FILE PHOTO: Football Soccer Britain - Newcastle United v Blackburn Rovers - Sky Bet Championship - St James' Park - 26/11/16 General view of the crest outside the ground Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Ed Sykes/File Photo
(Reuters) -Newcastle United supporters have expressed their concern at the Premier League club's decision on Friday to consult a section of the fanbase regarding their plans to change the club's iconic crest which has been in use for 37 years.
Newcastle said its current crest was "created in a different era" and that its intricate design does not always "translate well in today's digital world".
The club invited season ticket holders and members to share their views in what they described as an independently run survey, but Newcastle United Supporters Trust has reservations about the survey.
"The survey is framed in an incredibly leading manner throughout and it is hard to see how any meaningful fan engagement or reliable conclusions can be drawn from it," it said in a letter to club CEO Darren Eales.
The trust also pointed to a clause in the Football Association's rules which states that a club must be in a position to prove that the majority of its supporters are in favour of a material change to its club crest prior to making any such change.
"As it stands, the survey is not able to provide information on whether the majority of our supporters are open to the idea of making a material change," it added.
"To comply with FA rules, we strongly urge you as a club to provide a new survey, written in a neutral tone and to include an option for supporters to indicate that they do not wish to pursue any change at all."
The current crest, which has been in use since 1988, has elements from the city's Coat of Arms like the castle, the demi-lion, the two seahorses on the side and a pennon.
"As the crest is a recognised Heritage Asset and a vital symbol that unites our city, we simply ask that the consultation process strictly adheres to FA guidance," the trust said.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Pritha Sarkar)
