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MPs call on Newcastle United owner to scrap name change
MIKE ASHLEY ... facing calls to scrap the re-naming of St James's Park.
LABOUR MPs are calling on Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley to reconsider his decision to scrap the name St James’s Park.
The 12 MPs, including Jarrow’s Stephen Hepburn, have signed a House of Commons motion which describes the change to Sports Direct Arena as “corporate vandalism”.
Ashley caused outrage among fans in November, when he announced that the stadium, which had been called St James’s Park for 119 years, was being re-branded.
Anger among fans grew last week when workmen removed the famous metal sign from outside the stadium.
Yesterday MPs from across the North East, and as far afield as Mansfield and Derby, signed a motion to the Commons, which says: “That this house deeply regrets the decision to re-brand the historic home of Newcastle United Football Club, St James’s Park, and condemns the corporate vandalism perpetrated by the club’s owners in removing the name St James’s Park from the stadium.”
The motion mentions concerns raised by Virgin Money, the club’s new shirt sponsor, about the name change, and Newcastle City Council’s refusal to change road signs directing motorists to the ground.
The motion is signed by Labour MPs Ian Mearns, Pat Glass, Catherine McKinnell, Chi Onwurah, Nick Brown, Ian Lavery, Dennis Skinner, David Anderson, Mary Glindon, Stephen Hepburn, Alex Cunningham and Sir Alan Meale.
A spokesman for Newcastle City Council said: “Many thousands of fans have made their opposition to the name-change very clear, and the city council is sad to see the club follow through on its decision to rename St James’s Park.
“We’ve already said we won’t be changing any signage around the city centre and, no matter what the signage says, it will always be St James’s Park to the people of Newcastle.”
The club declined to comment on the issue today.
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Weather for Jarrow
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Comments
There are 5 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Wavydavy
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 02:53 PMI agree, it's his company so his business what he calls it. If supporters still call it St James' that's their business also. Ashley gets a bad press all of the time with some unpopular decisions but you have to look at where we are in relation to those decisions and the fact is it's not too bad. Maybe a more positive press would help. If he decided to get out of it I am not sure what would happen but reckon it may not be the best scenario.
Hebburnlee
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 01:37 PMCan only echo the previous comments - it's Mr Ashley's company and he can call his asset whatever he likes. Politicians from any party don't have a clue when it comes to business!
bewilderedonlooker
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 01:33 PMLast time I checked Mike Ashley owned the club, he has pored quite a lot of his own cash into it, therefore he can call the stadium what he wants (within reason). football is an expensive game if the Toon fans want to see success they need to acept that the club has to raise as much money as possible within the rules (i.e. no fiddling of tax).
matt78
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 12:32 PMWhat a waste of Parliamentary Time!
Planning Portal
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 12:10 PMAs a council tax payer of South Tyneside I am disgusted that my MP is wasting his time over such a pathetic matter. It's got nothing to do with them and they should be campaigning for jobs not wasting time arguing with Mike Ashley.
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