Source: FOOTYMAD
Ashley Wants To Break Up 'Player Clique'!
We (NU Mad) have been told from our St James' Park insider that Mike Ashley wanted to break up the "dressing room clique" that was formed during Chris Hughton's spell at the club. Hughton was always proud of the spirit of the dressing room, saying: "We have some experienced players who keep the rest on their toes. "I think it is a very healthy situation. If we get a bad result and players don't perform, they get it sorted in the dressing room". But the sacking of Hughton did not go down well with the established players (Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan, Alan Smith and Andy Carroll), and Ashley's motives were questioned ... sometimes in the press. Carroll was sold, and it became a waiting game to see how hard Alan Pardew would fight to keep the rest of them. To Pardew's credit, he did say his priority was to "tie up long term deals for Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan and Jose Enrique" ... but it fell on deaf ears with Ashley. We believe Ashley (who has NEVER had a rapport with the Newcastle fans) wants the clique broken. Newcastle United’s board of directors and chairman Derek Llambias are reportedly keen to adhere to their policy of reducing both their wage bill and the squad’s average age, but some ex-Newcastle stars have hit back saying they are trying to run a Premiership club on the cheap. Llambias: "The club is on the way to being in far better health financially." Offloading the spine of the side and bringing in foreign faces has many fans wondering what the future holds.
