Ashley Stands Up To House Of Commons!

23 February 2012 14:49
Mike Ashley refuses to change the stadium name back to St James' Park ... even though questions were being asked in the House of Commons

Gateshead Labour MP Ian Mearns has tabled a Parliamentary motion condemning the move and has urged the Newcastle United owner to reconsider his decision to rebrand the stadium the Sports Direct Arena.

But Newcastle officials have made it known today: "The stadium has a new name" and they refuse to budge!

Mr Mearns said the move left a “stain on my heart” as a Newcastle United fan and stirred emotions amongst his fellow parliamentarians.

Mr Mearns: “To see the St James’ Park signs being crowbarred from the walls of the ground left a stain on my heart, certainly as a Newcastle United fan, and has stirred emotions amongst colleagues as well.”

His Early Day Motion – which has won support from other local MPs – condemns what it calls “corporate vandalism” and highlights opposition to the rebranding exercise.

It notes how Newcastle City Council has passed a motion refusing to recognise the new name and decided not to change any signs bearing the name St James’ Park.

The motion also praises what it says is the Chronicle's “now famous” front page declaring “St James' Park and Always Will Be”.

Mr Mearns added that all MPs representing Newcastle and Gateshead had signed his motion.

Support has also come from Wansbeck’s Ian Lavery, North Tyneside MP Mary Glindon, North West Durham's Pat Glass as well as Stockton North's Alex Cunningham, Jarrow’s Stephen Hepburn and veteran Labour MP for Bolsover Dennis Skinner. Newcastle East MP Nick Brown said: “Ian is essentially right.

“St James’ Park has always been known as St James’ Park. People are very proud of it being St James' Park and the views of the people of Newcastle are very much it remaining St James’ Park.”

The Labour MP added: “It is my job to represent the people that elected me and they are very clear on this.”

Newcastle United announced the name change in November. Managing director Derek Llambias believes the sale of the naming rights could generate up to £10m a year for the club.

As it stands it is named after Ashley's company and not generating a penny towards the club.

Toon fan Dennis Taylor: "It's a joke. Ashley has an amazing talent of winding up Newcastle fans, for what seems like, the fun of it.

"I believe he bought the club to make a name for himself and become a famous figure, and he thinks he has the power to do what the hell he likes and not be accountable for it.

"He's like a kid with a toy. Newcastle means nothing to him; he has no passion for the area; or no passion for the fans.

"What does St James' Park mean to him? He doesn't know the history - he doesn't WANT to know the history - it's all a game to him, and a way of getting his photo in the newspapers."

PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES

Saturday 25th February 2012    Chelsea  v  Bolton Wanderers 15:00 Newcastle United  v  Wolverhampton Wanderers 15:00 Queens Park Rangers  v  Fulham 15:00 West Bromwich Albion  v  Sunderland 15:00 Wigan Athletic  v  Aston Villa 15:00 Manchester City  v  Blackburn Rovers 17:30  Sunday 26th February 2012  

Arsenal  v  Tottenham Hotspur 13:30 Norwich City  v  Manchester United 13:30 Stoke City  v  Swansea City 15:00

Saturday 03rd March 2012  

Liverpool  v  Arsenal 12:45 Blackburn Rovers  v  Aston Villa 15:00 Manchester City  v  Bolton Wanderers 15:00 Queens Park Rangers  v  Everton 15:00 Stoke City  v  Norwich City 15:00 West Bromwich Albion  v  Chelsea 15:00 Wigan Athletic  v  Swansea City 15:00  Sunday 04th March 2012  

Newcastle United  v  Sunderland 12:00 Fulham  v  Wolverhampton Wanderers 14:05 Tottenham Hotspur  v  Manchester United 16:10

NEWCASTLE UNITED 20011/12

 PREMIER LEAGUE

SPURS 5 NEWCASTLE 0 Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Obertan (Ferguson 46), Guthrie (Lovenkrands 86), Perch, Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse (Gosling 68).Subs Not Used: Elliot, Ben Arfa, Abeid, Shola Ameobi.

NEWCASTLE 2 ASTON VILLA 1 (Ba, Cisse) Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Ryan Taylor (Obertan 33), Guthrie, Perch, Gutierrez, Ba (Shola Ameobi 90), Best (Cisse 14).Subs Not Used: Elliot, Ben Arfa, Gosling, Ferguson.

BLACKBURN 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Dann og, Obertan)Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa (Perch 46), Guthrie, Ryan Taylor (Obertan 89), Gutierrez, Best (Lovenkrands 77), Shola Ameobi.Subs Not Used: Elliot, Abeid, Gosling, Ferguson.

