Kieran Maguire baffled at ‘strange’ Newcastle United twist as player protest revealed
It is ‘strange’ that bonus clauses agreed by Mike Ashley are becoming ‘problematic’ at Newcastle United.
That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who spoke exclusively to Football Insider about the ‘surprising’ news coming out of St James’ Park.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Newcastle players are locked in a row with the club’s hierarchy over bonus payments that were agreed when Ashley was owner.
Ashley reportedly offered players £20million if they won the FA Cup, while players also had “hugely generous” bonuses based on the club’s final league position.
Players are protesting the club’s request to take a cut of around 40 per cent to their bonus payments, which the club has requested because of their worsening Financial Fair Play situation.
Maguire was left bemused by Newcastle’s problems with bonuses but insists they will now have to be ‘very cautious’ not to overstep FFP limitations.
“It seems strange that bonuses from the Mike Ashley era are proving to be problematic at Newcastle,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“From an accounting point of view they should have been included in the accounts during those years in which he was in charge.
“So it is surprising that these issues are now coming to light.
“Financial Fair Play is always a concern and Newcastle are running pretty close to the limits now two years into their new ownership.
“Therefore, they have to be very cautious despite the significant increase in income that they are generating from Champions League participation and lucrative sponsorship agreements.“
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