Alan Pardew revealed he quit EPL side Newcastle "because of the financial constraints placed on him" by Owner Mike Ashley. Pardew said, "Newcastle is a big club, it’s difficult because it is run on a tight financial margin. We had to work hard on transfers, the funds for a club that size makes it difficult to understand that we had to build slowly" (London DAILY MAIL, 1/8). ... EPL side West Ham supporters "reacted furiously" after being asked to pay a £75 ($113) deposit on their season tickets for next year. The Hammers, who will move into the Olympic Stadium for the '16-17 campaign, "want supporters to pay the fee by April 17." That "has prompted annoyance from a number of fans online -- although the payment will be deducted from the ticket price, which is due on May 31 in line with previous years" (DAILY MAIL, 1/8). ... La Liga side Elche's members and fans "have joined together to create a platform to combine forces with the objective of looking after the future of the club." Elche is "immersed in a grave economic and institutional crisis that could end in bankruptcy." Under the name, "Plataforma Salvemos al Elche CF" ("Let's Save Elche CF,") these supporters met on Wednesday at a public assembly. The platform's goal is to "prevent the club from remaining under the management of the current administrative council due to fears 'the club could disappear'" (AS, 1/8).
