The folly of two failed windows, when once again Ashley failed to keep promises and do the right thing by the club, manager, players and supporters is now becoming more obvious with each passing defeat. Rafa identified the goalkeeping area as one he wanted to strengthen and we’ve seen so far this season exactly why with the limitations of both Darlow and Elliot cruelly exposed against more testing opposition than we faced last season in the Championship.

The club completely failed to heed the warnings of an elite coach who it pays a handsome salary to lead and direct the playing side of the club. At the other end of the pitch the cramping inadequacies of United’s striking options now means debate amongst supporters rages around the likely attributes of Joselu, Gayle, Mitrovich and Perez. But the bottom line is the discussion boils down to who is the least worst.

Those of us who have been privileged to enjoy watching some absolutely superb striking talent down the years can only wince at the cheerleading that goes on for Mitrovich on social media.

We have an honest though limited pool of players. I have no problem with the effort they are putting in. I know they will be hurting because they want to do so much better. But they just can’t with key areas of the pitch hideously suffering because of Ashley’s inability to see the big picture and strengthen.

We have squirmed as good lads have made individual errors which have cost us badly.

They are making those mistakes because they are stretched and playing at a standard which might just be beyond them at present. For all that, an injection of quality throughout the team could perhaps enhance the performances of some of our players and disguise the inadequacies of others. It is an awful position for everyone at United to be in.

The reason we are where we are is down to Mike Ashley. In just over a decade he has degraded the club in every possible way. Now with a fair offer on the table he is once again putting his own interests ahead of Newcastle United’s.

He is taking the club, the manager and the supporters to breaking point.

You may laugh but when he made it plain he was putting the club up for sale he made comments about finding someone who could take the club forward … blah-blah-blah. All meaningless claptrap for the benefit of SKY SPORTS (an organisation he appears to have a peculiarly close relationship with) but cut no ice with a support he has rendered disbelieving and utterly cynical.

I’ve heard some whispers of discontent about Rafa. To be honest, I think the people who bawl from their prams about Benitez are furnished with too much attention to be quite honest and I don’t believe the minority of hysterical, ignorant siren voices within social media are in anyway representative of what the overwhelming majority of our support believes.

We all know Rafa has been hung out to dry and is still being shafted by Ashley.

I no longer become exercised by the lamentable way Ashley runs United. So, last week when I heard Rafa had met the Teaboy but still had no idea about a January budget it was completely unsurprising. This is how Ashley operates. This is how he treats people in his pursuance of money. No class, no dignity.

Rafa isn’t a binary choice. You aren’t behind him unquestionably believing he walks on water. Likewise you don’t have to be dead against him. Of course the manager makes mistakes. All managers do. Everyone does. But teams rise and fall on the back of a collective effort. No great manager in history has worked for a man like Ashley. He sets the context, the atmosphere around the club and we all know he is rank rotten.

Rafa Benitez is an enormous asset to Newcastle United. As is the club’s incredible support and its magnificent stadium. This is what Staveley sees and is attracted to. I doubt without Rafa, Staveley would be anywhere near United. He is a magnet at United.

The key to all of this is the deal to get United out of Ashley’s grip and into the ownership of Amanda Staveley and the PCP group. Let’s be honest, none of us know much about Staveley or her plans for United but we do know all about Ashley and that’s why we’re desperate to see the club sold. We are desperate for change despite being wholly unaware of what lies behind Ms Staveley and her PCP group.

The sticking points now appear to be the relegation clause Staveley is keen on. I have to say I can’t blame her. I’d worry if she blithely steamed in as Ashley wants us to believe he did and buy United ignorant of the position the club is in.

I’ve also been told alternatively that Ashley wants to retain control of the United merchandising as well as continue with advertising access around SJP. Don’t be surprised by this, it is exactly what he did in his tortuous relationship with Rangers so there is absolutely no reason to believe he would do anything different with United.

The club is at something of a crossroads. We have high hopes for Staveley and what she could do for United but alternatively we know Ashley’s way offers only more of the same. I find it inconceivable Rafa would choose to stay at United without a takeover happening and I wonder what kind of desperate dupe would be found to sit in the dugout as the club stooge and his replacement. Kinnear? Pardew? McClaren? Carver?

We’ve made this all too easy for Ashley. Previous attempts at protest have failed to ignite the support into action even though thousands have chucked it and replaced by those attracted to cheap deals on tickets. I’m not going down that road again on a personal level. The casual but no less poisonous abuse anyone gets who puts their head above the parapet is enough to put anyone off and it is an absolutely thankless task. Thanks but no thanks.

For all of that, I won’t be alone in cancelling the DD on a season ticket I’ve held for decades or in chucking in something which has been a central part of my life since being a school-boy.

Under Rafa, United flickered back into life and offered hope something could change but Ashley has extinguished that and right now he threatens to capsize the club taking the right turn for once as he pursues his own agenda and greed. I can’t and won’t go back to the completely dispiriting experience of following a Zombie club. The clock is ticking for me in ending my relationship with a football club, an institution I’ve loved. I’m no different to many thousands of you’reading all of this.

Its not for me to lecture anyone on what they do with regards to Newcastle United but should this sale of United fall through and we’re back with Ashley, then anyone who calls themselves a supporter needs to do some soul searching and decide what it is exactly they are following, what good are they doing?

This is a fork in the road moment for United. We cannot follow the one marked Mike Ashley. His days are finished, surely.

Keep On, Keepin’ On…

true faith’s match-day newsletter, THE SPECIAL is still available. To get at THE SPECIAL just click here.’

The latest issue of‘true faith‘(TF 135) is now available for you to download. Just click on the image below and its all yours. You can download and read the fanzine offline if you choose. The‘true faith‘fanzine is completely FREE of charge and we think it works great on a tablet or i-pad for the old school, read the fanzine whilst stretched on the sofa or sitting on the netty experience.’

true faith‘is’Newcastle United’s‘longest running and most widely read fanzine. It is one of the UK’s most popular, well-known and respected fanzine titles. Since 1999,’true faith‘has been providing the alternative view on life at’Newcastle United‘and football in general. true faith is predominantly written and designed by people who pay to watch’Newcastle United‘home and away.’

We all hope you enjoy it.’