"I feel sorry for Newcastle fans!" Fascinating chat on Mike Ashley's ownership at Newcastle

Where has the money gone under Mike Ashley? Newcastle are the only club not to break their transfer record since he bought the club...
Premier League Tonight looks at what's gone wrong and how Newcastle fans have been let down by the club's owner.
Subscribe: bit.ly/17YTeL5
Twitter: / btsport
Facebook: / btsport
Instagram: / btsport
Website: sport.bt.com

[@ajstyles7961]

I support Chelsea and even I want Mike Ashley OUT

[@grazianoetiene8219]

who doesn't these days

[@mrdontrumpkinggod5701]

10 in leauge last season from previous relegation....lol get him out...hahaha pathetic plastic fans

[@jacknoone3725]

The reality is that the bottom 14 last year were very poor indeed, Burnley got 7th with a mere 54 pts. Below 6th, there was little to choose between any of those teams, yes Newcastle came 10th, but they were closer to West Brom than they were to Arsenal. This is a club who makes more than enough money to be challenging for Europe regularly, with a top manager in place, why are they merely scrambling for survival?

[@garymacmillan6401]

Top man.

[@andrewphippsphillips1455]

Nice that supporters appreciate this situation. I wouldn't want to see this happen to ANY club, not even teams I despise.

[@MikeTalksFootball]

Mike Ashley doesn't care about Newcastle and would run them into the ground for an extra few quid. He is an absolute Joke.

[@hugohughes3042]

AYE

[@upthefuingmags3285]

Thanks bro I’m a Newcastle fan and I think he’s a tw*t

[@errands8253]

Disagree massively.. WHEN someone does but it's a very attractive club to buy. Sold out every week and zero debt

[@emilezola1458]

Poor Rafa. The Fat Pig Ashley promised him the money to spend, and Rafa got nothing.

[@bigmoneysteppa]

Don't be stupid. The club is stable and its safe. Its probably difficult enough trying to bring in good players without spending dumb money for players willing to do anything more then establish themselves for a year or two. Let mike live they know what there doing.

[@harjots7118]

Ferdinand is clueless

[@simonevans6512]

Unbelievable he has a job in the media. He's embarrassing.

[@josephkerrigan733]

He's not clueless. He's biased as he has a vested interest in Mike Ashley succeeding...although he might actually be clueless as well.

[@Tom_murray89]

Totally agree also he’s in Ashley’s pocket

[@thathock3871]

Jermaine Jenus talking rings around Dunne and Rio

[@joshpemberton8128]

Rio Ferdinand is a giant tool, but then again do we expect any different Great defender but terrible pundit Prefer Jenas

[@Tom_murray89]

Rio couldn’t talk bad of Ashley because he had an association with him then

[@iBunZz360]

Does my head in when people talk about Ashley spending money in the championship to get out like Rio cluelessly just did, fair play to Jenas for rightly pointing out the money spent was literally money made from sales

[@hectichazerdus]

rio was playing devils advocaat. its freaking tv show for gods sake. not a nodding dogs competition

[@johnclegg4993]

@@hectichazerdus no Rio is or was not sure now but did work that involved a Mike Ashley company, constantly defended him.

[@johnclegg4993]

Correct Danny not a penny was his it was all money generated through competition money/player sales.

[@jakescott819]

Rip Ferdinand needs to keep his mouth shut. Saying we spent loads in Championship NO spent Wijnaldum Sissoko and Janmaat money. Then what’s the point in spending lots to get in the premier league if we’re not going to stay there as the amount he’s spent this season means we are going to be in a relegation battle. Then he says he couldn’t sell the club NO Amanda Stavely gave a perfectly reasonable offer of £270 million pounds but Ashley rejected saying he wanted £300 million. Rio mate if ur going to praise Ashley maybe do a bit more research

[@christopherrobinson4650]

Rio is close good pals with Wise clearly same boys brigade with Mike Ashley naturally using his air time do them a favor. Facts are facts ... Net spend is a absolute joke for a club with 53k fans every week. With head coach that has done it all and can do it all...

