The Time 4 Change pressure group, which olrganised the recent protest march at Mike 
Ashley’s running of Newcastle United yesterday handed in a list of questions to the club’s Supporters’ Liaison Officer, Lee Marshall at St James’ Park before the Norwich City game. We’ll see when and what answers we get. It’s impossible not to be cynical nut I expect all of this will be kicked into the long grass of the completely discredited Fans Forum. You should draw your own conclusions at the club’s lack of transparency.
The questions have been posed by as wide a demographic of the Black & White congregation as it is likely to find and I’d suggest these questions and concerns are representative of the concern s of a vast swathe of our support – both those attending games and the increasing number who now cannot bring themselves to attend games because of the manner in which the club is being run. Winning three games on the spin doesn’t change that.
These are a great selection of questions, put by rank and file supporters. They should have full and honest answers. Should being the operative word.
I am an online shopper and I note that nufcdirect.com is owned by Sports Direct. Does the merchandise money go to Sports Direct, or does Sports Direct take a percentage of the revenue? If so, how much?
FLORENCE ANDERSON
I’ve been supporting the club for 60 years – my Dad is a lifelong
supporter, as are my grandsons now. I actually saw Jackie Milburn play
and remember standing at Central Station in 1952 for the parade of the
FA Cup.
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By 2011-12, our commercial revenue was £13.8m. How has the club managed to lose over half of our commercial revenue in 6 years?
KATH CHANDLER
I am 62 years old and I have been supporting the club ever since I heard my great uncle speak about the great Newcastle United matches of the 1950s. My first match was in 1965 and I have been going regularly ever since. I even saw Bobby Moncur raise the Fairs Cup at St James’ Park in 1969.
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Can the club please explain why Newcastle United have paid Sports Direct £498,000, an issue that is made all the more galling given how Sports Direct do not pay a single penny for advertising?
GEOFF ROBINISON
I am 46, and I was 2 years old when my Grandad first took me to see Newcastle United, which was luckily when they won the Fairs Cup. The first game I can remember going to was in 1976 and I started going to away games in 1983.
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Alan Pardew said in the summer that Newcastle United could not compete with Southampton because they were ‘financially much stronger than us’. Does the club think that the current commercial strategy will ensure that we can compete with clubs like Southampton in the future?
LEWIS COURTNEY
I am 21 and I have supported Newcastle United since the age of 3. My first game was when I was 6. I’ve had a season ticket for just over 10 years and I was there in 2009 at Villa Park when we got relegated, which was one of the worst days of my life.
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Can the club explain why club membership is being imposed upon season ticket holders, while ordinary members of the public can buy match-day tickets without this financial obligation? The perception is that the club does not value their most loyal supporters.
DENIS TAYLOR
37 years old. Lifelong NUFC supporter. Longtime season ticket holder. Follow Newcastle home and away and attended many European games.
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Can the club explain why club membership is increasing year-on-year, despite the supposed 10 year price freeze for season ticket holders. Is this not akin to a stealth tax for the club’s most loyal supporters?
DAVID BELFON
I am 45 years old and I have supported this club since 1974. My very
first match was David Craig’s testimonial against Sunderland. I have
been a season ticket holder for 20 years.
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Is outsourcing in-ground catering and hospitality the best way of maximising commercial revenue for Newcastle United?
CIARAN DONAGHY
I am 23 years old. I have supported this club since I was 6 years old. I first fell in love with Keegan’s Entertainers, but when Alan Shearer signed for the club in 1996 I was hooked.
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Mike Ashley is lauded as being a great businessman. Why is it then that he is generally perceived as being bad for business at Newcastle United, as the club’s accounts would seem to indicate?
CHRIS MCQUILLAN
Aged 24. Supported the club for 10 years.
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For all the marchers who took to the street to ‘march for ambition’ is there anything that the club can say to them that will possibly convince them that Newcastle United is being run withambition?
SHIOBHAN COOGAN & BRIAN HALL
SHIOBHAN I am 55 years old and I have been supporting Newcastle United since 1973 when I was only 15 years old and first started living in Newcastle. I have only ever had a season ticket for 1 year but I have been to many games in St James’ Park and I have even brought my son up to be a Newcastle United supporter.
BRIAN I am 56 years old and I ended up at my first match when I was
only 6. Despite some setbacks along the way I have never regretted the
fact that I am part of some of the most loyal and passionate fans in
world football. I am simply proud to be part of the NUFC tribe.
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Why is it that a company like Sports Direct, which has generated £2.2 billion in revenue according to latest figures, cannot pay for its advertising in St James’ Park?
LINDA ROBINSON
I am 56 years old and I have supported the club since 1973 and rarely
missed a game. Not only have I been to see the first team play in St
James’ Park but I have been to see the reserves play many times. I was
a season ticket holder from the time of the ground extension but have
recently decided not to renew my season ticket.
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I love the club and have supported Newcastle United my entire life. As I attempted to display a protest poster relating to NCJ Media’s recent ban from St James’ Park, stewards prevented me from doing so. Why is the club trying to stifle the opinions of life long supporters such as myself?
EDDIE CHAMBERS
Aged 52. Been going to games since 1969 when the club won the Fairs
Cup.
