Mike Ashley wants to rule the world - and I doubt if he will repent and let the newspaper back in the Press Office - simply because he INSISTS he has the final word.
It's messy, and will continue to be so, but what can the Chronicle do now?
They've fired their big guns - and Ashley could not give a shit - so what now?
EVENING CHRONICLE: Anger turned to joy as a day of protest against the running of Newcastle United ended with victory on the field.
The Magpies picked up three points in a deserved win against Chelsea on Saturday, delighting fans after the defeat in the Tyne and Wear derby.
It was the boost the team needed – but prior to kick-off, scores of disappointed supporters came together to make a stand as they fight to restore the “heart and soul” of the club.
Hundreds of fans waved the Chronicle’s front page message in St James' Park which spelled out exactly what a football club should be about.
Outraged fans were eager to show their support to the Chronicle and our sister papers, The Journal and Sunday Sun, following the club banning the titles from media facilities at St James’ Park last week.
The ban was imposed by club bosses following our coverage of a Time 4 Change march through Newcastle on October 19.
A further ban was also slapped on the Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) on Friday. The fans group was invited to be a permanent member of the Magpies Fans Forum but after a row over their coverage of the first meeting – which took place five weeks ago – it has now been barred from future events.
These moves have prompted heated debate from loyal fans, who say they are feeling more disenchanted with their beloved club’s management than ever.
Ciaran Donaghy, from Newcastle, said: “First and foremost, I firmly believe that Mike Ashley is running the club with a toxic lack of ambition. He’s stolen the lifeblood from the fans and the region.”
The 23-year-old added: “The Chronicle, Journal and Sunday Sun are a rich source of information for fans and by gagging the press in the city it is only depriving Newcastle United fans of information that they so desperately need.
“This is a democracy not a dictatorship but Mike Ashley is doing his level best to convince us otherwise.”
Caroline Cansdale, who is an active Time 4 Change member and lifelong Newcastle supporter, said: “If we do nothing, nothing will ever change. You get quite a few people saying, ‘what difference will it make’, but if we don’t do anything Ashley will never go.”
Network Rail worker Paul Begg, from Prudhoe, Northumberland, said he thinks the events of the last week have only served to make Mike Ashley “public enemy number one”.
The 26-year-old said: “He is giving Newcastle the worst publicity by banning the local papers which is what local fans rely on for information, whether it’s positive or negative – it’s not like he talks to us.
“And then by banning the NUST, it’s like he is trying to ban any fan interaction whatsoever. He needs to go. He is only interested in himself.”
Shaun Melvin, 52 from Heaton, Newcastle, says he won’t be renewing his season ticket next year because his trust in the club is non-existent.
He said: “My season ticket is due to be renewed in February/ March time and I go as far as to say I’m not going to renew it, not only until Ashley goes but until I actually trust the owners of the club. We need to get the right guy running things.”
Chronicle Editor Darren Thwaites said: “It was great to see such a strong performance on the field after such a calamitous week off it.
“We’re pleased to have made our feelings known about the way the club’s decisions are alienating fans and the local community.
“Equally, we’re delighted to be reporting on an excellent win, despite being denied media access by the club.”
NCJ Media’s sports writers compiled their match coverage from the stands on Saturday as they reported on Newcastle United’s excellent 2-0 win over Chelsea.
The Chronicle’s chief sports writer Lee Ryder was joined by the Sunday Sun’s Neil Cameron and the Journal’s Mark Douglas as goals from Yoan Gouffran and Loic Remy rained in.
United have banned the three titles indefinitely after taking issue with the amount of coverage dedicated to the Mike Ashley protest march through the streets of the city before the 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
But the coverage of United in the three newspapers will continue regardless of the ban.
And our readers enjoyed the usual coverage in yesterday’s Sunday Sun and in today’s Chronicle and Journal with the victory over the Blues one of the best of Alan Pardew’s stint as boss.
Ryder said: “We have to deal with the situation as it is at the moment and not how it should be.
“I watched on from behind one of the goals on Saturday and the ban shouldn’t deflect any attention away from the players, the fans or the coaching staff.
“They were magnificent against a good Chelsea side and they get the credit where it is due.
“We still provided our readers with a live blog on the Chron’s website on Saturday with some live Tweeting thrown in.
“After the game we filed an on-the-whistle report and provided match reaction as usual.”
The Magpies can’t prevent any of the titles attending away games or Press conferences elsewhere in the Premier League.
The Chronicle has learned that the Premier League are aware of United’s decision to ban the NCJ titles and the trip Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday will see the group’s newspapers admitted to the media facilities at White Hart Lane.
This was the case when United’s nearby rivals Sunderland opened up their doors and allowed access to the post-game press conference eight days ago.
Toon fan Robert Taylor of Shiremoor, 35, said: “I’d rather see the club using their time and resources to sign players and win games than chasing after the media who are trying to report information to the fans.
“I don’t always agree with some of the opinions of the writers, but I am right behind them on this one.”