[@interyanan5562]

funny reading this 11 months on and magical 350m offers have just disappeared and been forgotten about. there is no seller... simple. ashley is playing geordies because they are loyal, somewhat simple minded fans that will flock in droves every week without even knowing why.

[@kronosf1533]

Inter Yanan We know why we’re loyal. It’s because we know the players will play to their max every week and it’s only right that we go and support them. We know why we keep going back to to watch OUR team (key term “our”) do well and hope for more. We love our club, we’re not “brain dead”.

[@johnclegg4993]

@@interyanan5562 even funnier reading your comment 2 years on 🤣

[@timothyhiggins5560]

It's refreshing seeing pundits defend newcastle and point out actual facts instead of backing Ashley.

[@doctordaiquiri5919]

At this point I would question exactly why anyone would be backing Mike Ashley. The evidence is clear to see that he's a terrible owner and an extremely unethical person.

[@nealebertram8644]

Yes Rio, Newcastle did spend quite a bit on players to get back into the Premier League. But in the very same transfer window they sold Townsend for £13m, Wijnaldum for £25m, Janmaat for £8m, Sissoko for £30m, amongst a few others. But pundits never seem to register those facts into the mix. I'm sick of these so-called professional TV pundits being Mike Ashley fan-boys!!!

[@michaelcooney5140]

What people done factor in is how much clubs spend on wages to average players! Newcastle had by far the highest championship wage bill in history.

[@propdouchebag]

Hardly Ashley fan boys

[@liamhudspith8691]

Michael Cooney Newcastle’s highest earner is jonjo Shelvey on 80k a week that is nothing in today’s game

[@Yorkshireman5]

Liam Hudspith In this championship at the time it was. Now not so much.

[@robnicholson4942]

Agreed. Don't forget the fans money Rio.....Millions in gate money every week from loyal fans.

[@marrsbar5040]

"He's obviously trying to get out."- On what evidence, listing the club for £100m over the value, knowing that he'll make £120m every year on TV deals + the refusal to reinvest player sales. If Rio has a problem with Newcastle spending £30m on a player, he needs to give his head a wobble and tell Mourinho to get packing for asking for £200m every transfer window.

[@propdouchebag]

Manchester United are the richest football club football club in the world.

[@interyanan5562]

@@propdouchebag and newcastle are the 19th... where has the money gone?

[@propdouchebag]

@@interyanan5562 in to Sports Direct

[@interyanan5562]

@@propdouchebag well we all know that...

[@RojoBoxeador]

Newcastle are punching well above their weight to have a manager like Rafa. If Ashley doesn't invest in January he never will

[@SnakePlisskin.]

Shut up

[@joshtimaz]

He spent no money to get us back up, he made a profit from us going down

[@jakiechoudhury775]

Very disappointed in Rio! Mike Ashley has took down Newcastle two times in the space of 7 years due to his penny pinching!

[@doctordaiquiri5919]

It's more than pennies he's pinching. Hundreds of millions of pounds of TV money seemingly goes missing every year.

[@marcusgotti8231]

I’m an Arsenal fan and I want that leech Ashley out!

[@mrdontrumpkinggod5701]

Leach...that owns it....lol hes the main man

[@TheJmsbrown]

what about kronke?

[@marcusgotti8231]

Jason Brown him to but I like the idea of a self sustaining club

[@marcusgotti8231]

Craig Gallagher bro everyone hates Spurs because they’re Spurs lol they don’t need Ashley

[@jonnya4209]

appreciated, thanks

[@benroxy8831]

Lost all my respect for Rio Ferdinand after this

[@benroxy8831]

@kevin paul halliday shola let me down as well when he came out and backed that idiot

[@richardsales6996]

All it is is arse licking ashley rent boys anyone who defends mike ashley should be ashamed of themselves

[@JC-ko1bp]

its a TV program and they have to discuss both sides. rio was the guy who drew that straw

[@chrisclynes6479]

Ferdinand models shellsuits for Cashley on the sports direct website... not saying that's why he defends him here but, I reckon that's why he defends him here

[@promocodes5962]

Mike Ashley literally turned Newcastle into a advertising ground for his businesses especially now that he bought House of Fraser. Newcastle fan base need to stand up really strong against him, to either take him to court which in that case he will probably be forced to sell the club or just stop backing the club by stop going in to watch the game, buying the season tickets and any merchandise the club offers. I know it sounds hard but it might be the only way resurrect their club back to where it belongs because buying tickets and merchandise is like giving the money directly to Mike Ashley and he'll never gonna stop or sell the club as long as their are fans going in the stadium to support his business. Right now he's not doing anyone favour neither himself nor Newcastle football club and I think the moment they lost Rafa Benitez this club will be lost in Championship.

