North East Minister Nick Brown tells Mike Ashley to quit NUFC

Aug 7 2009 by William Green, The Journal

Fears are growing that the Sports Direct boss’s £100m price tag will not be met and he will pullout of the sale, leaving current preferred bidder, Tyneside businessman Barry Moat, no alternative but to walk away.

Mr Brown went on: “Every day that goes by makes this harder. The uncertainty is damaging the club.”

He stressed the importance of the club to Newcastle as one of the things the city was famous for.

“The club personifies the city. It is one of our great corporate citizens. How many other cities our size could regularly deliver a gate of over 50,000 for a home game? They have got to get that passion and sense of commitment, which I think has never gone away, rallied behind something that has got a chance of succeeding and the present set-up is disastrous,” said Mr Brown.

Newcastle United declined to comment.