MIKE ASHLEY DEBT SHOCK

Billionaire Toon boss hasn't paid off the full £100million

MIKE ASHLEY - return

By MARTIN HARDY, 29/11/2008

WOULD-BE buyers of Newcastle have been told Mike Ashley has NOT cleared all of the club's debt.

A potential buy-out collapsed 10 days ago with Ashley unable to agree a fee with an American company.

It had been thought that the Sports Direct billionaire had wiped out the £100million debt he inherited from outgoing chairman Freddy Shepherd last year.

But Sport of the World has learned that he has, in fact, only serviced part of that figure.

Now Ashley, who gave Joe Kinnear a contract until the end of the season on Friday, may return to full power.

He has not been to a game at St James' Park since his spectacular row with Kevin Keegan in September.

But he has told Kinnear he believes the way will be cleared for a dramatic return if he spends in the January transfer window.

Kinnear said: "Mike has suggested to me he will come back and I've said to him: 'Why not? It's still your club.'

"He said: 'Once everything dies down I'll see.'

"I think he will come to games again and I would like him to get a good reception."

Your comments

This article has 7 comments

Ashley is an idiot, in just over a year he has knocked 5,000 0ff the average attendance, the fans love buying club merchandise have boycotted his sports shops. He is going to stand by and let Owen leave, believe me this club will be relegated without a doubt, try sell it then Mike. S Callaghan

By S Callaghan.. Posted December 14 2008 at 7:47 AM.

Ashley should be welcomed back and the we love Keegan crewe should grow up they made it a bigger mess than it ever had to be if they dont like it take up golf and have a few rounds with King Kev your massiah. You only came along when he came anyway so leave Ashley to get on with the running of the club and clearing debts off which King Kev helped to create in his 2 stints with the club befor realising hed took the club as far as he could and walking out he was never gonna do anything with us again so good riddance hes more trouble than hes worth.

By G. Rose.. Posted December 14 2008 at 3:05 AM.

the club is a mess and a large part of that is down to the complete over reaction by a section of fans to KK leaving the club. Managers leave clubs all the time and it the second time he has left us in the lurch. If the fans had just left Ashley and co to run the club and find a suitale manager the resulting mess we are in may have been avoided. Once again a nother hysterical reaction by a section of our fans!

By davy ferguson.. Posted December 8 2008 at 8:51 AM.

That's right, where would NUFC be without him? Oh, that's right, they would have folded.

By chaps.. Posted December 8 2008 at 12:30 AM.

if mike ashley ever sits inside SJP againit will only start more fans protests..... the fans will never forget how shabby he treat a football legend mr kevin keegan. this will onlr reduce the players confidence to till and end in certain relegation... what will the value of the club be worth then not very much one thinks i for one will never go back to SJP till he and his hangers on have left.

By brian.. Posted December 7 2008 at 1:10 PM.

mike ashley will need to spend a bloody fortune cos its him that has put us in this mess, there is a way back but its a long expensive road.

By craig winlow.. Posted December 7 2008 at 11:26 AM.

buy top class players mike and win the toon back

By dowsy.. Posted November 30 2008 at 11:46 AM.

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