Newcastle supporters have urged Mike Ashley to suspend season-ticket payments amid the coronavirus crisis as the owner was hit with a fierce backlash for attempting to keep open his retail stores.
In a bad 24 hours for Ashley, he was widely condemned following the announcement that Sports Direct would stay open for business despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson instructing all non-essential shops to close immediately. The government subsequently intervened and ordered Ashley’s stores to close.
And now two prominent Newcastle supporters groups have released statements calling on Ashley to help alleviate the financial stress on the club’s fanbase, many of whom now find themselves without a regular income.