I try and stick up for our supporters where I can, but some of you fuckers are trying my patience.

Our number nine has decided that he has a moral/religious problem with promoting our new sponsors Wonga (remember them, they’re the lads we didn’t much care for until they changed the name of St James’ Park back to St James’ Park) and our fans have reacted in the only way they know how - by rounding on the player in question.

Wonga are a payday lender, an organisation that make vast quantities of cash off the back of individuals who struggle to support themselves financially because the economy is in the shitter. Can you blame him for not liking the sound of these fuckers?

“But he used to wear a shirt with Virgin Money on!” Not relevant. There’s a difference between interest and usury (which is defined as ‘an excessive or illegally high rate of interest charged on borrowed money’).

“But he gambles!” Not relevant. It’s his cash and he can do what he bloody well likes with it. Religious hypocrisy doesn’t come into it, people of faith abide by their own moral compass rather than blindly following whatever they’re told by their book.

Nothing anyone says in relation to Cisse’s stance on this issue is relevant. His morals, his beliefs are his own and if he does not feel comfortable he’s well within his rights to refuse to act as an advert for that particular brand. And I say that as a season ticket holder, someone who pays his wages.

Today it was announced that 10.4% of the population of the North East of England are without employment. That’s the highest anywhere in the UK. Many of these individuals may look towards payday lenders to supplement their benefit entitlement, just to keep their head above water for a few more weeks, and many of those may struggle to pay that back. And is it any surprise when according to Wonga’s website a loan of £400, paid back after 30 days, would cost you £527.15?

Newcastle United is a working class club, supported by working class families. Our principle sponsor is an organisation which targets working class people much like ourselves, encouraging them to get into debt that they may not be able to get out of. And we’re upset that our number 9 doesn’t want to be associated with them? We shouldn’t want to be associated with them!

Get behind Papiss Cisse. Let the world know that as the biggest club in a region suffering the most economic hardship we’re not willing to advertise and legitimise payday lending. Let them know we’re not mugs.



Fuck Wonga.