Rio Ferdinand believes Newcastle supporters should be 'thanking' owner Mike Ashley for all that he has done for the club.
The former Manchester United defender and BT Sport pundit was questioned by host Jake Humphrey on his relationships with Ashley and the Magpies faithful.
Before going on to defend billionaire retail entrepreneur, Ferdinand insisted that his stance on the matter had nothing to do with his business dealings with Sports Direct – the sports retail company owned by Ashley.
Before Newcastle's game with Chelsea on Saturday evening, Ferdinand claimed that he understands why Ashley is trying to sell the club and that he shouldn't put any more money into the club.
'Newcastle are a yo-yo club,' Ferdinand told BT Sport. 'He [Ashley] doesn’t want to do that anymore. He’s been there, done that and move on. What’s the problem? He wants to sell the club, why should he go and spend millions of pounds.'
The retired centre back also pointed to how Ashley spent millions to get them back in the Premier League before spending £60million more on a striker and midfielder.
'He spent £30m on a striker, £30m on a midfielder – as he is trying to sell the club – both of them get injured. £60m down the drain. Would you do that?'
While Humphrey played the role of devil's advocate, Ferdinand would not be swayed on his opinion – an issue he has be criticised for defending in the past.
Ferdinand then insisted that the fans should be thanking Ashley for the appointment of Rafa Benitez.
'You look down the road, last season or whatever, Sunderland spent £1.2million to get in the Championship,' Ferdinand continued.
'He’s done that to get them back up, and by the way, please say thank you for getting Rafa Benitez in because by rights, they’re lucky to have him.'
ship50
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Ashley has ruined Newcastle United but surprisingly, media and pundits are too blind to see. Rio definitely looking after his business interests. NUFC fans should be thankful to Ashley? For what? Dragging the club down in the drains? Ridiculous!
Catheriner
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They're yo-yo because of Ashley. He knows he's hit the jackpot with Benítez who'll keep them from being relegated, otherwise he'd do the absolute minimum and sign one big player to keep them up. Yes, all of football is a business now, but Ashley is the owner of the lot that makes it completely obvious. Only Randy Lerner gets close in recent years.
Yo yo relegated twice since the premier league began? How's that yo yo?
footb122
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Mike Ashley is a successful businessman. He owns and rins6 profitable businesses. Newcastle Utd are a profitable buisness. He's ran it alot better than us at Sunderland over the last 10 years. I'd take Mike Ashley over Ellis Short 9 times out of 10.
Is that 'runs' or 'rinses' in your second line.
technology
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Seriously Rio? if Newcastle and for that matter Sunderland had decent owners they would be top 6. Both are proper football clubs with proper fans.
At the moment it's difficult to predict but with proper financial backing similar to say what Chelsea have experienced they'd be without doubt top 6. Same as Leeds, Wolves, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and both Sheffield Clubs All giants of English football. The reason some London clubs are doing well is simply down to their location.
meaedog
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Who's this £30m striker and defender he's bought?
Not if they kept them up, and even if they were relegated they could be sold on.
retirement
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He's entitled to his opinion by all means but his blatant disregard of facts is a joke. Ashley has never spent a penny of his own money; the money spent in the latest Championship season was generated through player sales and by the club. Prior to Ashley, we had never been relegated from the Premier League. Yes we're a yo-yo club now but that's the point; we wouldn't be if it wasn't for Ashley. He knew he was talking rubbish, he knew Jake Humphrey highlighted his contradictions so he just spouted rubbish about a house sale. Would you assert strip, run your house down to a hovel and try and sell it for an absurd price?That's exactly what Ashley has done to our club. He made himself look an utter fool on National television. For the last time: WE DON'T EVEN WANT MA TO SPEND HIS MONEY; THE MONEY GENERATED BY THE CLUB WOULD SUFFICE! Where has last year's £127m tv money went?...
House of Fraser that's where mate
Sampsons
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A yo-yo club? We were relegated four times in the hundred and fifteen years before Ashley took over, and have been relegated twice in the ten years since. With a third lookinng likely. Perhaps sleeping around so much behind his terminally ill wife's back has further restricted Rio's already comically low intelligence.
Did you get thrown out of Singapore then?
