OPINION
It should come as little surprise that social media was awash with excited Newcastle United fans when talk of a potential takeover broke.
The Bin Zayed Group have been very vocal in their desires to buy Mike Ashley out and end his 12 year reign at St James’ Park, going as far to release a statement outlining their intentions.
However, it appears it is not just members of the Toon Army who are letting their hopes build over seeing the back of Ashley, with a behind-the-scenes reaction from one of the Newcastle star’s representatives reported.
The Chronicle claim that a member of an unnamed player’s off field team was stating that his man would be penning a new deal and that a great team would be built under new ownership – demonstrating how far Ashley’s poison has seeped into the club.
To have a player and his entourage excited about the goings on in the boardroom – enough to suggest he would want to extend his stay – shows that Ashley’s lack of ambition is crippling the squad’s own beliefs and this surely has to be the final nail in the coffin for the current owner.
Only by selling up and leaving St James’ Park will he give the club, the fans and the players the ability to push on and hit new heights – not doing so leaves them in purgatory.
It is a damning indictment that a player is only willing to commit to a long-term future when the owner is gone and it surely says that enough is enough for Ashley.