toon Army were happy to see that the chairman had indeed listened to their concern and now the hunt was on for a new manager.
The rumour mill began sturring and names were popping up left, right and center when out of the blue the news broke that Kevin Keegan was in talks for a return to his beloved Newcastle United.
The feeling around the city was electric, fans and football fanatics alike were thinking the same thing, they were thinking that Kevin Keegan was going to return the good entertaining times to Newcastle United.
It wasn’t then long before he was announced as manager, but as a little bit of time drove on things began to turn sour as Mike Ashley had brought in Dennis Wise to help over see transfers which was something that immediately ruffled the feathers of Keegan. The likes of Xisco, Nacho Gonzalez & Zambrella were brought in by Dennis Wise, all players which Keegan hadn’t even seen player, and was only told to take alook at these players by watching clips of them on YouTube.
After becoming discontent with what was being thrown at him Keegan resigns as manager of Newcastle United again. Fans were angry towards him after not knowing the full story, but as time went on it became more clearer that Mike Ashley & Dennis Wise were going above Keegans head when it came to signing and selling players which was something Keegan would not stand for.
5 more managers down the line and Newcastle United are led to this very day with John Carver in charge and Mike Ashley still as silent as ever when it comes to explaining things to the Newcastle United Fans. It had all came to a head after Newcastle United suffered their 5th derby day defeat in a row to bitter rivals Sunderland something has made the Newcastle United fans release they have had enough.
Mike Ashley has been a forever silent figure with this club, a club he has been using as an advertisement billboard for his beloved Sports Direct and he has made these once forever loyal fans suffer. This Sunday Newcastle fans are hoping that they can once and for all force Mike Ashley to leave this club, to actively find someone who can bring back some heart & soul to a club that was once the pride of a very vibrant city.
Will Sunday 19th April 2015 be the day Newcastle United became to reclaim their bruised & battered soul from Mike Ashley?