Mike Ashley forced to make U-turn on Newcastle's cup policy

[pete 2,499]

NEWCASTLE UNITED's under-fire owner Mike Ashley is ready to stage a U-turn over his policy of not taking the cup competitions seriously.

By John Richardson

PUBLISHED: 22:00, Sat, Apr 18, 2015

 

Mike Ashley will spend big this summer to ensure a silverware challenge

 

Ashley will tell the next head coach, who will be appointed in the summer, that the brakes will be released surrounding the FA Cup and League Cup.

 

Until now Ashley - to the constant annoyance of the Toon army - has insisted it's all about finishing in the Premier League top ten and nothing else.

 

It means that weakened sides have been fielded in the FA Cup and League Cup with the result that the Geordies have not gone past the third round of the FA Cup in the past three seasons.

 

That has been an insult to the memories of St. James' Park greats like Jackie Milburn who helped Newcastle win the FA Cup three times in the fifties.

 

Now though sources close to Ashley, who will today be faced with a fans boycott at the Tyneside Premier League clash against Spurs, insist that he has had a major rethink when it comes to the knockout competitions.

 

He wants the club to have a real go at claiming some long overdue silverware and as Sunday Express Sport has revealed will spend big this summer, 12 months ahead of a period in which he believes transfer fees will rocket when the new mega TV deal comes into force at the beginning of the 2016-17 season.

 

But it has come too late to prevent the campaign to remove him being stepped up today with various fans groups calling on supporters to boycott today's televised game.

 

Many disgruntled supporters believe that Ashley is just about making money at St. James' Park and that he lacks ambition.

 

It's why some will be missing from their seats today and instead will be attending various protest movements calling on Ashley to sell the club.

[Gribz 829]

Doesn't matter if he takes them serious they aren't good enough right now. Under Pardew they had a chance.

 

Ive always quite liked Newcastle and like seeing them do well. They are a club with huge potential.