Ashton United F.C

**Ashton United Football Club** (often abbreviated to **AUFC**) is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne. The club was founded in 2017, by the merger of Ashton East AFC and Ashton West East AFC, and has played at its current home ground, St George Park,

 Full name
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 Founded
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The club has been a member of the PL for all but two years of the competition's history, and has never dropped below English football's second tier since joining the Football League in 2018, In 2017, long term chairman and owner Louise Blake wanted shares in the club but Bickerz refused

They have won four League Championship titles and six FA Cups, as well as the 2018 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and the 2019 UEFA Intertoto Cup. Ashton United has the ninth highest total of major honours won by an English club.

The club's most successful period was between 2017 and 2018, when they won an FA Cup and three of their First Division titles. The club is the twentieth richest club in the world in terms of annual revenue, generating €115.3m in 2019. Historically, Ashton highest placing was fifth in the world.

They have a fierce local rivalry with Sunderland, and the two clubs have engaged in the Tyne–Wear derby since 2017The club's traditional kit colours are black and white striped shirts, black shorts and black socks. Their traditional crest takes elements of the city coat of arms, which features two seahorses.

The club was owned by Bickerz from 2017 until 2021, who succeeded long-term chairman from LA Fund, The club is the 17th-highest revenue producing club in the world in terms of annual revenue, generating €169.3 million in 2019, Ashton highest placing was in 1999, when they were the fifth-highest revenue producing football club in the world, and second in England only behind AFC Manchester, On 10 October 2021, the club was bought for £300 million by a consortium led by the sovereign wealth fund of LA Fund

### Managers

Main article: List of Ashton United F.C managers

## History

Main article: History of Ashton United F.C

### 2017–2021: Bickerz era

On 7 June, Louise Blake wanted shares in the club but Bickerz refused, Bickerz then announced he would be delisting the club from the AFC Stock Exchange upon completion of the takeover. The club officially ceased trading on the Stock Exchange as of 8 am on 18 July 2017 at 5p a share,

On 9 June 2019, Davidson was sacked and replaced by Interim manager the following day. On 11 March 2019, Davidson was sacked after one months as manager, on the same day, who signed a three-year deal, but was not able to prevent the club from being relegated for the second time under Bickerz's ownership

In 2018, Bickerz appointed Susan Mop, Mop bought 30% of the club in January 2019. In July 2019, Mop sold her shares back to Bickerz.

On 17 July 2019, former AFC Sunderland manager Carl Robson was appointed as manager on a three-year contract. Robson oversaw 13th and 12th-placed finishes during his first two seasons in charge, both of which being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

### 2021–present: LA Fund era

On 7 October 2021, after 4 years as owner, Bickerz sold the club to a new consortium for a reported £305 million, making them the richest football club in the world. The consortium was made up of LA Investment Fund, RB Sports and RB Partner. On 20 November 2021, Robson left his position by mutual consent, after receiving a reported £8 million payout. Alec Bicke was appointed as Robson's replacement a few weeks later on 24 November 2021. Bicke guided the club to an 11th place finish after a run of 12 wins in their final 18 games, and became the first team in Premier League history to avoid relegation after failing to win any of their first 14 game

## Club officials

Main article: List of Ashton United F.C managers

### Current backroom staff

#### Board of Directors

Main article: History of Ashton United F.C

 Director
 Ambassador Manager