[@bradleysucksatlife8097]

PromoCodes 🙌

[@jadbarake5114]

He isn't doing anything wrong to be able to sue him tho

[@vonfaahquard8532]

He spent money to get back into the prem just because it increases the value of his asset. Way beyond what he spent

[@jhardworkpaysoff474]

I feel sorry for Newcastle fans Because they have a owner that says he’s not rich enough to give Rafa a 40 mill budget Sports direct is the biggest sports equipment buisness in the uk 500mill year mike probably takes 200mill for him self and don’t treat Newcastle

[@vincentkompanytheking545]

Jhardwork Pays off Brighton Spurs

[@philippaik5371]

Jhardwork Pays off had enuf money to buy House of Fraser too for 89mil

[@bradleysucksatlife8097]

Exactly he’s even bought hous of Fraser now and is making more money

[@mrdontrumpkinggod5701]

@@bradleysucksatlife8097 jealous nobobys above....10 th from relegation not good enough????

[@jhardworkpaysoff474]

Bradaznufcgaming599 Bradaznufc599 exactly he brought a dying buisness and he’s gunna invest in house of Fraser to make it successful again

[@Walkerman404]

I don't support Newcastle, but quite frankly frankly Jenas is the only one talking sense here. Having played for Newcastle, he understands the fans and the frustration they have. I have all the respect in the world for Rio, but like so many people when it comes to the Mike Ashley situation, he's talking out of his arse.

[@jonasgi]

I salute Jenas! He's spot on!

[@youngboys2550]

Liverpool support and agree with Newcastle fans that mike Ashley got go he has no respect for fans or club history.

[@FluffMuffy]

A owner shouldn't spend? no one wants to play for newcastle or under rafa? wtf am a watching?

[@harryhazard719]

Rio we sold sissoko and wijnaldum when we got relegated to get money

[@iamalpharius5639]

Doesn't dunne hold the record for most own goals scored in the Prem? 🤣🤣😂

[@lukewilliams4333]

Yep

[@simonforrest2522]

the word 'donkey' springs to mind lol

[@simonforrest2522]

There's a difference between 'holding up' and 'competing;' ... After finishing 10th last season this was the perfect chance to kick on and take the next step..That's what Newcastle fans are upset about..That this didn't happen

[@JamesMc2051]

Poor Newcastle, stuck with the dodgy working conditions, Sports Direct fella. Surely that's a team ripe for takeover with the fervent fans and reasonably modest expectations? Wonder just how much he values them at?

[@garyhetherington6605]

It's sad to see Newcastle in this state, I grew up watching brilliant Newcastle teams playing brilliant football unfortunately I will never see that again as long as Ashley is at the club and rio has a cheek after speaking out against the glaziers and the way they were running man u he should be more sympathetic to Newcastle and their supporters, best supporters in england n among the best in Britain

[@mrchrisanolliewollie]

What's weird is that Ashley is not only a bad owner but he's also a borderline criminal. It's bizarre to hear them talk about him as if he has any credibility as a human being

[@bear1245]

Fkin com man is My Cashly 💰 he’s ripped that club off. Feel sorry for em. LUFC 🤜🏻

[@upthefuingmags3285]

Bear cheers

[@mrdontrumpkinggod5701]

@@upthefuingmags3285 hows he riped the club off ?.....10th last sean from from going down is very good....uless your a un realistic fool

[@simonweaver975]

Rio saying about Mike Ashley spending the money to get the club back up to the premier league. The only reason he did that was because he himself would be making more money from the premier league television deal than he would from the championship tv deal. One of the reasons why an owner like Mike Ashley can not spend money is because he knows year in year out he can 'earn' a load of money just by survival alone. He will earn a load from the tv rights and Newcastle fans are passionate so will fill the stadium every single game and as long as that continues to happen he won't spend a penny

[@Maj1794]

Rafa deserves better than an owner that won't back him!

