Newcastle United supporters group Wor Flags will continue their hiatus of St James' Park - despite calls for them to return for the FA Cup quarter-final.
With the Magpies facing Man City in the last eight of the competition, the group were drawn into a debate on whether to return for a one-off special display for the game.
The group have not put on a display since the Liverpool game at the end of last season - choosing to lock away their flags in protest at the ownership of Mike Ashley.
There have been several calls from some fans for the group to return to the stands but the members have stuck to their promise of not coming back until Ashley sells the club.
Many had hoped that the chance to reach the semi-final of the FA Cup for the first time since 2005 would have enticed the group back, and despite one member describing the volunteers as 'indecisive' as they have ever been as discussions were going on, Wor Flags have decided not to get the flags back out.
In a statement released to Chronicle Live, Wor Flags said: "We’d like to thank those of you who have sent us hundreds of messages, both wanting us to come back for the Manchester City game and those hoping we continue to stay away.
"We’ve had long discussions within the group about where we currently stand, with a lot of emotion thrown in. We’d like to thank staff at the club who have asked us to come back also. We hold much respect for you and we look forward to working together again soon.
"We are so passionate about Newcastle United, and it is that passion that led us to our current stance that has seen us halt displays in the Gallowgate End.
"Some of us still go home & away every week, some of us believe the best way is to stop going. But there’s one thing we all agree on and that’s the stance around the owner, Mike Ashley.
"We believe we have become a football club striving to just survive, scraping by on the bare minimum.
"Not just on the field, but in the background too. We don’t believe he truly appreciates the positive impact a positive fan base could have on this football club, and if he does, he is yet to prove it.
"With that in mind, we won’t be doing a display against Man City. We don’t believe that one FA Cup Quarter Final in 14 years is enough to throw away what we believe in.
"We all hope that come April, we are walking down Wembley Way, some with tickets and some without, but our stance remains the same. Ashley Out."
