Ashley has received huge stick from Newcastle fans for the club’s activity in the transfer window.
Dennis Wise has defended Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley on Sky Sports despite the club’s owner receiving huge criticism for failing to back Rafa Benitez sufficiently this summer.
Newcastle fans are frustrated over the lack of support Benitez was given financially this summer, spending just £23million on players this summer – a fee which they received back from the sale of Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Yoshinori Muto cost Newcastle the most of their signings at £9.5million, while Fabian Schar, Federico Fernandez and Martin Dubravka also saw Newcastle spend money. Salomon Rondon joins on loan, while Ki Sung-yueng joins on a free.
Wise, who worked at Newcastle as an executive director during 2008, defended Ashley despite fans’ criticism. Indeed, Ashley has since spent £90million on department store chain House of Fraser – rubbing sale in the wounds.
“Whatever he does, he will constantly take stick no matter what he does, simple as that,” Wise said. “There’s a lot of people out there that don’t help the situation. Rafa has done an extremely good job and they’ve traded well.
“People complain about them not spending enough money, but if you trade well at a football club, and you’re able to bring players in, take players out and make money, I don’t see what the problem is with that.”
Newcastle also received figures for the sales of Mikel Merino to Real Sociedad, Chancel Mbemba to FC Porto and Matz Sels to French side Strasbourg. They could also receive money for Henri Saivet, who is close to joining Bursaspor.
Newcastle got their campaign off with a loss despite a spirited display at St. James’ Park against Tottenham Hotspur, and will be hoping to bounce back when they travel to Wales to face newly-promoted Cardiff City.
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