Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has lamented Newcastle United’s summer business while speaking to Football Insider.
What’s the latest Newcastle United news?
After a miserable summer transfer window during which Nothing But Newcastle were told owner Mike Ashley refused to release any extra funds for loan players following the signing of Joe Willock, the club saw fit to release a controversial statement defending their business.
As expected, the message has not gone down very well with swathes of supporters on social media and, coupled with a dreadful start to the Premier League campaign, the mood on Tyneside looks incredibly low at the moment.
Indeed, reports in The Daily Telegraph after the close of the window suggested manager Steve Bruce – a hugely unpopular figure himself – was feeling ‘battered and bruised’ by the lack of backing he’s received but was unlikely to walk away from the job.
Sources close to the club told NBN on Deadline Day that temporary moves for Tottenham Hotspur’s Cameron Carter-Vickers and Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury were discussed but, ultimately, the club were steadfast in their refusal to cover either a loan fee or a substantial portion of their wages.
What has Maguire said about Newcastle’s business?
Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire talked of the problems behind the scenes at St James’ Park.
“A good football club will have everybody rowing in the same direction,” he said.
“The nature of the consultation between the board and those on the footballing side should be professional.
“What we have at Newcastle, sadly, is turmoil behind the scenes. It’s haphazard, like a firework going off in all different directions.
“Football clubs are very leaky organisations, and this is further evidence of a further feeling of malaise both within the club and on the terraces as well.“
Is he right?
Sadly, yes,
Under Ashley’s ownership, Newcastle have resembled nothing short of a basket case club, suffering the indignation of relegation twice and the lack of ambition from above was something Rafa Benitez talked about before leaving in 2019.
Unless there’s a change of ownership, things will remain the same.
