Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan says Mike Ashley’s business plan will not work and described the atmosphere at Newcastle United as 'toxic'.
Jordan, who now co-hosts a radio show on talkSPORT, was discussing Alan Shearer ’s comments on Match of the Day at the weekend. In a heartfelt response to a question from Gary Lineker, Shearer said he hated what Newcastle had become.
Shearer went on to say that the club had no hope or ambition, was hollow and empty as a football club, and that the fans deserve better.
Responding on his show, Jordan said: “Alan’s got a right to say it. It’s a football club that he feels very much indexed to and very passionate towards. I’m not sure what those comments do or help to do, but he was asked the question, so he answered the question.”
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Looking for positives, Jordan said that Miguel Almiron was 'outstanding' in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester United, but acknowledged there was trouble at the club.
He continued: “It’s a very challenging time for Newcastle isn’t it. You’ve got Steve Bruce now openly saying that he didn’t get the players he wanted in the summer.”
Conversation moved on to the players Man Utd brought in during the summer, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, compared to Newcastle signing Joe Willock. Jordan said the comparison was 'ridiculous'.
He explained: “(Man) United have got £500m or £600m a year turnover and are arguably the biggest club in the world. And Newcastle are a peripheral Premier League club with high expectations and a fanbase that wants to see them do better, like all clubs do.”
Asked why Ashley did not buy more players, Jordan said: “Because he doesn't want to spend any of his own money, like a lot of owners do. A lot of owners don’t want to spend. His business plan, right or wrong, whether you like it or not, is to spend the money the club’s got. If it hasn’t got any money he’s not topping it up.
“Now you could make the argument for football that it’s the responsibility of an owner to keep on topping it up, but some owners don’t want to. They want to say, ‘Well I’ve bought the club and whatever it’s cost me is whatever it’s cost me, and I will try to deploy the money the club generates properly but I’m not going anywhere near my pocket.'
“Now in modern day football that means you’re a crap owner. Because you’re comparing it to the United’s of the world, the Man City’s of the world, and other people. Palace have only spent money this summer because they got another investor to come in and put £90m in.”
When asked again if Newcastle should have signed more players he explained: “Yes. I’m not defending Mike Ashley, because it doesn’t work, because it won’t work, because Newcastle United will be on the cusp of getting relegated this season if they don’t do something more meaningful in the January transfer window, because they haven’t got enough depth in their squad.”
Finally, when it was suggested that the lack of spending was the reason for the 'toxic' atmosphere on Tyneside, Jordan moved on to defending Steve Bruce.
He added: “There’s a toxic atmosphere for some time. Is there any reason besides they don't rate Steve Bruce for it to be so toxic for Steve Bruce? They don’t like him, they don’t rate him, but does that mean it has to be toxic towards him?”
