The details in the file, some so shocking it would be unfair to reveal them, show just how far Mike Ashley is willing to go to make sure Newcastle United Football Club becomes financialy healthy. Here are a few of the instructions laid out in the file:* Players must buy their own suits and the club will only pay to have the club logo embroided on them.
* A new clothing locker system where players must insert a pound to use them..they get 60 pence of it back.
* Canteen staff told to handwash dishes and only to shop at Aldi. Plastic carrier bags must not be purchased.
* Roof of SJP to be completely Solar Panelled in order to store natural energy and use it for things like floodlights.
* Players told to pay for monthly membership to the club gym.
* Players charged to use the bus on away trips and family of players charged to enter SJP
* Oba Martins, Michael Owen, James Milner, Charles N'Zogbia, Steven Taylor, Shay Given, Damien Duff to be sold
* Aaron Spear (next Rooney) Jimmy Smith (next Ronaldo), Paul Fletcher (next Kaka), Bobby Jones (next Nesta) and Anthony Gardner (next Bramble).
* Terry Mac told to pay rent if he wants to continue living in the boot room.
Fans of Newcastle will be furious at Ashley's plans and hope that he will come out and put things straight because it's getting the the point where these rumours are becoming ridiculous.
Whilst most of us are not stupid enough to believe what we read in the likes of The Sun and The Daily Mirror, it is not the sort of stuff we want to hear every day either and it's about time the fans were told what the plans are. Is Mike planning on selling up or is he going to invest big cash this summer? Whilst it might seem smarter to keep things close to his chest it is also having an adverse effect because players are seeing these stories in the tabloids and are no doubt giving our club a wide berth. Good players are attracted to clubs showing ambition, not a club converting itself in to happy mid-tablers.
What kind of character and player would join Newcastle with no european football whilst clearly showing no ambition? A lot of top players would come regardless of not being in europe but if they think we don't plan on getting there either then they would be either fools or money driven journeymen to agree to join.
All of this talk of cost-cutting is hurting our chances of signing players. It's also hurting our chances of keeping our good players and Ashley is going to have to make a statement of ambition soon!!!
And chucking in a 10% increase on the season tickets has hardy eased concerns.
It's time to show your card Ashley!