First, let me preface this piece with a dutifully flattering disclaimer. I used to work for The Mirror’s online sports desk and without their superb editor Matt Lawless, I would not have the career that I have now. This notwithstanding, however, after having the fallout of Neil Moxley’s piece on Newcastle United’s transfer policy clog up my Twitter feed, I feel the need to assuage some concerns. The article appears, at its best, a speculative comment; and at its worst, a steaming pile of garbage. I won’t go as far to call it fake news, as there are admittedly some truthful elements within it, but these fall into the bears-in-woods category of revelations. So, let’s pick it apart. Moxley claims that United owner Mike Ashley is set to undermine the progress the club has made by implementing an unpopular policy to recruitment cohering around re-sale values. There was a time when this was the case for the club and it led to relegation. When Rafa Benitez joined United, though, a crucial caveat of his appointment and later re-appointment, was that he would have a contractual assurance regarding transfers. To renege on this would lead to his resignation and by extension, [...]![]()
