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

Toon fans have called for Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley to "sell up and get out" after a week of turmoil at the club.

Members of Newcastle Fans United last night filled Newcastle Labour Club to back a motion for the multi-millionaire owner of the club to consider his position after the appointment of Joe Kinnear as director of football.

That appointment – which has led to the resignation of managing director Derek Llambias, plus acres of bad media coverage – led to angry scenes at last night’s meeting.

There, fans branded the last eight days a “PR disaster” and said they have “drawn a line in the sand” over Ashley’s ownership of the club.

Kinnear was invited to the snap meeting to face fans but was unable to attend, though a representative he sent promised he would go to a future meeting.

Graeme Cansdale, from the Mike Ashley Out Campaign, put forward the motion for the businessman to quit, which was followed by applause and an almost unanimous vote in favour.

He said: “Mike Ashley has had far too many chances from the good people of this area and has continued to exploit their loyalty and devotion to the club with a crass and callous disregard for their welfare and opinions.”

A close pal of Joe Kinnear’s and former Newcastle schoolboy player Eddie McIntyre faced the wrath of fans as he stood up to deliver a message.

Amid loud heckling from the crowd, he claimed he had spoken to Kinnear that morning and said the new director of football has promised to meet with fans.

He said the 66-year-old was going to attend but had been delayed by a business meeting with chief scout Graeme Carr.

He said: “You are asking why Joe Kinnear didn’t come here. He was going to come. Since Joe was appointed, he has never had a day off. He was going to come up on Sunday night and going to come here.

“I spoke to Joe Kinnear this morning. He was waiting to be picked up by Graham Carr, who lives in Northampton. He was picking Joe up in Mill Hill and they were having a business lunch, which will go on tomorrow.

“That’s the reason Joe hasn’t been able to come.”

As Mr McIntyre faced a tirade of anger from the crowd, he called on Toon fans to stop criticising the new director of football.

He said: “He regrets, naturally, what has happened over the last week. But Joe Kinnear will be here some time in the future.”

He added: “Get off Joe Kinnear's back and give him a chance.”

But his statement was greeted with anger with fans hitting out at the lack of communication and others shouting “Kinnear is not the problem, Ashley is”.

Wendy Taylor, head of media, and supporter liaison manager Lee Marshall, who have been attending the organisation’s meetings for the last year, were at the meeting and while neither spoke, said they will take questions and feedback to the board. After the meeting, Wendy said: “Fan engagement is really important to us and therefore it is important that we come along to meetings like this and at the very least listen to what supporters’ views are and take those views back to the club.

“We have recently appointed Lee Marshall as supporter liaison manager.

“His full-time role is to improve communications between the club and supporters. We have been sitting on groups like Newcastle Fans United for some time now and we are starting to make progress.”

The motion in full

The appointment of Joe Kinnear to the role of Director of Football and his subsequent behaviour, whereby he has managed to insult the fans, the city, the local media and even current players, cannot be viewed in any way, shape or form to be a progressive step for the wellbeing of the club.

It has further alienated the very people who are essential to the club’s growth and betterment. The subsequent resignation of Derek Llambias has shown how unplanned and arbitrary the decision making process is at Newcastle United.

Indeed, recent events are yet another gross error of judgment in a catalogue of PR disasters which have occurred since Mike Ashley bought NUFC in 2007.

Among other things, the club has overseen the public humiliation of two club legends in Kevin Keegan and Alan Shearer, the self-inflicted disaster of relegation in 2009, the unexplained and inexplicable dismissal of Chris Hughton, the renaming of St James’ Park and a continued lack of investment and ambition, which was reflected by the club’s extremely poor form last season.

Mike Ashley has overseen all of these events, continually failed to engage the fans and consistently pursued an agenda that has seen a sad demise of the club, both on and off the field.

This house declares that Mike Ashley is not a fit and proper custodian of a footballing institution that has a proud history and tradition, and enjoys one of the biggest and most fervent followings in European football.

We call for Mike Ashley to consider his position as owner of Newcastle United and to begin a process of exiting before he does any more damage to either the club or his own reputation.

We also urge all fans who truly want the club to progress, individuals, fans’ groups, magazine and blog editors, journalists, local politicians and proud Geordies everywhere to unite in solidarity, not only to see the end of this failed era by means of a co-ordinated and determined campaign of peaceful protest, but also to promote the great assets that are the club and the city, so that we can work in partnership with any interested commercial parties in the future, whereby we can once again build a team and a club to be proud of. Mike Ashley has had far too many chances from the good people of this area and has continued to exploit their loyalty and devotion to the club with a crass and callous disregard for their welfare and opinions.

Now is the time for action. We are drawing a line now: enough is enough.

Sell up and get out now, your time is up.