Alan Shearer believes Newcastle United fans want a change of ownership because they are “not getting value for money” from Mike Ashley.
The Magpies legend cites the Magpies’ 13-year-old transfer record - and the fact that nine of the players who started the 3-1 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday were playing Championship football last season - as proof of the frugal spending of the Sports Direct businessman.
In 2005 Newcastle paid £16million to sign Michael Owen from Real Madrid, yet the Magpies have not broken their transfer record since - despite every other current Premier League side having done so over the last few years.
Mike Ashley (Image: PA)
There were some anti-Ashley chants from the away support at the Etihad on Saturday following the news that takeover talks with Amanda Staveley had collapsed this week - and Magpies legend Shearer is not surprised that fans appear fed up with the owner.
“Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, and it looks as if no-one is willing to pay what Mike Ashley wants,” Shearer said on Match of the Day on BBC One.
“Now that’s fine, he’s entitled to do that, but the reason I think Newcastle fans want change - or at least most of them want change - is because they are not getting value for money.
“This is the reason why: every club in the Premier League over the last two or three years has broken their transfer record.
“Newcastle’s transfer record? It’s 2005 [that it was broken], when Michael Owen signed for £16m.
“Another reason? Nine of the players who played [against Man City] were in the Championship, and the other two were [Javier] Manquillo, who was at Sunderland, and Joselu [who was] at Stoke.
“That’s the reason why Newcastle fans want a change of owner.”