Pattivargas
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All these comments coming from people who have no idea what they are talking about, have invested zero time or effort following NUFC, are idiotic at best. If this was happening to their clubs, their opinions would be completely different. Can you imagine the uproar from fans and the media if Mike Ashley was in charge of say, Manchester United, Tottenham or Arsenal. But no it's deluded little Newcastle United, they should accept their lot the ungrateful northerners. Pathetic
Spot on mate. I think vast majority of the comments are from people who have never been to a match or more importantly don't have the same passion that you get when you're allegiance to your team is passed to you from your family and or your birth place. Good luck to Newcastle. YNWA
Polaroid
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Yo yo club! Rio is an absolute tool before Ashley came along NUFC were consistently finishing in the top 4 and competing. Funny how Rio has his awful Five brand exclusively for sale at Sports Direct! Fair play to Jake Humphrey for calling him out on BT
I've never been a fan of Jake Humphrey but he certainly went up in my opinion there. If Rio has business dealings with MA then I can totally understand why he isn't going to come out and slate him in the media. But in that case, just politely decline to give your opinion on the subject. Don't come out and try and defend the indefensible by talking nonsense and making yourself look silly.
proverbs
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Rio is completely wrong on this. Ashley has sat in interviews before saying he simply doesn't have the cash to spend on transfer fees. Well if that's the case you shouldn't be owning a premier league football team!!!! And how long has it taken to sell? Ok if you don't want to spend money before you sell, fair enough, but why not sell when they came up? Why not sell in the summer when they stayed up? Surely they were the prime times. It's taking far to long, and it's getting to the stage now where he just needs to do the right thing even if it's not the value he thinks it should be, which it won't now they're likely to go down. Fans shouldn't just have to put up with this.
He won't be owning a Premier League football team soon enough.
benladan
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Need to do your homework Rio,you have just made a right fool of yourself.
They have become a yoyo club because of mike Ashley
Gloriouser
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He needs to be administered another dope test with the hope that, this time around, he wouldn't skip it. If his result comes back negative then we can talk about A$hley and NUFC!
Hello this is the dope test lab..Mr Ferdinand failed confirmed he is a dope
mailbox
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I feel for team's like Blackpool, Newcastle and Arsenal who want their owner's out Liverpool got lucky with Rafa exposing them coward's after Athens and most of the first team minus the two local lad's speaking out it's not Easy.
Abdullahs
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Newcastle the club that would love owners like at Leicester. And Leicester the club that would love a manager like Rafa, how cruel football is. (By the way Newcastle fans, no we won't swap)
isolation
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They're yo-yo because of Ashley. He knows he's hit the jackpot with Benítez who'll keep them from being relegated, otherwise he'd do the absolute minimum and sign one big player to keep them up. Yes, all of football is a business now, but Ashley is the owner of the lot that makes it completely obvious. Only Randy Lerner gets close in recent years.
condition
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Well if he wants to sell, do what you do if you want to sell your business, house or car if no one wants to buy it. Drop the asking price.
beatbox
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I think the fans will thank him when he actually sells the club and they can move forward.
Lawrencium
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Owen is still Newcastle record signing says it all! But this duck face clown has merchandise in sports direct so has to tow the line. When it's record TV deals and the Brighton's Cardiff's, Huddersfield all breaking their record signing yet Owen is still Newcastle record signing that is alarming.
outdoor
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Ferdinand has shown himself unfit to be an independent pundit. What supporter wants an owner who takes money out of the club and watches it struggle to avoid relegation every season.
mrbig
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Ashley takes known Brands and uses their former image whilst degrading them to suit his own business. He bleeds everything he touches and leaves it drained and mediocre
sonmluts
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Just when you thought he was getting good at punditry... what a shame. He of all people should know that if it wasn't for the fans he would be a nobody therefore athletes alike should thank fans for their support. Similarly Mike Ashley should thank the toon army for their dying support, he could not have afforded to buy the house of Fraser if those guys were not buying season tickets
Brandonwe
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Mike Ashley is a successful businessman. He owns and rins6 profitable businesses. Newcastle Utd are a profitable buisness. He's ran it alot better than us at Sunderland over the last 10 years. I'd take Mike Ashley over Ellis Short 9 times out of 10.
operations
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Rio sounds punch drunk. Glad he never got that boxing license
FCBneuer
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Seriously Rio? if Newcastle and for that matter Sunderland had decent owners they would be top 6. Both are proper football clubs with proper fans.
reunion
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When Newcastle went down to the championship they sold nearly 90 million quids worth of players and spent 60. Rio is clearly biased.
Catheriner
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Dear cockney numpty please tell me and all Newcastle fans who these 2 £30 million players are because we must have missed them.Our record signing is that sick note Owen for £16milliion.
frozenme
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Who's this £30m striker and defender he's bought?
reached
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Rio hasn't got a clue. Needs to gets his facts right.
Ryan122
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Doesn't Mike Ashley stock Ferdinand's clothing range.....
tsunamia
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It's his opinion, nothing more. You don't have to agree with him but it's only his opinion. If you were a fan then then I'm sure that you passionately disagree with him but he doesn't have any impact in whether anyone buys the club or if Ashley invests or doesn't. I'd focus on other things and not on whether Rio Ferdinand is a supporter of Mike Ashley or not.
Leedsa
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Rio "pass-back" Ferdinand getting shown up for what he's really worth. All about the pound coin. No integrity in this bloke whatsoever
mailbox
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They are a yoyo club because Ashley has made them one, they where an established Premier league team before he ruined them!
