Official statement confirms Mike Ashley's desperate attempt to get fans back at SJP
The club have announced that current season ticket holders will be offered a FREE additional half-season ticket for friends or family, highlighting Mike Ashley's desperate attempt to fill the empty seats at St James' Park.
This comes after Sunday's 2-1 win over Southampton saw the St James' Park attendance dip to a new low this season, with the official an official crowd of 42,303 highlighting the fact 10,000 fans stayed at home.
Here's the statement released by the club on Monday night:
Newcastle United is offering its current season ticket holders a FREE additional half-season ticket as the club looks to get a packed St. James’ Park behind the team.
After discussions between head coach Steve Bruce and managing director Lee Charnley, subject to eligibility criteria, the Magpies will gift a half-season ticket to qualifying nominees by existing season ticket holders on a first-come first-served basis.
A half-season ticket includes ten home Premier League fixtures, beginning with the visit of Everton on Saturday 28th December and including matches against Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
It's believed there are 10,000 tickets up for grabs, with them available on a first come first served basis.
Whether you see it as a brilliant gesture from the club or desperate attempt to fill seats, it proves one thing - the boycotts and protests have got to Mike Ashley.
He wants to protect the 'credibility' of his Sports Direct advertising and clearly doesn't like seeing the stadium visibly empty, but the club have missed the point altogether by offering out free tickets.
People would be happy paying for tickets if a little bit more ambition was shown, and the fact they are now giving them away proves that those boycotting have made a difference.
Whether people see this as a positive step forward or an embarrassing step back, this proves that those stay away fans have hit Ashley where it hurts.
Also, is it right that those who stayed should pay full price while the fans that kept away can now watch the second half of the season for free? Is that really rewarding loyalty?
Let us know what you make of it all!
