Shay Given claims Newcastle owner Mike Ashley used to purposely try and P*** off players and fans
Given has detailed his displeasure at the way Ashley has treated the club and admits it felt like the club's owner used to “p*** off” fans and players on purpose.
SHAY GIVEN has slammed Mike Ashley’s Newcastle regime and questioned why he ever bought the club in the first place.
The Sports Direct tycoon has officially put the Toon on the market and wants to have it sold by Christmas.
But ex-Newcastle keeper Given thinks Ashley has wanted out for most of his ten-year tenure - and admits it felt like the club's owner used to “p*** off” fans and players on purpose.
The Irishman, who Ashley allowed to join Manchester City just before Newcastle were relegated in 2009, said: “It just feels as if he has never wanted to be there.
“I know he’s said recently he is selling the club.
“But I just think the club has always been for sale on the QT.
“He’s bought the club and never really wanted to have the club.
“When I was there it felt like everything Mike was doing at the time was just to wind everybody up - the fans, the players, everybody.
“It was like, ‘What can I do next that’ll p*** them off?’
“When I left, they were selling all the best players, getting free transfers in and scrapping in relegation fights.
“The ambition of the club was zero – it was just a ship bobbing along in the ocean.”
Given has also criticised Ashley for how the recent statue of Alan Shearer – which was funded and arranged by late chairman Freddy Shepherd - is not even in the St James’ Park grounds.
The former Toon keeper said: “If you were the owner of the club you would have a legend like Al at the forefront of the club.
“But then you have a statue and it’s not even in the stadium grounds. You couldn’t make it up.”
Given, though, believes Newcastle could be as big as Premier League leaders City if a takeover takes place.
He added: “If they had people like Sheikh Mansour, that sort of backing, then this club can go where it wants because of the stadium and the fanbase.
“It’s realistic for Newcastle to be as big as City when you look where City were when they were taken over and where they are at now.
"The club deserves to be up there challenging for the Premier League."