Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has launched an extraordinary attack on Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, claiming he has done nothing for the club or the city.
The Magpies have endured two relegations under Ashley’s stewardship and the Sports Direct tycoon is widely regarded as one of the most unpopular owners in football.
Wright says that reputation is entirely deserved: “What Mike Ashley’s doing to Newcastle is nothing dissimilar to what the Romans used to do to the Barbarians,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I speak to Al [Shearer] all the time. It’s something I don’t joke and mess around with him about it now because it’s too close to the bone what is actually going on with Mike Ashley, with his take take take.
“There’s no Mike Ashley legacy there. He hasn’t done nothing for Newcastle or the area or anything. What’s he doing for the area of Newcastle? What’s Mike Ashley doing at Newcastle apart from taking taking taking. It’s terrible what’s gone on at Newcastle,” he finished.
OPINION
It speaks volumes about the way Ashley has run Newcastle that a former player with no connection to the club or the city is speaking out against him so passionately. He’s essentially run Newcastle into the ground and removed all soul from the club. The supporters aren’t expecting the team to go and travel for the Premier League title but they are well aware that this is a big-sized club that is continually punching below its weight under the current owner. The Magpies have a world class manager in Rafael Benitez but the Spaniard is being hampered at every turn by a lack of ambition and investment from board level. Wright is correct that there’s no Ashley legacy at Newcastle, other than a legacy of failure. He has done nothing for the city of Newcastle or anything to build the club into something bigger. The infrastructure hasn’t been improved, nor has the on-the-field product. Wright is spot on, Ashley is a stain on the club and the city.
