Mike Ashley’s PR man spoke publicly today about the sale of Newcastle United to drum up fan power and help his bid to buy Derby County.
Keith Bishop, Ashley’s head of PR, was on Sky Sports trying to promote his boss’s attempt to buy Championship side Derby County, who are in administration.
During the interview Bishop portrayed Ashley’s time as owner of Newcastle United as a success because it culminated in a takeover by Saudi Arabia’ sovereign wealth fund.
Bishop said of Ashley’s ownership of Newcastle: "He had the club for 14 years and at the start he really enjoyed it.
“Obviously things didn't go well at the end, but he did say at the time he would sell the club to somebody who could really take it to the next level and he sold it to a country, more than an individual.
“He's a rich individual, but he’s not one that can do what Newcastle need and he did say that and that is what he did.”
Bishop, who said some Derby fans had emailed Ashley asking him to buy Derby, also said: “At Newcastle, he did get things right off the pitch. I think he might say he never got it quite right on the pitch, but off the pitch, he did.
"And I think that's what Derby needs right now - someone who knows football, but is also a good businessman. And he sees that.”
Explaining why Ashley had instructed him to speak publicly, Bishop said: “He wants the Derby fans to know that he is interested in buying the club. And that's why we’ve broken ranks today really.”
Asked why Ashley wants to buy the club, Bishop said: “Mike’s got a love of football and obviously his business is sport as well. So sport is connected to football. So he sees the good points of having football connected to his business and he still loves it.”
Derby are currently seven points from safety, after being deducted 21 points this season.
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