The facts and the figures ...
Under the terms of UK takeover law, having purchased more than 30% of a listed company, he was obliged to make an offer to buy the remaining shares at the same or a greater price.
On 31 May it was reported that the Newcastle board were considering Ashley's offer.
On 7 June 2007 it was confirmed that chairman Freddy Shepherd had agreed to sell his 28% share to Ashley, which left Ashley free to take control of the club.
As of 15 June 2007, Ashley owned a 77.06% stake in Newcastle United, on course to withdraw the club from the stock exchange having surpassed the 75% threshold required.
100% acquisition was achieved in July with Ashley paying a total of around £134 million to buy the club.
Ashley appeared to have saved the club from certain financial ruin by paying off large sums of debt inherited from the previous regime, although he was criticised for not doing due diligence when buying the club, as he subsequently revealed he had been unaware of issues such as the upfront payment of club finances such as the Northern Rock sponsorship, and the presence of outstanding liabilities for long past player transfers.
Ashley's ownership of the club was initially popular with fans, despite press scorn for his unconventional approach, by installing Chris Mort as chairman to run the club, while Ashley acted as one of the fans, drinking in local bars and clubs, and watched the team from the stands with the supporters wearing the team shirt.
This caused fierce local rivals Sunderland AFC to publicly refuse to give Ashley permission to wear it in the Stadium of Light corporate box for the November 2007 Tyne–Wear derby.
Instead of donning more appropriate attire, Ashley chose to take his usual place among the travelling fans for the game.
An apparent anomaly with the fans was the choosing 'Smith 17' as the number of his shirt, after a squad player Alan Smith he admired and 17 being a lucky number for Ashley.
Ashley's popularity rocketed with the return of Kevin Keegan on 16 January 2008 as manager to replace the previous regime's relatively unpopular choice Sam Allardyce.
On 30 August 2008 Ashley was shown on live television downing a pint of beer while with fans in the away stand during Newcastle's game against Arsenal F.C. in London, contravening Premier League licensing rules stating that alcohol may not be consumed in sight of the pitch.
Ashley subsequently "received words of advice" from the police during the game.
A Newcastle United statement declared that Ashley had been given the beer and told that it was non-alcoholic despite the fact that Arsenal do not sell non-alcoholic beer at their stadium.
This was the beginning of the dispute between Ashley and the club's supporters.
As the transfer window closed at midnight 2 September, rumours started to appear in the press stating that Keegan was extremely unhappy with Director of Football Dennis Wise' interference in team matters.
The following morning Keegan had a meeting at St. James Park with Wise and Managing Director Derek Llambias, it is unknown what exactly was said in the meeting but witnesses saw Keegan storm out of the meeting claiming to be sacked.
Keegan drove to Manchester to consult with the League Managers Association chief-executive Richard Bevan, while in this meeting it is thought Ashley found out from Llambias of the row and attempted to contact Keegan.
On 4 September 2008, Keegan resigned from the club following days of talks with the board of Newcastle United headed by Llambias.
This led to prolonged protests by fans directed chiefly against Ashley and Wise, being dubbed the "Cockney Mafia."
The club was warned by the League Managers Association on 5 September 2008 to develop a structure which would satisfy the next manager to replace Keegan to avoid a similar situation repeating itself and damaging the club's image.
On 14 September 2008 Ashley made a statement announcing he had put the club up for sale, a day after the first home game since Keegan's resignation, which Ashley did not attend, this was at 2-1 defeat to newly promoted Hull City. In his statement, Ashley stated "I have listened to you. You want me out. That is what I am now trying to do."
He also stated that while he had the utmost respect for Keegan, he no longer wanted to subsidise the club due to believing it would not be safe for him or his family to attend matches in future.
Ashley appointed Joe Kinnear to take temporary full-time charge of the squad as he began his search for a new owner.
In the following weeks, after an apparently unsuccessful trip to the Middle East to reportedly solicit potential buyers, Ashley later instructed London law firm to handle the sale of the club.
Ashley's actions and subsequent media coverage of fan reaction saw the creation of a new organisation, the Newcastle United Supporters Club, to properly represent fan's views to any future board. Interest also mounted around the feasibility of a fan buyout of the club, seeing the launch of the Newcastle Fans United group.
