GARY NEVILLE is looking forward to a new era at Newcastle, saying he believes the “magic has gone” from the club in a damning assessment of Mike Ashley’s reign.
Newcastle are set to be taken over by a Saudi consortium, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, finally putting an end to Ashley’s 13-year reign.
Gary Neville has revealed the magic had gone from St James’ Park under Mike Ashley’s ownership
Ashley is said to have has lowered his valuation of the club from £340million to £300m, with a takeover now seemingly imminent.
And Neville can’t wait to see a “bouncing St James’ Park” again, after years of mediocrity and fan unrest.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Football Show, Neville said: “Obviously there were moves made before this crisis happened.
“It looks like the price has been dropped slightly and it is obvious Mike Ashley wanted out.
“I have said this a number of times when I have been up to Newcastle in recent years that it feels like the magic has gone.
“There is certainly no connection between the boardroom and the fans. The players and the manager up there are always stuck in between.
“I think what we would all love to see is a thriving Newcastle United.”
AMAZING PLACE
Neville continued: “Over the last ten to 15 years the sway of investment has moved south.
“We have seen the emergence of the likes of Bournemouth, and Brighton but we have seen less investment in clubs in the North East and I think that is the general sway of the country.
“But to have a really strong Newcastle United, where that crowd is bouncing again – that is one of the great spectacles I remember from my early Premier League career.
“It was an amazing place to play football and it hasn’t been like that for a good few years now.”
Meanwhile, Graeme Souness – joining Neville and Kelly Cates on the show – added he wants to see Newcastle back at the top-table of European football under fresh ownership.
Gary Neville can’t wait to see St James’ Park ‘bouncing’ again
Souness said: “As wealthy as [Ashley] is, the Premier League is a very expensive place to operate if you’re spending your own money and I think he quickly realised that.
“They’re looking for someone to come in with fresh investment and get them back to where they should be, which is the top-end of the league.
“Maybe even get them back into the Champions League.
“I think it would be welcomed by every Newcastle supporter and I think Ashley wants out, he’s made that plain to see, if someone offers the right price.”
Mike Ashley agrees knockdown £300m deal with Saudi consortium to finally sell Newcastle
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
