Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is facing fresh calls from supporters to leave the club during this Premier League blackout, following his response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Toon Army have been given a renewed hope that a new era at St James’ Park could be on the horizon.
Reports on Tyneside this week have claimed the takeover attempt by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia remains on the table and this is ‘the best chance of a Newcastle takeover for a decade’.
Plenty of doubts over the deal remain, however, with coronavirus placing a big question mark over whether the Saudi investors would be prepared to not only meet Ashley’s £340million asking price but also pump money into the north east club while a global pandemic has plunged football into uncharted territory.
However, there is hope that a deal can be done, with the Newcastle Chronicle claiming Ashley has a very real desire to sell due to the ever-increasing toxicity towards him, which has only grown after Newcastle were the first Premier League club to furlough their non-playing staff.
Former England cricketer and passionate Magpies fan Steve Harmison joined talkSPORT on Friday to discuss the latest rumblings at St James’ Park.
And he told the Sports Breakfast: ‘If ever there was a time for Ashley to leave, this is it!’
“If you were asked the question, ‘which Premier League team would be the first to put their non-playing staff on furlough?’, the answer would be Newcastle. It would be Mike Ashley.
“So this doesn’t surprise me.
“We’ve seen what he’s done with Sports Direct – we’re being told to stay in and don’t go out, but he left his shops open (Sports Direct made the decision to close on March 24).
“It does not surprise me with Mike Ashley.
“The reports in the local papers up here yesterday were that this could be the closest Newcastle has been to being taken over in the last three years, with all the nonsense that has happened.
“And I hope so.
“When we come out of this, Mike Ashley has not covered himself in glory with Sports Direct and Newcastle United.
“If there’s ever a time for him to get out of Newcastle, this is it.
“Please, for these great Newcastle supporters.
“We don’t want to be tarnished with that brush any more.”
Listen to Steve Harmison on talkSPORT, above…