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 CHELSEA 0
NEWCASTLE: 1. Tim Krul 26. Mathieu Debuchy 6. Mike Williamson 13. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa 3. Davide Santon 7. Moussa Sissoko 4. Yohan Cabaye 24. Cheick Tiote 53' 11. Yoan Gouffran 85' 14. Loic Remy 23. Shola Ameobi 62'
Subs: 8. Vurnon Anita 53' 9. Papiss Cisse 62' 10. Hatem Ben Arfa 21. Rob Elliot 25. Gabriel Obertan 85' 28. Sammy Ameobi 34. James Tavernier
CHELSEA: 1. Petr Cech 2. Branislav Ivanovic 4. David Luiz 26. John Terry 3. Ashley Cole 7. Ramires 8. Frank Lampard 70' 10. Juan Mata 62' 11. Oscar 17. Eden Hazard 9. Fernando Torres 62'
Subs: 12. John Obi Mikel 14. Andre Schurrle 70' 22. Willian 62' 23. Mark Schwarzer 24. Gary Cahill 28. Cesar Azpilicueta 29. Samuel Eto'o 62'
Alan Pardew can be "all wind and piss", but let's face facts ... he got it right against Chelsea on Saturday.
Yoan Gouffran and Loic Remy dented Chelsea's Barclays Premier League title charge as Newcastle erased the memories of their derby defeat at Sunderland with a morale-boosting 2-0 victory.
Gouffran's 68th-minute diving header and Remy's late strike, his sixth goal of the season, settled a game which blossomed from modest beginnings into an end-to-end encounter.
Indeed, had it not been for keeper Petr Cech, who had earlier made second-half saves from Moussa Sissoko and Gouffran, the Magpies might have won by more.
But while manager Alan Pardew will have been delighted with a performance which started out as a backs-to-the-wall battle and ended in a toe-to-toe slugging match, opposite number Jose Mourinho was left to reflect upon a toothless display from his all-stars.
Chelsea dominated for long periods in front of a packed house of 51,674, but having hit the bar twice within seconds early in the game, did not call upon keeper Tim Krul until 10 minutes from time on a day when victory would have seen them leapfrog Arsenal for a few hours at least.
On a miserably cold and wet Tyneside afternoon, the fare on offer initially did little to lift the mood as an attritional game unfolded.
Chelsea, as befits a team installed as early favourites to lift the title, started confidently and pinned their hosts back for long periods with Eden Hazard leading the home defence a merry dance.
With Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor still injured, Pardew had little choice but to field Mike Williamson and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa at the heart of his rearguard, and just how the Magpies managed to survive an error-strewn opening to the game only they will know.
A series of miskicks and misdirected headers, thankfully for the pair, dropped fortuitously and allowed Newcastle to dig themselves out of trouble.
However, the inability of Pardew's men to retain possession for anything other than a few seconds left them constantly under pressure with Hazard and Oscar capitalising on their profligacy.
They had to ride their luck at times with the crossbar coming to Krul's rescue twice within seconds in the 13th minutes, when Chelsea skipper John Terry climbed highest to head Juan Mata's corner against the woodwork before Fernando Torres' deflected follow-up was repelled in similar fashion.
But for all their pressure, the visitors were unable to test Krul further and as they gradually found their feet, the Magpies began to compete.
Initially, they relied upon the long ball up to striker Shola Ameobi, preferred to Hatem Ben Arfa, with decidedly limited success.
But as they grew in confidence, both Yohan Cabaye and Sissoko tested Cech after more enterprising build-up play, and they headed for the dressing room at half-time satisfied with their opening 45 minutes, but knowing much, much more would be required after the break to secure tangible reward.
As a result, they resumed on the front foot and attempted to attack Chelsea, although their wastefulness in possession continued to court disaster.
Pardew was forced to make a change with 53 minutes gone when in-form skipper Cheick Tiote limped off and was replaced by Vurnon Anita.
In their efforts to take the game to the visitors, Newcastle piled forward in numbers, in the process leaving space in behind which the Blues attempted to exploit in a series of counter-attacks.
But it was the Magpies who went close to the opening goal twice within seconds when Cech made a fine save from Sissoko's skidding 60th-minute drive after he had been played in by Mathieu Debuchy and Remy volleyed straight at the keeper from Ameobi's knock-down.
Buoyed by the growing momentum, Pardew sent on Papiss Cisse for Ameobi as Willian and Samuel Eto'o replaced Oscar and Torres, but it was Gouffran who tested Cech at the foot of his near post after cutting inside Branislav Ivanovic with 25 minutes remaining.
But the Frenchman was not to be denied and he got his reward three minutes later in spectacular style.
Cabaye's curling free-kick caused all kinds of problems for the Chelsea defence, but Gouffran read it perfectly to dive and power a header past Cech.
Mourinho swiftly replaced Frank Lampard with Andre Schurrle, but the home side might have increased their lead with 72 minutes gone when Sissoko and Remy carved a path through the blue shirts before the latter saw his shot block by the sliding Terry.
However, Krul had to be at his best 10 minutes from time to beat away Willian's snapshot with an instinctive save, and Debuchy was on hand to block Eto'o's follow-up to ensure the points remained on Tyneside.