Savannah
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He has to defend Ashley because his brand 'FIVE' has ties with sports direct. Both have been represented by Keith Bishop Associates another company ran by Ashley.
surrounded
0
Whats does Rio know about football, not much by the sound of things,
jealousyh
0
He's entitled to his opinion by all means but his blatant disregard of facts is a joke. Ashley has never spent a penny of his own money; the money spent in the latest Championship season was generated through player sales and by the club. Prior to Ashley, we had never been relegated from the Premier League. Yes we're a yo-yo club now but that's the point; we wouldn't be if it wasn't for Ashley. He knew he was talking rubbish, he knew Jake Humphrey highlighted his contradictions so he just spouted rubbish about a house sale. Would you assert strip, run your house down to a hovel and try and sell it for an absurd price?That's exactly what Ashley has done to our club. He made himself look an utter fool on National television. For the last time: WE DON'T EVEN WANT MA TO SPEND HIS MONEY; THE MONEY GENERATED BY THE CLUB WOULD SUFFICE! Where has last year's £127m tv money went?...
NBA22
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A yo-yo club? We were relegated four times in the hundred and fifteen years before Ashley took over, and have been relegated twice in the ten years since. With a third lookinng likely. Perhaps sleeping around so much behind his terminally ill wife's back has further restricted Rio's already comically low intelligence.
Newtondu
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I sympathise with the very loyal Newcastle fans.
rigorous
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How on earth anyone can defend MA's running of the club is beyond me; although Rio clearly has his reasons. Talking about the money he's spent on players? The last time I checked he had pretty much broken even on transfers during his time at the club. Talking about the money he spent on getting promoted? We probably wouldn't have been relegated in the first place if it weren't for him. Talking about investing his own money? It's loans that the club has to pay back when he sells. Plus there's the money that the club generates that clearly isn't being reinvested, and the free advertising that his other business receives. Talking about being a yo-yo club? We've been relegated 6 times in the club's history (founded 1892). A third of those have been on his watch. I could go on but there's really no point.
professorou
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All these comments coming from people who have no idea what they are talking about, have invested zero time or effort following NUFC, are idiotic at best. If this was happening to their clubs, their opinions would be completely different. Can you imagine the uproar from fans and the media if Mike Ashley was in charge of say, Manchester United, Tottenham or Arsenal. But no it's deluded little Newcastle United, they should accept their lot the ungrateful northerners. Pathetic
sevilla
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Newcastle are not a 'yoyo' club, but he's right, they are a yoyo club under Ashley that's for sure. Ferdinand a thick sc*mbag nothing more. Ridiculous he's got a media job
Kalandari
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Where does he get his figures from 30 million on striker and midfielder our last big buy for 15 million was Owen. He must be on Ashleys payroll.
haoshib
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Well done Jake - the voice of reason. Rio shows no knowledge, his logic has no base in fact as he seems to have just made up his argument on the spot. Would love him to prove that what he says is true as it's a complete fabrication. HIs sports line is sold through the SD website so another outright lie.
paradiseba
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Rio is thick but tries to portray himself as intelligent
yonder
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Yo yo club! Rio is an absolute tool before Ashley came along NUFC were consistently finishing in the top 4 and competing. Funny how Rio has his awful Five brand exclusively for sale at Sports Direct! Fair play to Jake Humphrey for calling him out on BT
campusso
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It's quite sad that Ferdinand is talking straight lies when it comes to Ashley. The main one for me being this '£50 million of his own money spent when Newcastle got relegated' nonsense. We were relegated due to our lack of spending, and upon relegation spent £50 million on new players, but this money was part of the £90 million we made on sales that summer, with Ashley keeping the rest for HIMSELF and not the club.
hundred
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Under Mike Ashley's ownership NUFCs net transfer spend is 32 million pounds (less than 3m per season). We have been relegated twice with a 3rd highly likely on the way. We have never been past the 4th round of the FA cup. His company hasn't paid for advertising inside SJP. We haven't broke the club transfer record since 2004. We have sold 6 players for over 15m and bought none. We have an HMRC investigation hanging over us. He has hired Joe Kinnear not once but twice! And we're supposed to be thankful?!
bigboss9
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Rio is completely wrong on this. Ashley has sat in interviews before saying he simply doesn't have the cash to spend on transfer fees. Well if that's the case you shouldn't be owning a premier league football team!!!! And how long has it taken to sell? Ok if you don't want to spend money before you sell, fair enough, but why not sell when they came up? Why not sell in the summer when they stayed up? Surely they were the prime times. It's taking far to long, and it's getting to the stage now where he just needs to do the right thing even if it's not the value he thinks it should be, which it won't now they're likely to go down. Fans shouldn't just have to put up with this.
yummybe
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It is like he is in the pocket of the FCB. Jake worked him out......
Muhsina
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Me thinks that Rio has got business dealings with the man.
Backyard
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Need to do your homework Rio,you have just made a right fool of yourself.