Source: Telegraph
Joe Kinnear calls on Newcastle United fans to back owner Mike Ashley
Kinnear is hoping supporters do not renew hostilities towards Ashley when he returns to St James's Park for the first time since fans targeted him and the rest of the so-called 'Cockney Mafia' on Tyneside.[LNB]The Sports Direct founder told friends he feared he would never be able to watch Newcastle safely again due to the backlash caused by Kevin Keegan's resignation as manager last September but is now ready to face up to hois detractors when arch rivals Sunderland head to Tyneside.[LNB]"Mike has put his money into the club and is entitled to be given a chance," Kinnear said. "I do not think Mike has ever been disillusioned. He's badly hurt and upset but he is desperate to come back and he will be here.[LNB]"He bought the club when it was in the ----. He has cleared the debts and paid a fortune in doing so. When every other club have been in debt for so long, we are not. I think the fans realise what he has done."[LNB]Kinnear added: "Mike writes out a cheque every week to pay the wages. But he's in a no-win situation. He doesn't buy players, he doesn't do this, doesn't do that, he's obviously going to come in for stick. That is the way football is.[LNB]"Thankfully, it's only a small section of the crowd against him but he is not daft enough to know what will happen if we lose.[LNB]"But the crowd will be on the team's side irrespective of individuals. They have to be a 12th man and get behind the team irrespective of what they think of me or Mike."[LNB]Ashley watched Newcastle in action for the first time since Keegan quit when they lost 2-1 at Manchester City in midweek and quickly financed the £4 million signing of Kevin Nolan from Bolton.[LNB]"We stayed up until early hours discussing the situation," Kinnear added. "I said I had a hit-list of midfielders and we'd ring round every club possible to find out which ones were available. That's what we did and we got a yes for Kevin.[LNB]"He's going through [financial] difficulties which have not helped matters. He's lost a hell of a lot of money both in business and this club. It maybe needed him to see things with his own eyes to act. Being back in the fold may have changed him."[LNB]Ashley put the club up for sale when supporters turned on the club's hierarchy during the 2-1 defeat by Hull last September. He took it off the market a month ago. "His original plan was to sell it, then that plan was to see how it goes until the end of the season. If we get any buyers in we will look at the situation," Kinnear said. "Right now, we're planning for survival."[LNB]Kinnear was less understanding towards Charles N'Zogbia, who threatened to go on strike after claiming his manager insulted him by calling him 'Insomnia' .[LNB]"He's a mixed-up kid, but the person I'd criticise the most would probably be his agent. I feel he's had his head filled with a lot of ----," Kinnear said.[LNB]A spate of injuries prompted Kinnear's claim that Newcastle were "cursed" but he is ready to overcome the odds. "A derby against our main rivals is the last thing I could do with at the moment because we're so under-strength," said Kinnear. [LNB]"But I've had 10 years with my back to the wall so this is nothing new to me. Every club I've gone to has always been in the ----. That's the sort of job I do."[LNB]Nolan described Newcastle as being a bigger challenge for him than playing for Bolton. "That's what I needed," he added. "At Bolton, I was part of the furniture." [LNB]
