Q5: Does the naming rights decision mean Ashley is selling the soul of the club?

Oct 30 2009 By The Journal

300 Oct 30, 2009 8:42 AM He is playing this game twofold firstly to get at the supporters secondly he would sell his grandmother if it resulted in a profit
301 Oct 30, 2009 10:32 AM Despicable decision and he must have known that there would be an outcry ergo he does not care about the fan base.
302 Oct 30, 2009 10:42 AM again and again
303 Oct 30, 2009 10:43 AM He is not interested in the club. its history or its soul. Money is all he is interested in.
304 Oct 30, 2009 10:44 AM Absolutely. He seems to be alien to any feelings that the people of Newcastle have for their history or heritage. He seems to be systematically taking everything that's important to the fans, and one after the other, destroying it. 1...Premier League Status; 2...Good players; 3...Kevin Keegan; 4...Alan Shearer; 5...Our Diginty; 6...Our Humility; 7...Our enjoyment of Saturday Afternoons; 8...Our Pride; 9...Our Historical Identity. So YES, he is quite literally selling the soul of the club.
305 Oct 30, 2009 10:52 AM I think the soul and guts have already been pushed out
306 Oct 30, 2009 10:57 AM This manhas made us the laughing stock This would be another gruesome nail in our great football club
307 Oct 30, 2009 11:09 AM He's being vindictive,doesn't like being told to get out of town.
308 Oct 30, 2009 11:18 AM The club's soul will survive after ashley's left
309 Oct 30, 2009 11:19 AM Absolutely.
310 Oct 30, 2009 11:27 AM He has killed off most of the club faster than I thought possible and this would take away one of the final parts of the club I thought was untouchable. What next....... ASHLEY UNITED? Would anyone like the Tyne Bridge re-named? NO.
311 Oct 30, 2009 11:30 AM disgrace
312 Oct 30, 2009 11:30 AM He`d sell his Granny if there was a profit in it!
313 Oct 30, 2009 11:39 AM fair enough if it was a brand new stadium in different location
314 Oct 30, 2009 11:40 AM Just another to line his pockets and undermine the club's reputation further.
315 Oct 30, 2009 11:54 AM Its all part of the Ashley plan to ridicule us to achieve his"revenge"
316 Oct 30, 2009 11:54 AM If it's part of modern football, it needs changing why should it just be accepted. If it isn't broke don't fix it, it just means in it's "classic".
317 Oct 30, 2009 12:02 PM soul ,heart and heritage
318 Oct 30, 2009 12:12 PM No, because quite simply only the fans are the heart and soul of a club. We are why the players play and we are why they payed to play. We are the sole reason the club exists.
319 Oct 30, 2009 12:15 PM He is effectivley throwing away over 100 years of the clubs history to the highest bidder
321 Oct 30, 2009 12:29 PM The fans are the soul of the club. Any name change will only be recognised outside Newcastle, unless it's one that associates Bobby Robson with the ground. Even the thickest sponsor must know that.
322 Oct 30, 2009 12:31 PM Without doubt, it is an insult to the people and players who have graced St James Park.
323 Oct 30, 2009 12:35 PM No question, yes.
324 Oct 30, 2009 12:39 PM I am aware that in modern football ,everything has a price,however the ground will always be St James' Park,no matter what the current regime try to do.
325 Oct 30, 2009 12:39 PM Quote Bobby Robson as to what is a football club. But its certainly dismantling the soul bit by painful bit. I worry as to what his next brilliant idea will be.
326 Oct 30, 2009 1:08 PM No - the heart and soul will always be the fans and the heritage. It does show he is a crass owner with little respect.
327 Oct 30, 2009 1:12 PM ashley seems incapable of making a correct decision since he took over the club.
328 Oct 30, 2009 1:14 PM not only the football club but the whole City of Newcastle and surrounding area's who been brought up with the sight of the club
329 Oct 30, 2009 1:18 PM It is a brand name. I can not see anyone taking up the offer
330 Oct 30, 2009 1:25 PM its just part of his master plan its like the film trading places
331 Oct 30, 2009 1:42 PM I'd rather say that the former owners sold the soul of the club to the devil...
332 Oct 30, 2009 1:43 PM No, see my comments in question 3.
333 Oct 30, 2009 1:43 PM GET OUT OF OUR CLUB!!!!
334 Oct 30, 2009 1:43 PM Money money money in Ashley's pocket.
335 Oct 30, 2009 1:56 PM What's left of it........
336 Oct 30, 2009 2:07 PM It is not part of modern-football. Naming-rights are sold to new grounds when a club moves stadium. This is understandable as the new stadium has no history or heritage attached to it. Old, established grounds should not be renamed. They are part of the clubs history, and the history of football in this country.
337 Oct 30, 2009 2:19 PM Mike Ahshley would sell his own mother for £5.
338 Oct 30, 2009 2:21 PM I answer NO, only because I believe the soul of the club has already been sold by this fella.
339 Oct 30, 2009 2:58 PM Its difficult to see how Ashley could have found a way to stick the knife in as badly, St James Park is a globally recognised brand and is a name held dear by generations of Geordies. He will get rid of the black and white stripes next!
340 Oct 30, 2009 3:03 PM Typical Ashley - bet he would sell his grannie!
341 Oct 30, 2009 3:41 PM and he will pocket the money
342 Oct 30, 2009 3:45 PM He sold it the minute walked through the door.
344 Oct 30, 2009 4:02 PM Ashley's activities are all motivated by MONEY. There is absolutely no other consideration in his multifarious dealings.
345 Oct 30, 2009 4:13 PM If this were a newly-built stadium then this sort of thing might just about be acceptable but not with a place that oozes history like SJP.
346 Oct 30, 2009 4:41 PM NO COMMENT I said this at the start of comments
347 Oct 30, 2009 5:20 PM yes and other than new stadiums no other large club has done it