Moat supports Ashley naming rights plan 15/11/2009 |
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Mike Ashley’s controversial decision to sell the naming rights to Newcastle St James’ Park ground has been supported by the businessman who wants to buy the club from him.
Newcastle owner Ashley has renamed the famous ground sportsdirect.com@St James’ Park after his sportswear company in a bid to attract other brands looking to sign naming rights deals with sports stadiums.
The move has angered fans already unhappy with Ashley, who had put Newcastle up for sale but has now taken it off the market after failing to find a buyer willing to meet his £80m asking price.
However, Moat – who tried to buy the club from Ashley earlier this year – believes selling naming rights to stadiums is a commercial reality of modern-day football, particularly for a club like Newcastle trying to win promotion back to the Premier League.
Moat told Sky Sports News: “I think you have to explore things like naming rights. Unfortunately we live in a world where football is big business and the gap between the Championship and the Premier League is getting bigger all the time.
“So you have to do things to close that gap. We need to get back up to the Premier League as quickly as possible. I think if you have to do some of those things, by taking the commercial benefit of a sponsor, as far as I’m concerned, if that gets the right players on the pitch and gives you the right entertainment on a Saturday, then where do I sign?”
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