TOON TOWN

Newcastle United's worrying period of stability under Chris Hughton has been ended with his absurd sacking. The status quo has returned and a natural sense of disharmony, unrest and self inflicted chaos once more prevails over toon town.

It has been a open secret around St Jame's Park that billionaire owner Forty-six year old Mike Ashley was simply biding his time, waiting to rid himself of a manager whose only crime appeared to be being a decent man, whom was always dignified in defeat and doing a fine job in keeping Newcastle's head above the relegation dirt water.

For reasons most probably financial Ashley backed away from firing Hughton in the promotion summer of 2010. However Newcastle's 'all right's reserved' infuriating inconsistency on a weekly basis drove him to maddening frustration.

A historic 5-1 home victory against Sunderland in Newcastle's most impressive result since beating Manchester United 5-0 during the first Kevin Keegan era, fourteen years previous, bought Hughton precious breathing space.

'Hughton is a Geordie', sang the Gallowgate faithful who partied the night away down on the quayside following the massacre over their bitter north east rivals. Not even a man so hard faced as Ashley would have dared risk the wrath of an entire city who gladly would have lynched him if he had fired his manager in the relative aftermath of that memorable Sunday afternoon.

So he waited.

The aggravating run of form continued and then came West Bromwich Albion away. A 3-1 defeat and an inept Newcastle display that left even the normally mild mannered Hughton fuming handed Mike Ashley the perfect opportunity to swing the axe.

The next day as the north east shivered amidst below zero temperatures Chris Hughton's P45 was forthcoming and the relationship between supporters and board equalled the weather. Ice cold and frost bitten. One that had recently thawed, almost tolerable now veered back to open hostility.

Emotions of shock, anger, quizzical and in some cases utter despair was aired across the city. The so-called '˜Cockney Mafia' had once more shown their true face and with the same heart-felt desire in which they defend their own the Geordies lashed back at a man they genuinely hate with a passion.

Safely ensconced in his London headquarters, far away from the abuse and vitriol aimed toward him Mike Ashley must wonder at times like these if the £135 million he splashed out to buy Newcastle has been money well spent?

Never the type to seek publicity he instead quietly set about building up a sports goods business (Sports Direct) empire now set to catapult him beyond billionaire status as his entrepreneurial expertise enters China's extraordinary lucrative markets.

Does he really need the hassle of some feudal kingdom in the north east of England slaughtering his reputation whenever he dares make a decision that upsets them. Treated with utter contempt for having the utter temerity to rid them of an £80 million debt and drag their train wreck, '˜footballing institution' of a club into a period of financial sanity.

There are those in Newcastle who even contemplate the notion that such is the bitterness between themselves and Ashley, his every decision is designed as nothing more than deliberate provocation.

If Mike Ashley received an offer that matched his ego and rough asking price he would be rid in a shot Any former illusions Ashley may once of held to become a messianic-like figure now seem almost ridiculous as him turning up at St James wearing a Newcastle shirt. For if you believed the conspiracy theories he is more likely to show adorning a Sunderland top.

A time existed, albeit brief when Ashley brought back Kevin Keegan that the possibility of '˜adopted Geordie' mantle may well have been forthcoming.

But then came Denis Wise. The Geordie equivalent of a rat in the kitchen.
Followed almost inevitably by the ritual Keegan demise and walk out to end any hope of a long enduring love affair. Ashley's strange rabbit out of the hat in the shape of a reincarnated Joe Kinnear to replace Keegan left an apoplectic Geordie nation slapping their own faces.

As for the '˜prodigal son'˜, Alan Shearer? Eight games and relegation, enough said. Welcome to toon town!

That Mike Ashley has badly misjudged the feelings of good will towards Chris Hughton does not make him a fool, for many before him have fallen for football's glamour drug only to see it swiftly empty bank accounts and turn would be messiahs into pantomime villains. And the really unfortunate princes to paupers.

A game that slaughters ego's and drains even the deepest pirate treasure.

Those who madly claim this man who has the ability to make money from sand is some kind of amateurish, boorish cockney wide-boy, who with the devils luck found a niche in the market and struck gold seriously underestimate Ashley at their peril.

Nothing could be further from the truth for in his own way Ashley is a genius.

As for Chris Hughton it is highly doubtful he will have to apply for job seekers allowance as his record with Newcastle and fine standing in the game will see someone act quickly to snap him up. A decent pay out for services rendered off Mike Ashley will also certainly help ease Hughton's pain as he waves goodbye to a grateful toon town

Maybe Ashley could even throw in a pair of trainers and tracksuit.
For it is Christmas after all!