Newcastle United Football Club recently announced they would be freezing season ticket prices for 10 years, a scheme designed to reward the fans with their loyal support whilst also ensuring that United’s attendances remain high. The strategy is fully backed by the club owner Mike Ashley who believes that this shows commitment from the club towards the supporters, but does it also suggest that Ashley is showing his commitment to the Toon Army?
The sports retail tycoon has had an estranged relationship with the supporters since buying the club back in 2007. The Kevin Keegan appointment put Ashley in favour along with his dedication to sitting amongst the fans on away games only to ruin his newly built relationship by trying to run the club in a European style, which forced the likes of Keegan to quit. Since then Ashley has been on a slippery slope with the Toon fans, even trying to sell the club because of their calls for him to go as owner.
However, despite the misery of relegation and failing to find a substantial owner, Ashley has stayed put with Newcastle and looks committed to making the club run efficiently on its own rather than being a club run by a sugar daddy, a long term goal rather than a quick fix. Although the sacking of Chris Hughton and the selling of Andy Carroll only increased his unpopularity on Tyneside, Ashley still is trying to run a successful football club.
The scheme to freeze ticket prices is a very good deal for supporters who want to keep renewing their season tickets. In several years time, those supporters will be paying a bargain price compared to other Premier League clubs who are not offering the same for their fans. What’s in it for Ashley? A guaranteed crowd for home games, with Newcastle having one of the top attendances in the Premier League – it is great for revenue purposes.
Mike Ashley’s decision to sack Chris Hughton and sell Andy Carroll may have upset the supporters but I believe the decisions were heavily influenced by his successful business mind rather than a football supporter’s. Despite Hughton having a successful first season in management by getting the team back into the top flight at the first time of asking, he lacked experience, especially in the Premier League. His successor, Alan Pardew does have more experience of managing teams to promotion (like Hughton) but also of managing in the Premier League. As for Andy Carroll, an offer of £35 million was sensational and I would be shocked if any businessman would ever turn down such a deal. Let’s remember that Carroll has only played in the Premier League for half a season, despite his potential it is a HUGE sum of money for a player with no track record.
However, Ashley will have to put the money where his mouth is and give Pardew the funds to strengthen the squad in the summer. I believe that they will avoid relegation this season, despite not replacing Carroll, but the transfer window in pre-season shall be very interesting to really see how committed Ashley is to making Newcastle a force for the future.
