Source: Telegraph
Newcastle situation is breaking Tyneside Labour MP Nick Brown's heart
The Sports Direct founder is currently in takeover talks with North-East businessman Barry Moat and Tyneside Labour MP Nick Brown has called on Ashley to bring an end to the 'uncertainty' surrounding St James' Park.
North East Minister Brown, the MP for Newcastle East and Wallsend, spoke out as speculation mounted locally that suggested the deal for the Championship club was in the balance.
'Speaking publicly for the first time on the Ashley regime that has seen Newcastle plummet from the Premier League, Brown admitted he had been left distraught by events at the club.
'It breaks my heart,' Brown said. 'Mike Ashley hasn't made a go of it.
'He should call it a day, sell up to somebody who can make a go of it and who has sufficient money to give it a decent go this year and have an exciting campaign to get back in the Premiership where we belong.
'Every day that goes by makes this harder. The uncertainty is damaging the club. The club personifies the city. It is one of our great corporate citizens. How many other cities our size could regularly deliver a gate of over 50,000 for a home game?
'They have got to get that passion and sense of commitment, which I think has never gone away, rallied behind something that has got a chance of succeeding and the present set-up is disastrous.
No one at Newcastle United was prepared to publicly respond to Brown's comments.
Newcastle's new season will get under way at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday with the club in disarray.
Coach Chris Hughton has been placed in temporary charge of first-team affairs after Ashley pulled the plug on talks with manager-in-waiting Alan Shearer to focus on selling the club.
