Some Newcastle United fans have been expressing displeased reactions on social media in response to a recent ‘open letter’ from Magpies owner and “Sports Direct founder“, Mike Ashley.
As reported by chroniclelive.co.uk, Ashley was recently subject to “fierce criticism from MPs”, after attempting to claim that “Sports Direct was an essential operator”.
Ashley allegedly “lobbied the government to keep his shops open”, according to the BBC, following British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s recent declaration that all “non-essential shops” were “ordered to close”, in response to the current viral outbreak.
In his recent open letter, which has been shared by chroniclelive.co.uk, Ashley claims to be “deeply apologetic about the misunderstandings of the last few days”. The 55-year-old went on to state that he will “try not to make the same mistakes in the future” in his apology letter.
Mark Douglas, who works as a ‘football publishing editor’ for chroniclelive, shared his opinion on Ashley’s apology letter via a tweet, stating that Ashley’s letter provides “an apology that isn’t really an apology”. Douglas’ tweet has caught the attention of some Newcastle United fans who have been responding with criticism in response to Ashley’s recent letter.
Read the reactions of some Magpies fans to Ashley’s recent apology letter in the tweets below.
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An apology that isn't really an apology.
Pardon me for thinking: 'I've heard this sort of thing before' ? https://t.co/hmnr3kUBv4
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) March 27, 2020
Ashley the coward. Release a PR statement after a major gaff. He isn’t the brightest and will never learn.
— Jason Miller (@rough_justice76) March 27, 2020
Precisely the point I’ve made elsewhere this morning too. I’m beginning to sound like a parrot, but this so-called “apology” is as hollow as it gets, and is merely an exercise in damage limitation. He’s probably copied and pasted from similar “apologies” he’s made in the past.
— Tom Smith (@CTA_Smith88) March 27, 2020
Very much so ,and once again it’s a misunderstanding and he’ll learn from his mistakes.
There was never a misunderstanding and he never learns from his mistakes,we’ve seen and heard this all before.— paul (@who_knows_where) March 27, 2020
He’s only sorry he got caught.
— ????????? (@LeeTheMag) March 27, 2020
He is a liar. He has only got Bishop to write this appology to stop people from turning away from his store. Hopefully it is to late and they have seen the real Mike Ashley and they will go somewhere else. Be nice if it forced him to sell or the Premier league take action.
— Kyle (@kyzatoonfan4) March 27, 2020
Words mean nothing to him. He’s said what he thinks he needs to say but doesn’t mean it and will continue to do it
— JonnyW (@JonnyJMW90) March 27, 2020
What do we think?
It may be fair to say that Mike Ashley has been a largely unpopular figure with many Newcastle United fans at times, having made “some big mistakes” since completing his takeover of the club in 2007. Considering Ashley’s unpopular status with some Newcastle fans, as well as the seriousness of the current viral outbreak and what Ashley has described as his “poor communications” in response to the government’s recent orders, it may be understandable why some Magpies fans have been sharing criticism of the 55-year-old on social media in response to his recent open letter.