[@Mljones6]

I feel like Rio isn't really understanding the finances of a club here. It's not Mike Ashley's money until it gets paid out as a dividend. The amount of TV money clubs get is unreal, there's no financial reason not to invest.

[@TheEdenSapling]

Rio Ferdinand has an undisclosed conflict of interest - his own brand are sold exclusively by Sports Direct, a Mike Ashley owned business. Shouldn't have been allowed on this panel.

[@thomaskendell8146]

Absolutely

[@chrisk4013]

Rio still doesn't get it. Yes, Ashley got them back in the PL; but only after spending so little and selling everyone so that he got them relegated twice in 10 years after no relegations in the 50 years before his arrival.

[@cbierman17]

Can’t believe no one noticed that “It’s not as black and white as that” pun by Rio Ferdinand

[@danielnolan9556]

We aren’t looking for him to spend his own money but we’re asking for him to reinvest the money the club makes eg the £120mil for where we finished last season and the transfer profit. We only want to spend enough to compete with the mid table clubs

[@kristjanbergmannbjarnason4358]

Always liked newcastle, hope they get the ownership they deserve. #ashleyout

[@ajwtf6539]

Won't spend money won't sell club for reasonable price

[@mariusstrum1422]

Watched the full video before I realised it was a year old...

[@Pulsarnix]

Same

[@97Rajun]

It’s the same situation with Arsenal...but the pundits here won’t admit that because they are biased towards them.

[@sunnysamra7448]

Newcastle and Arsenal are in different situation. Newcastle hardly spend more than 20 or 30 million in one transfer window. Owen is newcastles highest paid transfer at 17 million. Arsenal spend so much more money, Aub is arsenal highest transfer at 60+ million. Arsenal fans just trying to find an excuse for their bad club. Arsenal spend so much money on terrible players, and its there own down fall

[@jamespowlesland9276]

Stan kroenke and mike ashley r parasites for both clubs

[@jamesormondroyd1009]

Except arsenal built a new £390 million stadium

[@Maj1794]

As much as our fans do despise kroenke he has spent money over the years.

[@sunnysamra7448]

60 million is nothing to the likes of arsenal, but for newcastle thats loads.

[@Pulsarnix]

I'm a Manchester United fan and even I can't believe what Ferdinand's saying

[@cbierman17]

This is the first time I’ve properly seen Jermaine Jenas talking sense about Newcastle Utd.

[@rsfw19]

Rio hasn’t got a clue, remember when Newcastle where always head to head with rios Man U

[@thomaskendell8146]

He's biased Sports Direct sell his hats he'll never criticise Mike Ashley

[@dalbsterlcfc92]

after looking at the amount of debt newcastle are in, no wonder its in desperate need of change of ownership at the club to wipe the debts off, feel sorry benitez for not being backed in the transfer market with money to spend and not given a new contract as he is now in final year of current contract. In my opinion, Mike Ashley is a disgrace to the club despite trying to get out by selling to someone else which he tried to do last season but talks broke down. As I said before, Benitez and newcastle supporters deserve better and needs to have decent cup run and also drastic improvement in the squad.

[@dalbsterlcfc92]

look at the start of the clip it will tell how much money they owe that needs paying, if it continues to grow it may lead to possible points deduction.

[@mycatismolly]

Jenas cannot understand how Newcastle are not pushing for champions league even though their net spend is £1m and several other clubs have invested serious serious amounts of money. What is this guy on about?

[@stuartroxburgh8758]

Rio talking about how Mike Ashley spent big to get the club back into the Premier League seems to have overlooked that it was Ashley's decision to firstly hire McClaren and then secondly fail to sack him when it became obvious he was making a mess of it that LED to the club ending up going down in the first place. Selective memory from Rio?

