The biggest battle is for fans' hearts and minds

Nov 14 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

CAN Newcastle United really fall under supporter control? Mark Douglas reports on moves to buy out current owner Mike Ashley.

THE Newcastle United Supporters Trust have fired the opening shots in the battle for hearts and minds as they attempt to wrestle control from Mike Ashley – and one of their first moves is a canny one.

Borrowing the ‘Yes We Can’ slogan utilised to perfection by Barack Obama was an acknowledgement that in football terms they are pioneers – and an acceptance of the baggage that goes with that.

Because the biggest hurdle that the NUST faces is convincing supporters jaded by years of mismanagement that it can be done.

The example of Barcelona and the German Bundesliga, where the majority of clubs are supporter-owned, is often cited but Kevin Rye of Supporters Direct – the organisation that oversees the Supporters’ Trusts – acknowledges that cynicism remains in England.

“Compared to major multi-nationals these football clubs are corner shops – a huge company like British Telecom could buy every single football club in the country if it wanted to,” he said.

“We have to tackle this assumption that the sums of money at the higher ends of the are beyond us.

“The purchase of Newcastle United by NUST is doable – absolutely. The income that a club like that generates is capable of paying the outgoings of the business, particularly given that it is assumed that debt repayments the like of which Man United have to make or Liverpool simply don’t exist at Newcastle.” Can it be done? It has already been achieved at one St James’ Park.

Exeter City are the shining beacon of the Supporters Direct movement, a sensibly run club that have channelled the enthusiasm and passion of the local people for their football club. And they have had success too – successive promotions have delivered the Grecians to League One.

“We took the club over when it was on it’s knees,” Exeter trust board member Neil Le Milliere said.

“We quickly learned that the day-to-day running of the football club had to be handed over to people with experience, so we have a football board and a trust board – which I belong to.