Hazard fired inches wide with four minutes remaining, but Remy made sure at the death when he thumped Anita's pull-back past the helpless Cech.
IDEAL FOR CHRISTMAS
MAGPIES IN EUROPE -
HARVEY TO PARDEW
Although NUFC are not talking to the Chronicle or Sunday Sun ... we are!
And the full story is expected to be in newspapers within the next two weeks.
The official new title is "Magpies In Europe - Harvey To Pardew" and is an up-dated version of "From Antwerp To Zurich" - which includes the 14 Europa League fixtures we played last season.
The 280-page book features match reports from the 134 European matches Newcastle United have played, starting with the memorable 4-0 win over Feyenoord in 1968 on our European debut.
Included are stats and the figures you would expect, but also each away fixture has the remarkable experiences of individuals who travelled to watch the matches.
Introduction by "Big Bad" John McNamee, part of the Fairs Cup winning team of 1969.
It is a fascinating history that every Newcastle United fan will enjoy.
And with a limited print-run, make sure you order a copy.
Mail order: Send a cheque for £10.45 made payable to K.Fletcher to:
K Fletcher, 5 Dunelm, Sacriston, Durham DH7 6NU
Include your own address.
ON SALE NOW AT: M&M City News; 140 Northumberland St, Newcastle NE1 7DQ.
The Flower Shop, Spennymoor, Co Durham.
RRP: £10.95
if you want to order, contact us:- Kevnumad@fsmail.net
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THIS WEEK'S FIXTURES
Sunday November 3
Premier League
13:30 Everton v Tottenham
16:00 Cardiff City v Swansea City
Saturday November 9
15:00 Aston Villa v Cardiff City
15:00 Chelsea v West Brom
15:00 Crystal Palace v Everton
15:00 Liverpool v Fulham
15:00 Southampton v Hull City
17:30 Norwich City v West Ham United
Sunday November 10
12:00 Tottenham v Newcastle United
14:05 Sunderland v Manchester City
16:10 Man Utd v Arsenal
16:10 Swansea City v Stoke City
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2013/14
PREMIER LEAGUE
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 CHELSEA 0 (Gouffran, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote (53' Anita), Gouffran (85' Obertan), Shola Ameobi (62' Cisse).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Tavernier.
SUNDERLAND 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Debuchy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Dummett, Santon, Sissoko (45' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran (86' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Remy (70' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 LIVERPOOL 2 (Cabaye, Dummett)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Cabaye (78' Sammy Ameobi), Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko (45' Dummett), Remy, Ben Arfa (78' Anita).
Subs: Cisse, Elliot, Obertan, Dummett.
CARDIFF CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye (86' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Sissoko, Remy (71' Gutierrez), Cisse
Subs: Anita, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
EVERTON 3 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cabaye, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa (46' Williamson), Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Anita (69' Cisse), Ben Arfa (46' Cabaye), Sissoko, Gouffran, Remy
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 2 HULL CITY 3 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy (86' Tiote), Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (62' Gouffran), Anita, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cisse (73' Marveaux), Remy
Subs: Williamson, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ben Arfra, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Anita (74' Tiote), Cabaye (88' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Remy (63' Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, S Taylor, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 1 FULHAM 0 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita 65' (Cabaye), Marveaux 74' (Remy), Shola Ameobi 65' (Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 0
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita, Marveaux 66' (Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi, Cisse 72'
Subs: Gosling, Bigirimana, Elliot, Vuckic, Dummett
MAN CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Sissoko, Tiote, Gouffran 45+4' (Dummett), Ben Arfa 65' (Sammy Ameobi), Gutierrez 44' (Anita), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Obertan
LEAGUE CUP
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2 (AET)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara (45 Dummett, 80 Ben Arfa), Anita, Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko, Shola Ameobi (66 Cabaye), Cisse
Subs: Remy, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 2 LEEDS UTD 0 (Cisse, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Gouffran (90' Vuckic), Anita (80' Gosling), Tiote, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Cisse (71' Obertan).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Bigirimana, Alnwick
MORECAMBE 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi)
Elliot, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Good, Dummett, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux 88' (Sissoko), Vuckic 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi, Gouffran 71' (Ben Arfa)
Subs: Santon, Anita, Alnwick, Streete
Newcastle United Fixtures
Sunday November 10
12:00 Premier League
Tottenham v Newcastle United
Saturday November 23
15:00 Premier League
Newcastle United v Norwich City
Saturday November 30
17:30 Premier League
Newcastle United v West Brom
Wednesday December 4
19:45 Premier League
Swansea City v Newcastle United
Saturday December 7
12:45 Premier League
Man Utd v Newcastle United
Saturday December 14
15:00 Premier League
Newcastle United v Southampton
Saturday December 21
15:00 Premier League
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United
Thursday December 26
15:00 Premier League
Newcastle United v Stoke City
Sunday December 29
13:30 Premier League
Newcastle United v Arsenal
Wednesday January 1 2014
15:00 Premier League
West Brom v Newcastle United