[@garylouk8776]

This just came in my recommended. Can not wait to get our club back and get back to where we belong

[@Munchman1]

Ferdinand is clueless. He's saying 'not your money though' It's not like Mike Ashley has to put in any extra. We've been making a profit through player sales and TV money... He is saving a lot of money from all the free advertising around the stadium too... Brown nosing Mike Ashley since his brand started getting sold in sports direct... Who would buy the Ferdinand brand anyway? 😂

[@mcsquidgypidgy1536]

Top signing is house of Fraser embarrassing? 😬

[@izzhaziq2462]

What is Rio on? They're asking to spend money the club has earned, not Mike Ashley...they don't need him to be Roman or Sheikh, but just money that the club earned...

[@19822andy]

Rio's line of clothing is exclusive to Sports Direct. Does that answer your question?

[@liverpoolchef7021]

Would rio back mike Ashley if he was owner of Man Utd ?

[@stevenwest0]

Rio has not got a clue. He got 70mil from transfers plus parachute money. Still not enough of that put back in

[@KabzieMusic]

Newcastle supporters need to force him out. Make the atmosphere so toxic that the value of the club is affected. Simple as that.

[@milej01]

I support Newcastle and he HAS TO GO!The worst part for me is this summer he put about 15 mil in the transfer window then the day after the transfer window closed he bought house of fraiser for 80 mil but he couldn't spend 80 mil on a world class striker!!!

[@chikawambu774]

Rio Ferdinand's punditry is sponsored by Sports Direct

[@NewcastleUnitedOneClubOneCity]

Mike Ashley needs to go we need fresh investment. I'm not saying a multi billionaire someone who's gonna show ambition in the market. Jenas is correct it's not the squads fault their paid to play. Rafa will walk away in May or earlier I'm afraid. I hope I'm wrong.

[@ngongogongo6685]

Rafa is to good not for Newcastle but for Mike Ashley

[@garylouk8776]

Here we are 1 year later... No transfers made 5% increase on season tickets Most expensive kit in the prem He STILL hasn’t sold the club And we have lost a manager who absolutely NOBODY wanted to leave and yet the club still manages to get rid of him. WE NEED ASHLEY OUT NOW

[@beefcake1973aus]

No Rondon, No Perez, No Rafa, Dubravka wants out and pretty soon a failed EPL manager in Steve Bruce. I hope to see SJP empty come Game Day 1.

[@garylouk8776]

beefcake1973aus same here

[@bobSCOTT99]

Rio Ferdinand is deluded for defending Mike Ashley especially after the way Jonas Gutierrez was treated

[@skiltonjackmusic8274]

Agreed. But, when talking about Newcastle being a champions league club and challenging for the league, I think it's worth remembering they had only been promoted from the first division a few years before.

[@Mrchewster1]

Didn’t Ferdinand say that Man Utd should have spent more? When it’s the toon though......

[@daveyeddie8176]

Jenas is totally and utterly correct, he's a multi billionaire Mike Ashley, just uses the toon for advertising for sports direct, just go man.

[@poohbear4821]

Rio saying its not their money but the fans pay for their tickets every game so if they want that money spent then it should be spent

[@kdlofty]

Newcastle will rue the day when Benitez leaves. There are clubs who would kill for Benitez, and Newcastle don't realize how lucky they are. He's the best chance Newcastle have got of any sustained success. If he goes (and he will when his contract expires) Newcastle will be in serious trouble.

[@stuwkd123]

Rio Ferdinand just totally misses the point.

[@snipedotgenius]

Owners like this and my club need to be rid of football they have no place in the game total interest is profit not football makes me so angry

[@footiecentralv2641]

Mike ashley probably spends most of the clubs budget on the finest sports direct chocolate medals bearing in mind they are £2:50 a medal 😂😂

[@propdouchebag]

Pays the players in over sized mugs too

[@youtubedork9564]

Fans need stop going games in till he leaves

[@Burns1993Joe]

Well done Jake Humphrey and Jermaine Jenas for speaking some sense here!

[@valeriebrown3872]

Just wish Ashley would leave Newcastle am an avid supporter of the toon but Ashley needs to sell and get out that's my opinion

[@peapew]

He just wants the money then he will be gone but R.I.P Mike Ashley because peter keyon is buying is when he sells the club

[@snipedotgenius]

He is a oxygen thief in my eyes

[@smartgenes1]

The club can't be 144m in debt.. Total bullshit from Ashley.

