Source: Telegraph
Newcastle season tickets sales hit 25000 despite relegation to Championship
With just over three weeks to go until the Tyneside club begins its campaign in the Championship against Reading, a statement was released on their official website to set the record straight after media reports suggested there had been a significant downturn in sales following their relegation from the Premier League.
"The club can confirm that sales are now closing in on the 25,000 mark with uptake in the expanded family areas particularly strong," the statement said.
"Interest is continuing to grow on a daily basis and with the new season still three weeks away we expect the number of season ticket holders to further increase."
The news will no doubt come as a welcome relief to managing director Derek Llambias who, in the last 10 months, has stood by Newcastle through some of the most turbulent times in the club's history.
The 2008/09 season saw the club run by no fewer than four different managers - with a permanent name yet to be announced.
Fans revolted against the board's supposed mis-treatment of Kevin Keegan and their anger was directed towards owner Mike Ashley who was accused of forcing the former England manager out of St James' Park.
Chris Hughton was brought in as caretaker manager for several weeks during which the club lost all their matches and were struggling to keep pace with the rest of the League.
As their position in the table dwindled Joe Kinnear was ushered into the managerial role. His reign came to an abrupt end when hospitalised with heart problems in February and within a month, the prospect of relegation had become very real.
Club icon Alan Shearer was brought while Kinnear recovered and on the final day of the season, Newcastle's fate was sealed.
Ashley subsequently put the club back on the market for the reduced fee of £100 million, which is yet to have been met by any potential buyers.
The club landed another blow at the end of last week with news that their new away kit - dubbed one of the worst ever - had dropped in price by 20 per cent before having officially gone on sale.
When asked how the new look strip had gone down with fans, Frank Gilmore, chairman of the Independent Newcastle United Supporters club told the Sunderland Echo: "The shirt is utterly horrendous. I wouldn't buy it even with the 20 per cent off.
"All of the fans I have spoken to have refused to buy it and I've been getting the mick taken out of me by mates who are Sunderland fans.
"They must know that no one is going to buy it so they are slashing the price already.
"The whole situation at the club is terrible.