FULHAM 5 NEWCASTLE 2 (Guthrie, Ben Arfa)Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Guthrie (Perch 76), Cabaye (Gosling 83), Gutierrez, Best (Ryan Taylor 86), Shola Ameobi.Subs Not Used: Elliot, Lovenkrands, Obertan, Ferguson.

NEWCASTLE 1 QPR 0 (Best)Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Ryan Taylor (Gosling 81), Guthrie, Cabaye (Ben Arfa 25), Gutierrez, Best (Perch 76), Shola Ameobi.Subs Not Used: Elliot, Abeid, Obertan, Ferguson.

NEWCASTLE 3 MAN UTD 0 (Ba, Cabaye, Jones og)Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Ryan Taylor, Tiote, Cabaye (Perch 77), Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi (Best 75), Ba (Obertan 89).Subs Not Used: Harper, Ben Arfa, Sammy Ameobi, Vuckic.

LIVERPOOL 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Agger og)Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor (Santon 46), Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 84), Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Vuckic (Ben Arfa 65), Ba.Subs Not Used: Elliot, Perch, Best, Shola Ameobi.

BOLTON 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ben Arfa, Ba)Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Shola Ameobi 84), Cabaye (Perch 88), Tiote, Gutierrez, Ba, Best (Ben Arfa 61).Subs Not Used: Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Vuckic, Ferguson.

NEWCASTLE 2 WEST BROM 3 (Ba 2)Krul, Simpson, Perch, Coloccini, Santon (Ryan Taylor 46), Obertan (Shola Ameobi 72), Vuckic, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best (Ben Arfa 61), Ba.Subs Not Used: Elliot, Williamson, Abeid, Sammy Ameobi.

NEWCASTLE 0 SWANSEA CITY 0Krul, Simpson, Perch, Coloccini, Santon, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 82), Cabaye, Tiote (Vuckic 82), Gutierrez, Best (Shola Ameobi 71), Ba.Subs Not Used: Harper, Williamson, Ben Arfa, Abeid.

NORWICH 4 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba 2)Krul, Santon (Ferguson 90), Simpson, Perch, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 80), Cabaye, Gosling, Gutierrez, Ba, Shola Ameobi (Smith 90).Subs Not Used: Elliot, Ben Arfa, Lovenkrands, Best.

NEWCASTLE 0 CHELSEA 3Krul, Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini (Perch 27), R Taylor, Lovenkrands (Sammy Ameobi 71), Guthrie, Cabaye, Obertan, Ben Arfa (Shola Ameobi 46), Ba.Subs Not Used: Harper, Santon, Gosling, Best.

MAN UTD 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ba pen)Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 65), Cabaye, Guthrie (Perch 74), Gutierrez, Ben Arfa (Lovenkrands 80), Ba.Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Gosling, Shola Ameobi.

MAN CITY 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gosling)Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Ben Arfa (Lovenkrands 76), Guthrie, Cabaye (Perch 85), Gutierrez, Ba, Sammy Ameobi (Gosling 79).Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Smith, Shola Ameobi.

NEWCASTLE 2 EVERTON 1 (Heitinga og, R Taylor)Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Ryan Taylor, Marveaux (Sammy Ameobi 54), Cabaye (Gosling 37), Guthrie, Gutierrez, Best (Ben Arfa 73), Ba.Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Lovenkrands, Perch.

STOKE 1 NEWCASTLE 3 (Barr 3)Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Guthrie (Gosling 90), Cabaye (Perch 78), Gutierrez, Best (Sammy Ameobi 86), Ba.Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Ben Arfa, Marveaux.

NEWCASTLE 1 WIGAN ATHLETIC 0 (Cabaye)Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Marveaux 76), Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best (Ben Arfa 46), Ba (Shola Ameobi 68).Subs Not Used: Harper, Santon, Perch, Smith.

NEWCASTLE 2 SPURS 2 (Ba, Ameobi)Krul, Simpson (Santon 77), Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best (Shola Ameobi 71), Ba (Ben Arfa 71).Subs Not Used: Elliot, Lovenkrands, Gosling, Marveaux.WOLVES 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba, Gutierrez)Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Marveaux 90), Cabaye (Guthrie 89), Tiote, Gutierrez, Best, Ba (Lovenkrands 71).Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sammy Ameobi.NEWCASTLE 3 BLACKBURN 1 (Ba 3)Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez (Marveaux 84), Ba (Ben Arfa 74), Best.Subs Not Used: Harper, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Perch, Sammy Ameobi.ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Best)Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez (Sammy Ameobi 85), Best (Shola Ameobi 69), Ba (Marveaux 80).Subs Not Used: Elliot, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Perch.QPR 0 NEWCASTLE 0Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 88), Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best (Marveaux 82), Shola Ameobi (Ba 64).Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Guthrie, Lovenkrands.NEWCASTLE 2 FULHAM 1 (Best 2)Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Lovenkrands (Ba 62), Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Obertan, Best (Vuckic 78), Vuckic (Smith 85).Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Ferguson.SUNDERLAND 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (R Taylor)Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Tiote, Cabaye (Williamson 85), Barton, Obertan (Gosling 85), Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi.Subs Not Used: Harper, Lovenkrands, Ba, Best, Marveaux.NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 0Krul, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Ryan Taylor, Simpson, Barton, Cabaye (Lovenkrands 81), Tiote, Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi (Best 73), Ba (Obertan 46).Subs Not Used: Forster, Williamson, Gosling, Sammy Ameobi.

