Newcastle United’s senior players are in a dispute with owner Mike Ashley regarding their seasonal bonus scheme but remain in talks with him over the issue, according to the Chronicle.
The regional newspaper report on its website that the team are at odds with the Toon tycoon over their potential future bonuses, which has resulted in the players refusing to partake in any post-match interviews following their 1-0 loss to Bundesliga side Augsburg.
The newspaper claims that negotiations regarding the team’s bonuses have so far failed as a major cup bonus is not set to be offered this year – meaning that they adopted the same stance of opting out of interviews, just like they did after their game against Braga earlier this week.
OPINION
Newcastle’s problems appear to be mounting up following the news of the players being at odds with the owner. They need to be paid the bonuses that have been promised, and Ashley does not look like he is in a position to do that. This may result in some serious consequences for the club, as it could cause some players to quit the club and look elsewhere if they are not receiving the money they are expecting. The owner’s stance on transfer fees has not helped this situation in the slightest, as it means they are making a loss – which is why Ashley may not be willing to fork out for his players. However, as the players are technically employees of the owner, he needs to treat them with the respect that they deserve. It should never have got to these circumstances – and Ashley needs to take a long, hard look at himself.
