The former Liverpool defender, a good friend of Shearer, said Ashley dug his own grave with the Toon fans by snubbing TWO Newcastle legends ... Shearer and Kevin Keegan.
Keegan walked out when Ashley took control of team affairs away from him and handed transfer decisions to Dennis Wise.
It came to the point where Wise brought in players Keegan admitted: "I had not even heard of them.
"Dennis told me to check them out on U-Tube!"
Lawrenson: "Alan (Shearer) had enough. He asked to meet Ashley to talk about a way of taking the club forward, but Ashley refused to talk to him.
"It was a ridiculous situation, considering the club were fighting relegation.
"Alan knew it was difficult before he took over, but he couldn't believe how bad it was when he saw it from the 'inside looking out'."