Sir Bobby Robson tried to sign him TWICE and he also had offers from Graeme Souness and Glenn Roeder.
He even told Roeder "I am very interested in talking with Newcastle" ... but West Ham knocked back the offer.
Ashton has succumbed to a long-term ankle problem which he initially sustained when training with England in August 2006.
The 26-year-old underwent several operations.
Ashton made his name at Crewe before joining Norwich in January 2005.
He netted 18 goals in 46 appearances for the Canaries, earning him a then club-record £7.25million move to West Ham.
He was injured in a training ground clash with then Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips with England.
The striker missed the whole 2006/07 season but returned to make 35 appearances in 2007/08.
He started the 2008/09 season in goalscoring form but broke down again after just four games because of the ankle injury.