On 28 December Ashley announced that the club were no longer up for sale, after he had failed to find an acceptable buyer.
In January 2009, it was reported that interim manager Joe Kinnear had been offered a full-time position at the club by Ashley. Kinnear however suffered heart trouble the following month, given leave by the club to recover.
In April 2009 Ashley appointed Alan Shearer to replace Kinnear as interim manager. Shearer however was unable to achieve more than 5 points from the 8 games he was in-charge, and on 24 May 2009 Newcastle United were relegated to the championship.
Ashley apologised to Newcastle United F.C. fans on 25 May 2009 for the mistakes made throughout the season, but nonetheless praised all staff, including Shearer and Kinnear, for all their efforts throughout the season.
Since the club's relegation, Ashley struggled to find a buyer capable of providing proof of funds to purchase Newcastle United F.C.
Throughout August and September 2009, local businessman Barry Moat was reported to have opened negotiation talks with Ashley. In October 2009, a premier league arbitration panel found the club guilty of "constructive dismissal" and Mike Ashley was made to pay Kevin Keegan £2,000,000 compensation plus interest for his mistreatment during the time at the club.
On 27 October 2009, Ashley took Newcastle United F.C. off the market after again failing to find a suitable buyer for the club.
A Newcastle statement confirmed, "Mike Ashley is totally committed to the future success of Newcastle United and will be focused on gaining promotion back to the Premier League.
Mike will put a further £20m into the club this week."
The move to withdraw the sale proved questionable among many as he had stated little more than a week before that he regretted the purchase of the club and felt he never had the required stance and knowledge to own a football club.
The club released future plans in the same statement, announcing the club would attempt to sell the club's stadium naming rights to raise funds to clear debts of the club, causing outrage among Newcastle fans across the world who felt the club would lose tremendous heritage with the name of St James' Park changed.
On 4 November 2009, it was announced that Ashley's own company would sponsor the stadium, rebranding it the "sportsdirect.com @ St James' Park Stadium" until the end of the season.
Upon broadcast of the BBC documentary, Mike Ashley Uncovered, his dealings at Newcastle United were detailed, with it being announced that he only discovered upon purchase of the club how much debt the club were in, and that it cost him another £100m upon purchase to steady the club's financial security, having not viewed the account books prior to purchase.
Ashley and his representatives refused to comment, claiming the film produced a majority of inaccuracies.
In December 2010, Newcastle United sacked manager Chris Hughton, in a controversial move that proved to be unopopular with many fans of the club, and led to Ashley being personally criticised for the decision.[
Alan Pardew was appointed three days later.
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World Cup Fixtures
Thursday 12th June 2014
21:00 Brazil Vs Croatia
Friday 13th June 2014
17:00 Mexico Vs Cameroon
20:00 Spain Vs Netherlands
23:00 Chile Vs Australia
Saturday 14th June 2014
17:00 Colombia Vs Greece
20:00 Uruguay Vs Costa Rica
23:00 England Vs Italy
Sunday 15th June 2014
02:00 Ivory Coast Vs Japan
17:00 Switzerland Vs Ecuador
20:00 France Vs Honduras
23:00 Argentina Vs Bos-Herce
Monday 16th June 2014
20:00 Iran Vs Nigeria
17:00 Germany Vs Portugal
23:00 Ghana Vs USA
Tuesday 17th June 2014
20:00 Brazil Vs Mexico
17:00 Belgium Vs Algeria
23:00 Russia Vs South Korea
Wednesday 18th June 2014
23:00 Cameroon Vs Croatia
17:00 Australia Vs Netherlands
20:00 Spain Vs Chile
Thursday 19th June 2014
17:00 Colombia Vs Ivory Coast
23:00 Japan Vs Greece
20:00 Uruguay Vs England
Friday 20th June 2014
17:00 Italy Vs Costa Rica
20:00 Switzerland Vs France
23:00 Honduras Vs Ecuador
Saturday 21st June 2014
17:00 Argentina Vs Iran
23:00 Nigeria Vs Bos-Herce
20:00 Germany Vs Ghana
Sunday 22nd June 2014
23:00 USA Vs Portugal
17:00 Belgium Vs Russia
20:00 South Korea Vs Algeria
Monday 23rd June 2014
21:00 Cameroon Vs Brazil
21:00 Croatia Vs Mexico
17:00 Australia Vs Spain
17:00 Netherlands Vs Chile
Tuesday 24th June 2014
21:00 Greece Vs Ivory Coast
