Why Newcastle fans have a reason to be thankful:

Admittedly three of them were free transfers but then again their wages still had to be paid and offloading the diminishing Nolan was the perfect way to do that. Newcastle now have a young talented team with an exciting French core to it. Moreover players like Cheik Tiote who were signed for less than £5m are now rumoured to be worth almost four times that amount.

Management

Some people will argue that the well calculated transfer forays were down to Alan Pardew but even if they were who was it that brought Pardew in? There was outrage when Chris Hughton was sacked and whilst it did seem unfair on the former Spurs man Pardew has done an excellent job. Ashley was ridiculed for his choice but Pardew has repaid the owner’s faith with an unbelievable start to the season.

For many Newcastle fans the stadium rights fiasco was an unforgivable act but if you were to summarise the club’s journey since Ashley arrived you would have to say that they are performing better on the pitch and are much more financially stable off it. To add to that the scouting network set up by Ashley and his policy of investing in young players is as sustainable as any other club, and more sustainable than most. The sale of Andy Carroll was lamented by many but now appears a masterstroke and the departures of Barton and Nolan now seem to have been a wise move in order for younger continental talents to develop at the club.

The departure of the excellent José Enrique is the only disappointing transfer for Newcastle fans but that can hardly be blamed on Ashley. After a slow start to life at the club, which saw them relegated, Ashley loaned Newcastle the money to keep their star players whilst in the Championship, ensuring immediate promotion, and has built on that success ever since. However much pride swallowing may be involved it seems that it is time for Newcastle fans to admit that Newcastle are much better off as a result of Ashley’s tenure.

Written by Hamish McKay for FootballFancast.com. Follow Hamish on Twitter @H_Mackay

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