NEWCASTLE have acted on Steve Bruce’s advice by giving away FREE tickets to try and fill St James’ Park.
The Toon’s 2-1 win over Southampton on Sunday was played out in front of only 42,303 fans – their lowest Premier League crowd in nine years.
Toon players celebrate in a very empty stadium and (inset) boss Steve Bruce
After the match, boss Bruce questioned if fans could afford to come to games at Christmas and said: “The club has to try to help at this particular time.”
Newcastle have now responded by coming up with a deal to offer free half-season tickets to current season ticket holders.
They can then nominate a friend or relative to take up the offer.
That means thousands of fans could see the Toon’s remaining 10 home top-flight games without paying a penny.
“I hope a gesture like this will help us to fill the place.”
Attendances have been down this season as supporters have voted with their feet against owner Mike Ashley.
Newcastle United FC campaign group Toon for Change said: “It’s clear that the thousands of fans who decided to take a stand against Mike Ashley in the summer, by vowing to no longer attend home matches, are staying true to their word.
“This should send a message to the club’s hierarchy that fans, who felt they had no choice but to walk away from St James’ and sacrifice watching the team that they love to prove a point, will simply not be won over by good run of form.
“For us, the issue of nine-year low attendances isn’t about the players, it isn’t about Bruce – it’s a result of one man, Mike Ashley.
“As far as the club under Ashley is concerned, the damage has been done, there’s no way back.
“The only way to remedy the situation is for Ashley to sell our club to a party that has the ambition to make Newcastle United a dominant force in English football once again.”
Allan Saint-Maximin sparks fears WWE boss Vince McMahon is dead after asking fans to work out secret message in celebration
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
