NUFC fans leave furious and sad messages on website

Sep 5 2008 by Jon Tunney, The Journal

JOURNAL web forums erupted last night as Newcastle fans flocked to our website to express their anger. Hundreds of posts were logged within an hour of the dramatic resignation notice.

One thread on www.journallive.co.uk asked: "When were you last this angry?" while other supporters called for a boycott of the team’s match against Hull City a week on Saturday.

A fan signing himself as dedalus spoke for many when he said: "Prepare yourself, Mike Ashley, for a reaction – a whirlwind unlike anything you will have experienced in your ‘business’ life.

"The fans, the lifeblood of the club, are not fools. They are not customers or punters to be bullied or patronised.

"Your regime is exposed. We deplore the shameless asset-stripping, the penny-pinching, the humiliation of a principled and passionate man and the charade of your public persona. It won’t wash and, you know, it won’t work either.

"You cannot survive in the Premiership without investment in players, transfer fees and wages. It’s a mad world but we didn’t create it. Nor will any self-respecting manager surrender control and influence over player acquisition. It has never worked in England and it won’t work here.

"Spare us also the lawyerly official statements, the propaganda designed to obscure and to mislead (although I suppose we should be grateful for any communication from the club, since you and your executive team are so camera shy).

"Good luck in your search for a puppet manager. I am sure someone will take your shilling, but tonight we are all the poorer for your involvement."

He was backed by sea_magpie said: "We are used to turmoil at this club but I have never felt as angry as I do now. Mike Ashley has just made the biggest own goal he is ever likely to make in football – he just doesn’t know it yet."

A fan called goffy described the night’s events as like a death in the family.

He added: "What a shameful and thoroughly disgraceful day in the history of our proud and magnificent club.

"For three days I have hoped against hope that Mike Ashley would act like the member of the Toon Army he claims to be. All he had to do was back King Kev rather than the Poison Dwarf, a complete no-brainer for every true Mag the world over and he failed that most simple of tasks."

And danielnufc said: "I’m a season ticket holder and I don’t know what the hell to do at the moment.

"This is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever encountered with NUFC. KK is a legend, always has been, always will be, and the club so close to his heart has done him over good and proper."

There was some criticism of Keegan too, however. Mani said: "I’m really disappointed in Kevin. I thought with all the years he has got to know us and the years of jubilation during the good times, out of loyalty he would at least conduct himself professionally, but he can’t.

"Now we are a huge laughing stock once more and Keegan is partly responsible for this."

But most fans disagreed and put the blame for this week’s debacle at Ashley’s door.