21:00 Japan Vs Colombia
17:00 Costa Rica Vs England
17:00 Italy Vs Uruguay
Wednesday 25th June 2014
21:00 Ecuador Vs France
21:00 Honduras Vs Switzerland
17:00 Bos-Herce Vs Iran
17:00 Nigeria Vs Argentina
Thursday 26th June 2014
17:00 Portugal Vs Ghana
17:00 USA Vs Germany
21:00 Algeria Vs Russia
21:00 South Korea V Belgium
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2013/14
PREMIER LEAGUE
LIVERPOOL 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Skrtel og)
Krul, Debuchy, S Taylor (73' de Jong), Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Sissoko, Anita, Tiote (82' Dummett), Gouffran (78' Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi
Subs: Santon, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Satka
NEWCASTLE 3 CARDIFF CITY 0 (Shola Ameobi, Remy, S Taylor)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett (45' Haidara), Sissoko, Tiote, Anita (79' S Taylor), Gouffran (70' Gosling), Remy, Shola Ameobi
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, de Jong, Elliot, Armstrong
ARSENAL 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy (84' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Gosling (69' Shola Ameobi), Gouffran (89' Armstrong), Remy
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 1 SWANSEA 2 (Shola Ameobi)
Krul, Anita, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Gosling (81' Armstrong), Tiote, Cisse (21' Debuchy), de Jong (40' Remy), Gouffran, Shola Ameobi
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor
STOKE 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, S Taylor (61' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, Coloccini, Anita, Gosling (73' Gouffran), Tiote, Dummett, Cisse (74' Armstrong), Shola Ameobi
Subs: de Jong, Haidara, Bigirimana, Elliot
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN UTD 4
Elliot, Santon, Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Tiote, Gosling, Anita, de Jong (61' Ben Arfa), Gouffran (85' Shola Ameobi), Cisse
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, S Taylor, Dummett, Alnwick, Armstrong
SOUTHAMPTON 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Yanga-Mbiwa (45' Santon), Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Tiote, Ben Arfa (45' de Jong), Sissoko (78' Dummett), Gouffran, Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Shola Ameobi, S Taylor, Alnwick
NEWCASTLE 0 EVERTON 3
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa (75' Marveaux), Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Gouffran (90+1' Shola Ameobi), de Jong (58' Ben Arfa), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 1 CRYSTAL PALACE 0 (Cisse)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko (88' Marveaux), Tiote, Anita, Gouffran (76' Shola Ameobi), de Jong (59' Ben Arfa), Cisse.
Subs: Gosling, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor.
FULHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Tiote, Anita (81' Marveaux), Gouffran, de Jong (86' Armstrong), Cisse (71' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Gosling, Haidara, S Taylor, Alnwick
HULL CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 4
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Dummett, Sissoko, Tiote, Anita, Gouffran, de Jong (90' Gosling), Remy
Subs: Cisse, Haidara, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, S Taylor, Alnwick
NEWCASTLE 1 ASTON VILLA 0 (Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Cheick Tiote (89' Gosling), Anita, Gouffran, Remy, Cisse (72' de Jong).
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Shola Ameobi, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 0 SPURS 4
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (45' Dummett), Anita, Sissoko, Gouffran, de Jong (63' Ben Arfa), Sammy Ameobi (71' Marveaux), Cisse
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Gosling, Elliot, Shola Ameobi
CHELSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy (40' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, S Taylor, Dummett, Anita (84' Marveaux), Santon, Ben Arfa (64' Gosling), Sissoko, Sammy Ameobi, de Jong.
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Shola Ameobi, Armstrong
NEWCASTLE 0 SUNDERLAND 3
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (64' Dummett), Anita (74' Marveaux), Tiote, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Sammy Ameobi (45' de Jong), Shola Ameobi.
