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A Kent MP has pleaded with Newcastle United fans to “stop shouting” at her about the club's ongoing takeover saga.
Tracey Crouch (Con), the Chatham and Aylesford representative, is the chairwoman of the government's fan-led review into football.
Amanda Staveley, the financier who headed the largely Saudi-funded consortium which attempted to buy the Premier League club last year, wrote an open letter to the former sports minister on Sunday, days after Newcastle owner Mike Ashley had demanded greater transparency over the Premier League’s handling of the failed bid.
That led to the MP, unexpectedly, finding herself a target for fans of the Tyneside club.
"I'm enormously sympathetic to the points Newcastle United fans are making. But unfortunately, Amanda Staveley wrote to the wrong person," she told KentOnline.
"I have no jurisdiction on the matter. Amanda had published the email on social media before I had even read the email myself! I suspect it was a completely honest mistake.
"I do certainly understand the frustration of Newcastle fans, the takeover situation is something that has been dragging on for a very long time.
"But I’m not a Newcastle MP or the sports minister so, unfortunately, I have no jurisdiction on the matter."
Frustrated Newcastle fans have been keen to see Mr Ashley, who also runs the Sports Direct empire, sell the club for a number of years.
Since taking over in 2007, he has insisted to supporters he has tried to sell the club on several occasions but has been unable to strike a deal with any potential buyer.
After Ms Crouch indicated in her reply that Ms Staveley’s concerns didn't fall within her remit, the abuse started.
On Monday, she said on social media: "Dear Newcastle fans, stop shouting at me. I am doing an unpaid role, looking at the future of football.
"I'm not a Newcastle MP or the sports minister so, unfortunately, I have no jurisdiction on the matter..."
"I am not the sports minister. I do not have any powers to intervene in the proposed takeover.
"I am not 'passing the buck' when I have no jurisdiction over the matter."
Her call swiftly received the backing of the Newcastle United Supporters Trust.
They said on Twitter: "Tracey Crouch should not be the target of any form of abuse, shouting or twitter attack.
"We held a productive and engaging meeting with @tracey_crouch as part of the fan-led review.
"She was diligent but probing and understands the issue around transparency in football governance."
Ms Crouch said: "In my message back to Amanda Staveley, I made it very clear the supporters trust had given an excellent account of the correspondence we’ve had."
She also dismissed suggestions the abuse had been anything more sinister than fans venting their anger.
She said: "There was nothing I would report to the police. Basically, they just need to take their frustration out on someone else.
"Stop shouting at me, it is not me you should be shouting at.
"I can completely understand why they are shouting but, just, don’t shout at me."
It comes after 45-year-old Ms Crouch announced she has been given the "all clear" last week after being diagnosed with breast cancer last year.
In June 2020, the MP for Chatham and Aylesford revealed her diagnosis, and since then, she has been providing regular updates about her treatment and encouraging other women to get checked.
