Amanda Staveley has hit back in a court case against Mike Ashley that the removal of the Sports Direct sponsor boards were to benefit Newcastle United moving forward under new ownership.
Ashley has stated in court papers that he expected the Sports Direct deal to run until the end of this season and was expecting that arrangement to be honoured by new owners.
Once the new Toon owners had decided the Sports Direct signs were coming down, Ashley fought for the notice period to be 90 days but failed and signs were taken down in December.
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The sports retail magnate has taken the Ripon financier to court for comments made in media interviews when asked frequently about the hoardings - something Geordie fans were keen to hear answers on from the new co-owner.
Staveley said that she was 'looking forward' to the signs being removed and that it was a 'slight frustration' she could could not take a picture anywhere around St James' Park without Sports Direct getting a plug.
A report in the Daily Mail says that the conditions of a £10million loan from Ashley stated she could not put him down in public.
Staveley has denied claims she made critical comments about Ashley or ever suggested he never invested enough in the club. Ashley is asking for immediate payment of the £10million loan after what he sees as a breach but the new owners say that the club did not receive payments for sponsorship deals for THREE full seasons.
Court papers say: "(The club has) not received any sponsorship fees in respect of the Sports Direct or Flannels signage for the 2019/20, 2020/21 or 2021/22 seasons"
And Staveley says the decision to take the signs down came when Ashley refused to pay for the rights.
With Newcastle now pushing for new sponsorship, the new board are looking for new sponsors to make money and fans won't have an issue with that as they are seeing investment on the field - not least after a £91 million spending spree in January.
Ashley's side have made no comment since reports in national newspapers today. The Buckinghamshire tycoon was linked recently with a bid to buy Derby County.
A statement from Staveley's spokesperson read last month: "A company owned by Mike Ashley has issued proceedings against Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi. The claim is connected to the acquisition of NUFC.
"Ms Staveley and Mr Ghodoussi do not intend to comment on the details of the litigation, however, they are very confident of successfully defending the claim in full.
"The litigation will not distract Ms Staveley or Mr Ghodoussi from their hard work at Newcastle United, particularly as they focus on the opportunities and deadlines presented by the January transfer window."
