OPINION
After the decision to let Rafael Benitez leave the club in the summer, a large majority called on Newcastle United fans to boycott St James’ Park.
The arrival of Steve Bruce didn’t do much to change that either, with many fans still calling for controversial owner Mike Ashley to leave the club.
It was reported by the Chronicle recently that the Magpies are still up for sale, despite whispers suggesting that Ashley was happy to remain at the club this season.
Before that, on the opening day of the Premier League season there were clear gaps at St James’ Park against Arsenal, as their club laboured to a 1-0 defeat.
If the clear absence of some fans didn’t hit home for Ashley, the numbers written out must send him a message that now is the right time to sell the club and give the Magpies’ faithful what they want.
In a report by the Chronicle, they revealed that around 10,000 fewer season tickets have been sold for the season, and that has highlighted a sizeable decline in numbers, with Newcastle surely concerned that their attendance is slipping below 90%.
On top of that, the game against Arsenal only saw an attendance of 44,157 – the lowest gate at St James’ Park since 2012, which is poor when you consider that they have completed a season in the Championship in that time.
In the same report, the newspaper claim on their website that the mood is very low within the fan base, and the atmosphere they are struggling to create is rubbing off on the side.
It is suggested that it could be rubbing off on the squad, another sign that Ashley must take it upon himself and push forward a deal that would see him sell the club.
