Reply With QuoteOriginally Posted by Jammy89
An MP is taking on Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley - demanding he stops “exploiting” the club.
Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah has launched a petition demanding action to stop the billionaire businessman taking advantage of the Toon Army faithful.
And the petition asks the House of Commons to intervene.
Ms Onwurah, a Magpies fan, is asking people to sign the petition so that it can officially be presented to Parliament.
It accuses Mr Ashley, the founder and majority owner of retail giant Sports Direct, of failing to provide the investment in players, training facilities and community engagement that Newcastle United needs.
The petition states: “Football is an integral part of Newcastle upon Tyne’s social, economic and cultural wellbeing ... fans of Newcastle United are heavily invested both financially and emotionally in the success of the team.
“The current manager Rafa Benitez needs the support of both fans and the club’s owner ... this support should include investment in players, training facilities and community engagement.”
But it says: “The owner Mike Ashley has not made this support forthcoming.”
It continues: “The Petitioners therefore request the House of Commons to take action to prevent unscrupulous football club owners from exploiting the clubs, their fans and local communities, with particular reference to Mike Ashley and Newcastle United FC.”
In the past week, a fresh fans’ movement against Mr Ashley’s regime has gathered pace.
If Rafa Goes We Go sprung up online amid uncertainty surrounding the manager’s position at St James’ Park, with contract talks seemingly up in the air.
The latest on Mike Ashley, protests, Rafa Benitez's budget and the If Rafa Goes I Go movement
Fans backing the movement are pledging to boycott games if the club fails to hold on to what many believe to be its prized asset.
Ms Onwurah has been a long-standing critic of Mr Ashley.
In 2013 she took the decision to boycott games at St James’ Park after Newcastle United struck a sponsorship deal with payday loan firm Wonga.
The boycott lasted four years and only ended after the club cut its ties with the controversial finance company.
Mr Ashley put the club up for sale last year, but a proposed deal with businesswoman Amanda Stavely and PCP Capital Partners fell through.
Interesting.
Even if she gets the signatures i'm not sure what she could really do in parliament.
Nice to see she is giving it a go though.
Superb news!!!!
About time someone in politics started to pay attention to the way our national heritage/birth right is being sold out to unscrupulous manipulative business vultures!
Good luck to her & I wish her every success in her quest to support the cause of the hardworking Toon Army!
