Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is set to be at St James’ Park for the club’s clash against Cardiff City on Saturday, according to reliable journalist Damian Spellman.
The Press Association’s north east correspondent claims on his personal Twitter account that he has heard that the British businessman will be in attendance on Tyneside as the Magpies look to clip the wings of the Bluebirds in a relegation battle at the bottom of the Premier League table.
I'm told Mike Ashley is due to be at St James' Park today. #nufc
— Damian Spellman (@DamianSpellman) January 19, 2019
Newcastle currently sit in the bottom three with Cardiff one place ahead, with rumours of Ashley pulling out of takeover talks circulating from the Daily Mail in the build up to the game.
Opinion
Is there anything in this appearance at St James’ Park from the Newcastle man? He has not been around in recent weeks and so his return to the public eye will no doubt spark plenty of speculation about the status of the club’s takeover. Regardless of what is happening behind the scenes, it is good to see Ashley taking a vested interest in the club and that he is in Newcastle to watch the game, which no doubt means face-to-face communication with chief executive Lee Charnley. It is Charnley who speaks to manager Rafael Benitez and with a lack of movement in the transfer market thus far the Spaniard will be hoping for some clarity over what sort of backing, if any, he has in the second half of the month to get some new arrivals through the door at St James’ Park. An interesting turn of developments, or simply Ashley taking in some football this weekend? For the sake of the Toon Army, hopefully the former.