FA CUP

BRIGHTON 1 NEWCASTLE 0Krul, Simpson, Perch, Williamson, Santon (Ferguson 83), Guthrie (Gosling 83), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa (Ryan Taylor 83), Shola Ameobi, Best.Subs Not Used: Elliot, Lovenkrands, Obertan, Kadar.

NEWCASTLE 2 BLACKBURN 1 (Ben Arfa, Gutierrez)Krul, Simpson (Ryan Taylor 60), Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Obertan (Shola Ameobi 56), Abeid (Gosling 87), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Best.Subs Not Used: Elliot, Perch, Sammy Ameobi, Vuckic.CARLING CUPBLACKBURN 4 NEWCASTLE 3 (AET)  Guthrie, Cabaye, Lovenkrands (pen)Krul, Simpson (Sammy Ameobi 70), Perch, Coloccini, Santon, Marveaux (Obertan 77), Guthrie, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa (Lovenkrands 79), Ba.Subs Not Used: Elliot, Abeid, Gosling, Ranger.

NOTTINGHAM FOR. 3 NEWCASTLE 4 (AET) Lovenkrands 2, Simpson, ColocciniElliot, Simpson, Coloccini, Perch, Ferguson, Abeid, Guthrie, Gosling (Shola Ameobi 70), Marveaux, Ben Arfa (Sammy Ameobi 70), Lovenkrands (Obertan 80).Subs Not Used: Krul, Best, Dummett, Henderson.SCUNTHORPE 1 NEWCASTLE 2 AET (R Taylor, Sammy Ameobi)Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson (Steven Taylor 45), Ryan Taylor, Marveaux, Gosling (Vuckic 70), Cabaye, Lovenkrands, Best, Ba (Sammy Ameobi 65).Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Abeid, Smith, Ferguson.PRE-SEASON FIXTURESNEWCASTLE 0 FIORENTINA 0 (Ab 63 mins)Krul (Forster 46), Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique, Gosling (Ba 46), Cabaye, Vuckic, Jonas (Marveaux 46) Lovenkrands (R Taylor 61), Best (Shola Ameobi 46).Subs: Sammy Ameobi, Ranger, Tavernier, Williamson.LEEDS UTD 3 NEWCASTLE 2 (S.Taylor, Vuckic)Forster, Cabaye, Williamson, Barton, Simpson, Gosling, Gutierrez, Ba, Shola Ameobi, Taylor, Tavernier. Subs: Krul, Taylor, Best, Vuckic, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett.COLUMBUS CREW 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Ameobi, Coloccini, Vuckic)Harper; Tavernier, S Taylor, Coloccini (Dummett, 54), Enrique; Gutierrez (Abeid, 85), Tiote (Smith, 62), Gosling, Marveaux (Vuckic, 76); Ameobi (Best, 75), Ba. Subs not used: Forster, Krul.ORLANDO CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 0Forster; R Taylor (Enrique, 26), S Taylor, Coloccini, Tavernier; Gosling (Vuckic, 71), Smith (Abeid, 74), Tiote, Gutierrez; Best (Ba, 74), Lovenkrands (Ameobi, 74). Subs not used: Krul, Harper.SPORTING KANSAS 0 NEWCASTLE 0Krul, Gosling, Coloccini, S Taylor, R Taylor, Marveaux (Tavernier 46), Tiote (Abeid 46), Ben Arfa, Gutierrez, Ba (Best 72), Lovenkrands (Smith 46).DARLINGTON 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Barton, Sammy Ameobi)Forster; Simpson (Dummett), S Taylor (Tavernier), Williamson (Henderson), Ferguson (R Taylor); Barton (Abeid), Guthrie (Cabaye, Donaldson), Smith (Gosling), Vuckic (Sammy Ameobi); Ben Arfa (Richardson), Best (Ranger). Subs not used: Soderberg, Newton.

Source: FOOTYMAD