Ian Wright has launched an impassioned critique of Mike Ashley – questioning where the money from Newcastle United’s decade in the Premier League has gone.
Talking on BBC 5Live’s Monday Night Club, Wright said it was “not a joke” that United’s time under Ashley had see “no investment” in players, infrastructure, the community or taking the club forward.
Ashley was up for debate as the pundits talked about a possible Peter Kenyon-led consortium – an eventuality that remains a fair way off.
But Wright - who is a close friend of Alan Shearer, a prominent Ashley critic , said a takeover was needed to spark a flat-lining club back into life.
Wright said: “What Mike Ashley is doing to Newcastle is similar to what the Romans used to do to the Barbarians. Just come in somewhere and totally took it over.
“Don’t care about what is going on, what’s going on with the infrastructure, the people living there, just took over and do everything he wants.
“All he has done at Newcastle - I speak to Al (Alan Shearer) all the time.
“I don’t joke and mess around with him about it now because it is too close to the bone what is actually going on with Mike Ashley with his take, take, take.
“You mention Liverpools and like what Manchester City have done, what Abramovich (at Chelsea) has done, they have built the community as well.
“He (Mike Ashley) has done nothing for Newcastle or the area, or anything.
“The monies Newcastle have continually made from being in the Premier League, where is it?
“One of the best managers in the world (Rafa Benitez), a man who is capable of doing a lot... where is that money?
“What has happened to it? Why are there no players bought at Newcastle?
“Why is there no infrastructure? What is he (Ashley) doing for the area of Newcastle?
“What is he doing, what is Mike Ashley doing at Newcastle, apart from take, take, take?
“Newcastle fans have been unbelievable with the patience they have got.
“They are desperate for somebody to buy it. Peter Kenyon, you would hope he would come in and change stuff.
“I just feel for Newcastle fans right now because it is not even a joke anymore.
“It is not a joke, it is terrible what has gone on at Newcastle.”