Absentee owner Mike Ashley chalks up more than a year without an appearance.
It is now 15 months since Mike Ashley made an appearance at St James’ Park. During that time Ed Sheeran has been at the stadium more and United fans must be tired of approaching every season in the same way: with the owner and his foolhardy approach overshadowing any sort of optimism that might be generated for the new season.
There weren’t protests on Saturday and the crowd was respectable given the nature of the opposition – no offence to Augsburg but they are not exactly Box Office – but it does feel as if Ashley has given up on any notion of making Newcastle competitive in the Premier League. The fact that he is now on his longest run without going to a game gives its own message.
When the manager has worked so hard to resurrect a sinking ship, the owner’s lack of care is scandalous.