Amanda Staveley: Mike Ashley ‘got a very good deal’ and Newcastle ‘fall-out is a shame’ – Wyness
Former Everton chief Keith Wyness has suggested Mike Ashley’s lawsuit against Newcastle United and co-owner Amanda Staveley will be “resolved out of court”.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted Ashley “managed the club well” during his time at St James’ Park, despite a huge percentage of fans feeling otherwise.
Former Newcastle owner Ashley, who sold the club to Staveley and the Saudi PiF in 2021, has sued the Magpies for “abusing its dominant position in the market” by refusing to supply their 2024-25 kit to his company Sports Direct.
The billionaire and the club’s current owners have previously clashed over the details of a £10million loan to facilitate the Saudi takeover and the removal of Sports Direct signage at the club.
Newcastle had until Thursday (28 March) to file their reply, which Sports Direct can then respond to at a hearing in April.
New Ashley lawsuit at Newcastle could be resolved out of court
But Wyness believes the fight between “two strong egos” will be resolved outside the courtroom.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “It seems that Mike Ashley and Amanda Staveley have had a fall-out.
“I know that Mike wants to protect his brand, Sports Direct, and Amanda had a clause preventing her from saying anything negative about the brand.
“It’s a fight between two strong egos, and it’s hard to comment.
“But it’s a shame because I thought Mike Ashley got a very good deal in terms of the finances when the takeover happened.
“A lot of people and fans said he should have spent more during his time at the club, but he managed the club well. The club was in great, stable shape when Amanda got it.
“I believe this will be resolved out of court.”
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