Premier League side Newcastle United supporters have written an open letter to Mike Ashley, "calling on the club’s contentious owner to release transfer funds this month or risk a third relegation of his tenure" at St. James’ Park, according to George Caulkin of the LONDON TIMES. Citing a recently-published table, which showed that Newcastle has spent "less money than any other Premier League club in the last three transfer windows," a coalition of fans called upon Ashley to help Manager Rafa Benítez "improve his threadbare squad." At the start of last month, Ashley stated publicly that talks to sell Newcastle were "at a more advanced stage than they have ever been" and that he was hopeful of a sale being completed "before the January transfer window." That "rare intervention" from the billionaire retailer persuaded Newcastle fans to call off a boycott of the team’s home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the concern is that Ashley "will use the prospect of a takeover to refrain from significant investment" (LONDON TIMES, 1/3). In London, Luke Edwards reported Ashley has already taken around £10M ($12.6M) out of the club this season to repay a short-term loan he gave the business during Newcastle's season in the League Championship and "it is thought he is due to receive another larger repayment this month." As with many fanbases, Newcastle supporters have sometimes argued among themselves this season "regarding how to express their frustration at the way the club is being run." But the New Year has "started with a united front in an attempt to persuade Ashley to do everything needed to keep Benítez as manager." In a letter, signed by all of the major fanzines, the Supporters Trust and the Magpie Group, the supporters have "politely asked" Ashley to "listen to them for a change." The letter says, "This is a critical month for the football club, both in terms of your stated desire to sell and the need to strengthen the squad, as repeatedly requested by the manager Rafa Benítez" (TELEGRAPH, 1/3).
