Newcastle could pay dearly for summer of uncertainty

As we struggle, manfully, through this barren, football-less period of the calendar year, only the Serbian Under-21’s to keep us company, there is at least a light at the end of the tunnel. The excitement of what to come is always palpable as the new seasons fixtures are released. Text messages, phone calls and emails fly across the country, all asking familiar questions.
‘Who’ve we got first?’
‘When are we playing United?’
‘Guess what, we’ve got Liverpool on your birthday!’
But for one club the release of the fixtures on Wednesday did not promote excitement, nor did it whet the appetite for the big kick off in August. No, for Newcastle United and their long suffering, self proclaimed, best supporters in the world it was one more kick in the goolies, like. Finding out when you are playing Peterborough at home or Scunthorpe away does not quite muster the same sense of anticipation.


Next season for the Geordies was always going to be extremely tough. Every side that arrives at St James Park will pop ten men behind the ball, sit back, and wonder if there are actually more empty seats in the stadium than there are full seats when they play at home. Away matches will not be much easier, Newcastle are going to be the prize scalp next season, they will receive no gimmes. Games will be raised, grounds will be full and expectations will be high when the Magpies roll into town. Given this was always going to be the case, it was vital that the ongoing upheaval at the club was sorted out swiftly and without too much drama.


But Newcastle, as we should have expected, are making life as difficult as possible for themselves. Almost four weeks after sliding meekly into the Championship it appears that nothing has been done to begin the push for promotion. The club is up for sale again, having spent much of last season being touted around various billionaire benefactors. Unable to locate a buyer last season, when still a Premiership outfit, what chance does Mike Ashley have of making a sale now? Answers on a postcard, blu-tacked in the newsagent’s window, to that one please. More worrying still, is that while their competitors make signings, strengthen squads and prepare to beat them next season, Newcastle do not even have a manager. No players have joined the club, their has been no overhaul to the squad that was found so wanting last time around. What the Geordies need in their team next season is fighters, players with passion for the cause and experience of the Championship. They better hope there are some left for sale once they finally deem it necessary to enter the market.


The football league is chock-a-block full of clubs who felt relegation from the Premiership was a mere blip. That they would be back within a season better than ever, refreshed from a little stint slumming it, seeing how the other half lives. Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton are just four clubs who enjoyed long-term, top flight status but now find themselves languishing in the Championship or below. There is nothing wrong with the Football League, it is packed full of proper clubs, proper fans and proper excitement, 90 per cent of clubs in all three divisions would fancy their chances of promotion as the season begins. One thing though, is for certain. Newcastle had better get their house in order, and fast, because getting out of the Championship can be easy, getting out at the right end is the tricky part.