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Armstrong
NORWICH 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon, Anita, Tiote, Ben Arfa (75' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Sammy Ameobi (87' Haidara), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Gosling, Elliot, Dummett, Armstrong
WEST HAM 1 NEWCASTLE 3 (Cabaye 2, Remy)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (74' Dummett), Tiote, Anita (60' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran, Remy (78' Ben Arfa)
Subs: Cisse, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa (82' Ben Arfa), Williamson, S Taylor, Santon, Anita (73' Cisse), Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran (82' Haidara), Remy
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi
WEST BROM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini (65' Yanga-Mbiwa), Santon, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (45' Ben Arfa), Sissoko, Remy, Shola Ameobi (76' Haidara).
Subs: Anita, Cisse, Elliot, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 1
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita (74' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Sissoko (79' Haidara), Cabaye, Gouffran (62' Ben Arfa), Remy
Subs: Cisse, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 5 STOKE CITY 1 (Remy 2, Gouffran, Cabaye, Cisse pen)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (61' Haidara), Anita (45' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gouffran (72' Cisse), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor
CRYSTAL PALACE 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Cabaye, Gabbidon og, Ben Arfa pen)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita, Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye (79' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Remy (75' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Cisse, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 1 SOUTHAMPTON 1 (Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (78' Haidara), Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Gouffran (73' Ben Arfa), Shola Ameobi (61' Cisse), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
MAN UTD 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cabaye)
Krul, Debuchy (83' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (78' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Remy, Gouffran (57' Ben Arfa).
Subs: Cisse, Gutierrez, Elliot, Obertan
SWANSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson (77' Yanga-Mbiwa), Coloccini, Santon (56' Haidara), Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi (67' Obertan), Remy
Subs: Anita, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 2 WBA 1 (Gouffran, Sissoko)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Sissoko (90+5' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi, Remy (84' Anita)
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 2 NORWICH CITY 1 (Remy, Gouffran)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye (68' Anita), Gouffran (83' Ben Arfa), Shola Ameobi (74' Cisse), Remy.
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
TOTTENHAM 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (85' Obertan), Remy (75' Cisse), Shola Ameobi (60' Anita).
Subs: Coloccini, Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 CHELSEA 0 (Gouffran, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote (53' Anita), Gouffran (85' Obertan), Shola Ameobi (62' Cisse).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Tavernier.
SUNDERLAND 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Debuchy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Dummett, Santon, Sissoko (45' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran (86' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Remy (70' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 LIVERPOOL 2 (Cabaye, Dummett)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Cabaye (78' Sammy Ameobi), Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko (45' Dummett), Remy, Ben Arfa (78' Anita).
Subs: Cisse, Elliot, Obertan, Dummett.
CARDIFF CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye (86' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Sissoko, Remy (71' Gutierrez), Cisse
Subs: Anita, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
EVERTON 3 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cabaye, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa (46' Williamson), Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Anita (69' Cisse), Ben Arfa (46' Cabaye), Sissoko, Gouffran, Remy
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 2 HULL CITY 3 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy (86' Tiote), Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (62' Gouffran), Anita, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cisse (73' Marveaux), Remy
Subs: Williamson, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ben Arfra, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Anita (74' Tiote), Cabaye (88' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Remy (63' Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, S Taylor, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 1 FULHAM 0 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita 65' (Cabaye), Marveaux 74' (Remy), Shola Ameobi 65' (Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 0
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita, Marveaux 66' (Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi, Cisse 72'
Subs: Gosling, Bigirimana, Elliot, Vuckic, Dummett
MAN CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Sissoko, Tiote, Gouffran 45+4' (Dummett), Ben Arfa 65' (Sammy Ameobi), Gutierrez 44' (Anita), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Obertan
LEAGUE CUP
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2 (AET)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara (45 Dummett, 80 Ben Arfa), Anita, Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko, Shola Ameobi (66 Cabaye), Cisse
Subs: Remy, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 2 LEEDS UTD 0 (Cisse, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Gouffran (90' Vuckic), Anita (80' Gosling), Tiote, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Cisse (71' Obertan).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Bigirimana, Alnwick
MORECAMBE 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi)
Elliot, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Good, Dummett, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux 88' (Sissoko), Vuckic 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi, Gouffran 71' (Ben Arfa)
Subs: Santon, Anita, Alnwick, Streete
FA CUP
NEWCASTLE 1 CARDIFF CITY 2 (Cisse)
Elliot, Santon, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Sissoko (85' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Anita, Gouffran (63' Obertan), Ben Arfa, Cisse (85' Remy).
Subs: Williamson, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett, Alnwick