Mike Ashley has been urged to put the £17m deposit he banked from the failed takeover into Newcastle community projects.
The only winner in the debacle, which saw the Saudi Public Investment Fund pull out of a £305m deal, is Ashley.
He pockets the non-refundable deposit from deal maker Amanda Staveley, paid up front in April for exclusivity and to guarantee the deal would be completed.
His bonus could be put to good use around the city.
The Newcastle West End Food bank feeds 1,500 families a family of four for £5. The £17m would keep them going for 43 years.
The Newcastle United Foundation, the club's community charity arm, could also be funded, and a new HQ, already in the pipeline, paid for.
Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah wrote in a letter to Premier League MD Richard Masters last night: “Is it true, as reported, that the owner, Mr Ashley, keeps the £17m deposit the buyers paid for exclusivity?
“Do you agree with me that this money should at the very least be invested in good causes in the North East, for example the NUFC foundation and the Newcastle United Supporters Trust?
“It is unacceptable that the only person to profit from 17 weeks of frustration for fans should be the man whose ownership of the club is causing such misery for those same fans.
“I am not arguing that the Premier League should have approved the sale, I am not an advocate for the Saudis, or for Mr Ashley, or for any billionaire, I advocate for the people of Newcastle Central.
“But the Premier League should have made a decision and engaged with fans in the process, rather than sitting on the takeover for months until the prospective buyers lost patience.
“The club has been left severely disadvantaged as a consequence of the delay, the city has lost out on significant investment and the loyal fans are not only disenchanted with the Premier League but with football as a whole.”
Premier League bosses, including chief exec Richard Masters who is the target of Geordies fans' anger, declined to comment again.
Staveley has hinted she is trying to find a way of resurrecting the £305m deal, and she has blamed the Premier League for stalling, and refusing to give a timeline for approval.
Saudi sources hammered the Premier League saying they were “unprofessional” for such a global sports organisation, and “irrationally delayed” the takeover process, further eroding the chance of a U-turn.
Ex-Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan criticised Staveley saying: “Amanda, again, is using the media for leverage with emotivity, with statements of support towards the fans but if she is going to control this business, why was she surprised this deal was going to be pulled? Surely she must have known that."
As it stands Steve Bruce will begin pre-season training in three weeks and continue to discuss transfers with Charnley.
He has privately called for business as usual as quickly as possible behind the scenes and has two early targets which he is trying to sign.
A budget – reduced by the COVID-19 crisis – of around £35m is available.
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