And the message from Toon fans who made the trip was simple and straight forward ... they want to see the back of him NOW!
As one fan told me: "I hope he crawls in a corner somewhere and dies!"
Barton Wore The Toon Shirt - Ashley Didn't!
And the message from Toon fans who made the trip was simple and straight forward ... they want to see the back of him NOW!
As one fan told me: "I hope he crawls in a corner somewhere and dies!"
Chris Hughton took his troops to Dublin to face Shamrock Rovers, and for 85 minutes they struggled against reserve players and trialists.
The 3-0 scoreline flattered the visitors, no question, but pre-season is more about fitness than performances.
One player who isn't expected to be a Newcastle player come next month is Joey Barton, yet the controversial midfielder (making his first appearance since being sent off at Anfield late last season) was without doubt the club's best player.
No player is expected to "put himself about" in a pre-season friendly, but Barton was up for it.
He's not exacly Public Enemy No 1 ... Ashley holds that honour ... but he's not Mr Popular, put it that way.
Alan Shearer's already lost out on at least one transfer target - Sunderland signing Fraizer Campbell - and more will slip away from his reach over the coming weeks.
We won this game 3-0 and fans went on the razz in happy mood, but there are dark clouds above and boy do these fans - and the players - deserve to see happy times again.
Over to you Mr Ashley!