Mike Ashley tells Newcastle supporters: I share your pain
Friday 13 May 2016 17:03, UK
Mike Ashley has told Newcastle fans he "shares the pain" of relegation and will do all he can to restore Premier League status.
Sunderland's midweek win over Everton condemned their bitter rivals to a second relegation under Ashley's ownership whatever happens against Tottenham on Tyneside this weekend.
Ashley has for years been the target of protests from supporters unhappy at a perceived lack of investment, while the billionaire's reluctance to speak publicly is another regular bone of contention.
But in an open letter to fans Ashley has defended the club's transfer outlay last summer and again in January, when Newcastle outspent the entire Bundesliga on the likes of Andros Townsend and Jonjo Shelvey.
He wrote: "Newcastle United rightly has a proud and long tradition of competing at the highest level and I therefore understand and share the pain that supporters will be feeling at this difficult time.
"Many of you have expressed strong views about what we could have done differently. I respect those views but I would like to reiterate that it has always been my intention to try to achieve the very best for Newcastle United.
"We invested heavily in the squad over last summer and again in January, but we have been unable to secure Premier League status despite the recent efforts of the team under the formidable stewardship of Rafa Benitez."
Benitez's continued involvement is far from certain, and it is understood he has a break clause in the three-year deal he signed on replacing Steve McClaren.
Either way Ashley has sought to assure supporters he is serious about winning promotion from the Championship at the first attempt - as Newcastle did with 102 points under Chris Hughton in 2010.
He wrote: "I've said in the past that when I take on a challenge I am prepared to go through both good times and bad.
"There can be no doubt that relegation is a terrible blow but I want to assure you that the club will now be doing everything it can at all levels to try to ensure a swift return to its rightful place in the Premier League. We have done it before - we can do it again.
"In the meantime, I thank the fans for their passionate support, in particular for Rafa and the team at recent fixtures, both home and away. Clearly it is now time for a period of careful consideration whilst we reflect upon the lessons that need to be learned from the last 12 months to restore this great club to the very top flight of English football."
