Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley will charge backroom staff – including legend Peter Beardsley – for matchday tickets for their friends and family

It is believed the reasoning is to offer a fair policy for all behind-the-scenes staff.

United icon Beardo learned ahead of this weekend’s 1-0 win over Real Sociedad that the club’s unpopular new policy would be in place ahead of the new 2014/15 top-flight season.

Previously Newcastle had allowed backroom staff like Andy Woodman, John Carver, Steve Stone, Beardsley and Academy coach Dave Watson up to four tickets to bring family or friends.

But the Chronicle understands that, from the Manchester City game, should any member of Alan Pardew’s backroom team require extra tickets they must now pay.

A Toon insider said: “This hasn’t gone down well behind the scenes ahead of the new season.”

However, it is believed the reasoning behind the scheme is to offer a fairer policy across the board.

In the past administration and office workers have never had free tickets.

The club have introduced a salary sacrifice scheme that gives staff the chance to buy tickets at a hugely-discounted rate – although none of the backroom team are thought to have taken up that offer yet.

It isn’t yet known whether Ashley is carrying out the scheme as a cost-cutting operation – although the owner does want to see healthy balance sheets.

It would not be the first move to cut costs at the club down the years with the plush escalators switched off to save money after relegation five years ago and a water borehole installed at the training ground to trim down bills.

Ashley is expecting a stringent upkeep of all the club’s finances moving into the new season with emphasis on finance director John Irving and managing director Lee Charnley when it

comes to the day-to-day running of the club.

The Magpies’ last set of financial figures reported the club were in profit after Ashley ran a tight ship in the years after Newcastle were relegated to the Championship.