We broke the news when Ashley first took over at St James' Park, much to his frustration, and the NUFC Press office were soon on the blower telling us (NU Mad) that it was "lies" and we had to remove the article.
Then Ashley ... who refuses to face questions from the media ... was caught off-guard and put on the spot by a reporter who asked him "are you a Tottenham fan?"
Ashley replied: "I have NEVER supported Tottenham. I have never liked them, even as a kid!"
However ... it has emerged that Ashley is actually a Tottenham Hotspur Football Club supporter ... and that piece of info comes from his old buddy, Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan.
Whelan: "I know Mike Ashley quite well as I was running JJB when he was with Sports Direct, and he is a bit unusual. Then Ashley ... who refuses to face questions from the media ... was caught off-guard and put on the spot by a reporter who asked him "are you a Tottenham fan?"
Ashley replied: "I have NEVER supported Tottenham. I have never liked them, even as a kid!"
However ... it has emerged that Ashley is actually a Tottenham Hotspur Football Club supporter ... and that piece of info comes from his old buddy, Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan. "He is a very good retailer.
"But at managing a football club, no. Especially with him being a Tottenham supporter and then going up to Newcastle, a club that is a different kettle of fish to most in the land."