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The soul is being sucked out of Newcastle United, says Shaun Custis

Shaun Custis
Image: Shaun Custis: Fears Newcastle are "losing their identity".

Shaun Custis believes that the "soul has been sucked out" of Newcastle United and the board are in danger of ruining the club.

Owner Mike Ashley is yet to find a replacement for former boss Alan Pardew after a tumultuous spell in charge, and fans remain adamant Ashley and the Newcastle board are to blame for the club's recent instability.

Custis of The Sun told Sunday Supplement that Newcastle are in danger of losing their identity under the control of Ashley and managing director Lee Charnley.

"The new manager must be somebody who is completely compliant, be told what players to buy, what to do and when to do it by the chairman and chief executive," he said.

"It does occur that you have directors of football at clubs and it has worked at clubs like Chelsea.

"The Newcastle manager will have even less say than any manager that there has ever been at any time.

"The soul is being sucked out of Newcastle United.

"What the manager says to the media is what makes the club great.

"The ground is so quiet now as the enthusiasm has been sucked out of the club, which has been permeated down from the board.

"You can’t just suck the life out of a club like that, it is not right."

Andy Dunn of the Sunday Mirror agreed with Custis, and questioned the method Ashley is adopting when recruiting a new full-time Newcastle boss.

"They want a manager who wouldn’t be nervous to bring in a replacement for a player who is sold when the value is good?" Dunn said.

"In other words, if we the board are saying if we get a bid for a player we believe is good, then you have to get a replacement.

"But that player will be decided by the board, not the manager."

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