Newcastle United fans give owner Mike Ashley red card

A NEWCASTLE fans' leader has told the club's beleaguered owner Mike Ashley: The sooner you go, the better!

Frank Gilmour, chairman of the Independent Newcastle United Supporters' Association, has warned Ashley he would never be forgiven on Tyneside for driving Kevin Keegan out of the club - not even if he persuaded Tyneside's Messiah to return.

And Gilmour insists that the only viable option left for the Sports Direct magnate is to sell the club and get out of Toon.

Gilmour said: "Mike Ashley's position at Newcastle United is untenable. The only place he can go now is through the exit door.

"He is despised by his customers. Even if he managed to bring back Kevin Keegan [below], the damage to Ashley has well and truly been done. The situation is irretrievable as far as he is concerned.

"I don't think making approaches to Keegan will change the mood of the fans. As far as Ashley is concerned the damage is well and truly done. No amount of window dressing or publicity stunts will alter the fact he has lost the trust of the fans.

"Ashley [below left] has blown it and the only realistic option he has is to sell up and get out. Newcastle fans will be glad to see the back of him.

"I don't think he understands the contempt his customers now have for him. As far as I am concerned, the sooner he goes the better."

Gilmour is also convinced that the Toon Army's economic boycott of the football club and Ashley's Sports Direct retailing business will force billionaire Ashley to sell sooner rather than later.

Gilmour added: "I walked past the club shop today and it was empty. And it was the same when I looked in Sports Direct - there were no customers.

"The fans know the best way to hurt Ashley is to hit him in the pocket. As long as he is running the club I'll never buy any of the products he is selling and the way the mood is in Newcastle I think that will be multiplied 50,000 times.

"Ashley may think he can tough it out, but he is in for a big shock.

"The mood of the Newcastle fans is one of absolute determination and he can't recover from this mess - which is entirely of his own making. I will be happy to see him go because he has made the club a laughing stock with the way he has handled the situation. I don't think he could have handled it any worse."

Gilmour believes Ashley's belated bid to broker a peace deal with Keegan on Friday was too little too late.

He added: "Keegan wanted him to come back and personally sort out things when the crisis began. But he was on a jaunt in America and decided to stay there and leave things to managing director Derek Llambias.

"Do you think he would have remained in America if Sports Direct had problems?

"He has dropped an almighty clanger with the way he has dealt with this. I am disappointed in him and his running of the club."