West Ham United’s Karren Brady shares her thoughts on Newcastle United’s Mike Ashley.
Brady has also suggested that Ashley does not understand the philosophy of football and a football club.
Brady wrote about Ashley in The Sun: “He might seem to have all the charm and belly of a building site foreman but, boy, he also has a stomach for deals that enhance his company. He is a brilliant deal maker.
“A dozen years ago he saw Newcastle — with their 50,000 gates and great history — as a natural for a refit and profit. It hasn’t exactly worked but there’s no way he is going to undersell his club.
“My belief is that when Ashley bought the club he didn’t understand the philosophy of football and a football club well enough.
“I suspect he still doesn’t but in appointing Benitez he gave himself a chance — as well as a pain in the neck.”
Premier League safety
Newcastle are a massive club and regularly get 50,000 fans for their home matches, but the Magpies are an also-ran in the Premier League.
The Magpies appear to be safe from relegation to the Championship at the end of the season, and much of the credit has to be given to manager Rafael Benitez.
Benitez is a master tactician, and with limited funds, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager has managed to keep Newcastle in the Premier League yet again.
Disappointing season
West Ham were expected to challenge for the seventh or eighth spot in the Premier League table this season.
However, the Hammers have not been exactly great, with injuries playing an important role in Manuel Pellegrini’s side not having a very successful season.
The Hammers are 11th in the Premier League table at the moment with 42 points from 34 matches, five points behind seventh-placed Leicester City.
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