Newcastle and Steve Bruce take on Arsenal in their first game of the new Premier League season on Sunday.
One of the league’s big guns, new signings in the team with a positive pre-season behind them, there should be so much hope surrounding Newcastle supporters at this time of the year.
However, one of the major talking points continues to be the unhappiness of the supporters at the club’s ownership.
Campaigns and boycotts have come and gone over the years, some more successful than others, but some fans are now at breaking point. ‘#BoycottArsenal’ is a campaign set up by a section of supporters looking to make a stand against Mike Ashley during the season’s curtain-raiser.
By not renewing season tickets or even attending the game, the hope is that those that need to will see sense. Empty seats live on Sky Sports is hardly an appealing business perspective.
While it has taken drastic measures and countless episodes of heartache to get this point, it’s a sorry state of affairs that supporters are being ripped away from their club, just to try and make a point.
The game is being shown live on Sky Sports and such is the extent of the modern-day football coverage, fans won’t struggle to watch the game on TV, but is this fair to those supporting the club and the players?
Supporters should always be the heartbeat of any club and you can understand why many will feel apprehensive about giving up their season ticket, regardless of their feelings towards the club’s ownership.
To their credit, The Mag explain in their statements that they will support any Newcastle fan who believes that they are doing what they feel is best for the club, be that buying a season ticket or not.
It’s a real sorry state of affairs when supporters are handed such a difficult decision when nobody really knows if there is a right answer. Only time will tell how successful this latest boycott will be and you can bet it certainly won’t be the last we hear of it.
