Former Newcastle United owner Sir John Hall has issued a damning indictment of Mike Ashley’s tenure at the helm of the club, and has suggested that his selling of the club could still be a long way off.
The Metro Centre tycoon, who sold the Magpies to the Sports Direct owner 12 years ago, has also claimed that the club are further away than ever from winning a piece of silverware.
Hall also shared that amid speculation about a potential future sale of the Tyneside club, he has heard that there is no offer on the table as of yet.
Speaking to the Daily Star, he said: “The harsh reality is that today, more than at any time since 1969, we are probably further away than ever from winning something, and there is no chance of doing so until there is change at the club.
“Mike came with the best intentions. I firmly believe that. He wanted to globalise Newcastle and to use the club to market his brand of goods in the Far East.
“But he fell out with supporters pretty quickly and for too many years now, it’s been a holding operation.
“The club is in limbo. Mike’s had enough and for everyone’s sake, the sooner he moves on the better. That’s my fervent wish for 2019.
“But it’s imperative whoever he sells to has the finance to take this magnificent club forward.
“It’s not just about coughing up £300m – and from what I hear, there’s nothing yet on the table – but having the resources to change the whole club and buy players who can take us to we’re we should be.”
OPINION
Hall’s comments won’t come as a surprise to many Newcastle fans, but it’s still a shame to hear such a successful former owner talk about the club in such a negative way. Hall helped transform the club into genuine Premier League contenders, and to see how far they have fallen in recent years is a real disappointment. Ashley has to go for things to get better, but even in his final act as owner he is showing exactly the kind of stubbornness and self-preservation that has made him such a dreadful influence on the side. His valuation of £300 million, inflated or not, seems written in stone, and his unwillingness to shave anything off of that asking price could drive away any potential suitors. From a playing perspective, the uncertainty over his future could limit his willingness to spend in January, and if he doesn’t splash the cash, the Toon Army could be in serious danger of going down.