Mike Ashley bonus scheme comes back to bite Newcastle after stunning season

NEWCASTLE chiefs have become embroiled in a bonus row with the first team squad – all thanks to former owner Mike Ashley.

The Magpies have enjoyed a sunning resurgence in the wake of their £300million Saudi takeover, which was confirmed in October 2021.

GettyNewcastle stars are locked in a bonus row with the club’s owners[/caption]

GettyThe current bonuses were set by former owner Mike Ashley[/caption]

They ended the 2022-23 campaign fourth in the Premier League and subsequently sealed a return to the Champions League for the first time in over 20 years.

But that success has seen player bonuses significantly soar, causing a huge problem for the club’s owners.

According to The Daily Mail, Newcastle chiefs have been forced to shell out ‘extraordinary’ sums to several players as a way of honouring historic terms set by ex-boss Ashley.

Following a row over bonuses in 2017, Ashley personally offered players a £20million bonus should they win the FA Cup.

He also proposed a ‘hugely generous’ offer based on final Premier League positions.

Newcastle‘s new owners are now looking to strike a new deal with the entire first team squad.

But they have asked each player to take a 40 per cent cut on additional incentives originally set by Ashley to prevent a breach of Financial Fair Play.

Newcastle are set to kick off their new Premier League campaign on Saturday against Aston Villa.

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The Magpies have introduced four new additions in preparation for the new season.

Yankuba Minteh, Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento all joined the club in permanent transfers earlier this summer.

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