Kieran Maguire issues ‘£12m’ reveal after Newcastle United green light
Newcastle United fans can expect to see a major uptick in infrastructure spending after Mike Ashely spent just £12million in 14 years on capital expenditure projects.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the new regime’s vision to improve Darsley Park.
As relayed by Birmingham Live on Tuesday (28 June), Newcastle have been granted planning permission to revamp their training facilities.
The Magpies claimed in the proposal that their current facilities could be considered to fall below even Championship standards.
Work will begin immediately to add new hydrotherapy and plunge pool amenities as well as improve the dining area and medical wing.
Maguire insists it is about time after years of chronic underinvestment under Ashley.
“It was textbook Ashley to minimise capex spending,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“If we take a look at infrastructure spending under him, he spent £12m in 14 seasons. That has resulted in Newcastle falling behind the curve in terms of the quality they can offer to fans.
“Fans will turn up to watch in any circumstances. But if you compare what they have done to the likes of Spurs, Leicester, Liverpool, City and so on, they are miles behind.
“The return on investment here is fewer soft tissue injuries and therefore a squad that is able to play more matches. You’re going to earn more points, it’s as simple as that.
“Ashley was looking to sell the club for many years, so he wasn’t going to go investing millions in infrastructure.”
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