Source: Telegraph
Newcastle's Mike Ashley urged to part with Dennis Wise
Wise's powerful position has been put in doubt after it was claimed Ashley was ready to say farewell to his executive director (football) and a fans' group said a parting of the ways would be warmly welcomed.[LNB]"I'd be delighted if Mike Ashley cut Dennis Wise adrift and I'm sure all Newcastle fans would be delighted as well," Frank Gilmour, chairman of the Independent Newcastle United Supporters' Association, said.[LNB]"He is a problem. He's the reason Kevin Keegan left. Ashley stuck by Dennis Wise and lost Kevin Keegan and I can guarantee that we wouldn't be in the situation we are now and fighting relegation had Keegan not left. Sticking by Dennis Wise is the main reason why Newcastle fans are against Ashley but this would show a different side to him.[LNB]"Some of the players have come here because of Dennis Wise but the quality is just not there and he's also one of the reasons why there is nobody coming here."[LNB]Wise quit as Leeds United manager to join the St James' Park board shortly after Kevin Keegan re-joined the Tyneside club in January last year.[LNB]He won a power struggle with Keegan over transfer policy that prompted the Geordie icon to quit the club, a move that led supporters to turn on Ashley and his so-called 'Cockney Mafia'.[LNB]Ashley returned to St James' Park for the first time since the furore erupted when Newcastle played Sunderland two days ago but Wise, 42, was nowhere to be seen, which was also the case when the sports retail tycoon watched his club in action at Manchester City last week.[LNB]Despite fears for his safety, Ashley enjoyed a peaceful return to the North-East, thanks mainly to Shola Ameobi's equaliser in the 1-1 draw with their neighbours.[LNB]It has also emerged that Wise surprisingly played no part in talks over a new contract for goalkeeper Steve Harper last week, suggesting he may have become a peripheral figure.[LNB][LNB]
