Newcastle United Owner To Sell Stadium Naming Rights

(Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

More bad news for Newcastle United fans as idiotic owner Mike Ashley has announced he is taking the club off the market, and is now looking for a buyer for the naming rights to the stadium—very clearly a financially-driven decision.

St. James' Park is one of the most well-known grounds across the country and it is outrageous that this utterly incompetent owner could decide to stub out a massive part of the club's DNA.

To be honest, I can't see how Ashley can get away with such a move, or why it is even necessary. You can't compare it to Liverpool fans losing their Anfield name, because they will be moving into a new stadium, in the same way Spurs will be when they leave White Hart Lane in 2012.

It's very interesting to note that Ashley's announcement to sell the stadium naming rights in partner with a shirt sponsorship deal comes just days after the club he supports—Tottenham Hotspur—revealed plans for their new stadium.

It is also disheartening to see that once again he is stalling over the sale of the club. Few disagree that the club will better off without him, and an £80 million offer was on the table from local businessman Barry Moat. 

But the timescale the money would be paid out was believed to be unfavourable.

The city will be up in arms if a deal is agreed to sell the naming rights to St James' Park. I'm not a Newcastle United fan, but having lived in Newcastle for a number of years, I know many friends who are supporters and I'm sure they would rather retain a huge part of the club's identity than see Ashley pocket millions from sponsorship.

All they want is for Ashley to sell their club, and sooner rather than later. The man is dangerous, not only as a club owner, but in business, and I hope for the club's sake that he changes his mind again and does finally sell before things get even worse.

The good people of Newcastle and the local area deserve better.

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