Newcastle owners have angered Geordie fans after controversially having a dig at the atmosphere inside St James’ Park – and ordered fans to “match the intensity” of Eddie Howe’s players.
Co-owners Mehrdad Ghodoussi said “we need to be louder” after United demolished Chelsea 4-1. And billionaire Jamie Ruben, also a 10 per cent stake holder, ordered: “We need to match the intensity of the players with our support.”
The intervention was widely panned by Toon fans on social media, with more than 550 replies and many responding by demanding cheaper tickets, fewer “tourist” supporters, and free beer to raise the noise levels.
The co-owners w
Ghodoussi, managing partner and husband of Amanda Staveley who has a 10 per cent stake alongside the Saudi Public Investment Fund, wrote on X: “What a team #nufc We need to give these guys more support in the stadium, we need to be louder, we need to be the 12th man.
In what appeared to be a coordinated reply to Ghodoussi, Reuben, wrote:” @ghodoussi what a team and yes we need to match the intensity of the players with our support.”
ere also told by angry fans to “sort out” the club’s ticketing system which charges for membership and runs ballots which has left many empty handed this season.
Last week chief exec Darren Eales floated the possibility of “a new St James’ Park” as he opened a “formal process” to plan ideas to increase capacity. Demand for tickets has rocketed in the last 18 months with St James’ Park a sell out for league games.
The atmosphere has been electric at many games, inspired by a pre match flag display organised by @WorFlags a volunteer fan group.
The owners experienced a backlash, but also some agreement that the atmosphere was flatter than usual pre-match, and some expected to win these days. One fan responded: “Poor tweet calling out the fans.”
Another wrote: “Your decisions have ballsed it up,” and another “Gotta say I think you boys have got this wrong. Listen to your fans.” Chris wrote: “Don’t start having a go at the supporters… sort out the queues before the game.”
Another fan warned: “With all respect Mehrdad sort the effing ticketing. I’ve got loads of mates who have supported the toon for 20 to 30 years unable to go and yet I’m hearing accents from afar all around me on the walk up to SJP. Stop the ballots and let locals in
Leave a Reply