[@raslan177]

Mike Ashley runs Newcastle as a company not a football club.

[@raslan177]

That's funny although it's sad to hear that.

[@NibberKSmooth]

Ashley is only interested in making money, he has taken the club further back than they could have ever imagined. They have done nothing for decades, been relegated, sold their best players, brought in no class players and are going nowhere. The fans are awesome and how they have not boycotted the club is puzzling.

[@magfan77]

Rio Ferdinand sounds like Dennis Wise.

[@callmeamr3630]

I wish every football owner loved and work for his team like Abrahamovich (Chelsea owner) the football would be more fun to watch. Competition between owners would be amazing COYG

[@callum0592]

Where not asking Mike Ashley to Complete with the likes of City Chelsea,United Ect. Just put enough in to get better quality of players and help Rafa out. If done that he would’ve got some respect.

[@LordJeet2]

Wtf Rio defending Cashley? Seriously lost all my respect for him

[@nilecrocodileRobyn]

Ashley v us - it became personal a long time ago for him.

[@dmel2001]

Everyone saying that they've lost respect for Rio is stupid. He even said "I'm playing devil's advocate here." Open your ears.

[@mrisht2308]

Seriously Newcastle need to not come into the game and keep doing that until he sells.

[@romanoonamor7690]

Does it occur to the guy saying they don't spend that maybe they don't because they have a £140+M debt? We can't be angry at clubs having huge debt and digging more, and also be angry at clubs with debt not spending

[@h-y-p-e5255]

jake owned rio

[@jamesashley6200]

For all those people criticising Rio... he isn't talking about his own opinions but merely playing devils advocate. What is the point of a debate if everyone (including the presenter - who should be playing the role!) has the same opinion?

[@michaelparry2085]

Rio is so far up Ashley's backside. His comments are farcical

[@michaelperry5463]

Lazy comments aboht rafa being defensive. His valencia were fine. Liverpool were exciting an co stantly broke goal scoring records. His napoli were known as very attacking and broke goal scoring records. Its called playing as a single unit. Boring to call it lazy all his ex clubs fans loved his teams.

[@sonsofpaletdom101]

Newcastle needs to a complete overhaul. Before investments into the squad, it needs investments into the infrastructure that supports the squad, the management and the recruitment. In this they will have a better security in player investments.

[@HorizontalLifestyle]

They honestly look like a championship club,poor squad.Rafa must be ready to walk.Ashley happy to keep that big fat tv rights money in his pooch.

[@jonnya4209]

He's still trying to get out now (sell) Rio, a year later, 12years he's been trying. (Either that or he doesn't want to sell and never did, making too much money off it)

[@garypheasey4343]

The money clubs need to spend is crazy. Newcastle have been consistently underfunded for years however, didn’t Ashley once pay off a £250 Millon debt ? At the end of the day, it’s just 22 overpaid multi millionaires kicking a bag of wind about.

[@scotcousins8404]

We are just a cash cow to ashley no intention of selling up no other interest other than his bank account. i find it ridiculous that last summer he has no cash to put into the club because all his money is in sportsdirect shares but can pay cash for house of frasier 12 months later wonder were that came from

[@benlindsay8998]

Jenas actually speaks very well here

[@digitalT83]

I feel sorry for pundits believing they're talking coherent sentences

[@theperformancelocker744]

Like Jenas. Good pundit.

[@behappy-kn6xl]

We never spent much because we recouped a lot on selling players with what he and Llambias called players with resale value

[@williammilburn7232]

As a Newcastle fan I never want to see us win a trophy I just want the owner to get paid and for us to make no signings because they might get injured anyways because Rio Ferdinand knows best

[@gtagerry2896]

Imagine if united had no transfer budget, I couldn't see rio playing devil's advocate.

[@alanlittle3941]

Get the FCB out...he is killing a great football club..OUR football club!!

[@SMC01ful]

Rio, one eye on his wallet here. Could get a potential few sponsorship deals. Well done Jermaine, LFC fan here and he knows what they deserve.