In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Newcastle United midfielder Rob Lee questioned why Mike Ashley bought the Magpies and what joy he gets out of owning the club.
The former Newcastle midfielder was puzzled as to why Ashley continues to constantly neglect the club and his business. Lack of money spent and space attendances to games all adds up against the Sports Direct tycoon who seems more disinterested than ever.
Lee does not understand what Ashley gets out of neglecting Newcastle, constantly annoying the fans and pushing them to the edge – although a recent statement suggests he is more keen than ever to get a sale pushed through.
The anger towards Ashley began with the sacking of Chris Hughton who had got the club promoted at the first time of asking. It then boiled over with the string of poor appointments at the club, including Joe Kinnear (twice), Dennis Wise, Alan Pardew, Steve McClaren and Steve Bruce.
Has Ashley been a good owner?
Yes, he steadied the ship!
No, the club has got worse!
Lee, who played over 300 games for Newcastle, can’t wrap his head around Ashley’s way of thinking and why he’s so against wanting to take Newcastle forward.
He told Football FanCast: “I don’t see why you would buy a football club and just get dog’s abuse because you’re not running it properly or you’re not putting the money in that you should.
“I don’t get what satisfaction you get out of that. I genuinely don’t get it, you can’t enjoy it. Surely, if you’ve got that amount of money the objective is to enjoy that money and enjoy what you do.
“If I bought a football club then I’d want to go to the football club. I’d want to watch the team and take pleasure in putting money into it and running it properly and getting that club to be as good as it possibly can.”
It’s clear to see that Newcastle fans don’t want Ashley owning their club and have made their feelings well known for a number of years now.
However, Ashley has been a stubborn seller in the past and if the Magpies stay in the Premier League this season he may see no need to immediately jump ship.