BBC Sport pundit Danny Mills has claimed that as long as Newcastle United are doing well, controversial owner Mike Ashley will remain at the club.
The Magpies won their third game in row as they beat Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor on Monday night as Rafa Benitez continues to look as though he will be able to oversee his side avoiding relegation yet again this season.
However former Manchester City defender Mills believes that as long as Benitez keeps on keeping Newcastle in the Premier League, Ashley is going to remain in control at St James’ Park despite the fans wanting him gone.
“The trouble for Newcastle fans is it looks like Rafael Benitez is going to do it again and will get Newcastle out of trouble. But that means Mike Ashley will stay. That’s the issue for them,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Live on Monday night, as quoted on BBC Sport’s website.
OPINION
Is Mills saying that Newcastle need to get relegated to get rid of Ashley? Because if he is, why hasn’t Ashley walked after the two other relegations that he has overseen on Tyneside. Newcastle were a stable Premier League club before he arrived at St James’ Park as it became clear that all he was interested in was filling his pockets and promoting the Sports Direct brand than leading a top football club. Every year there are reports and rumours about Ashley selling up, but yet he remains in control of the club much to the anger of fans. Ashley promised that he would give Benitez his full financial backing when Newcastle were promoted in 2016/17, but so far, the side has barely improved and the only reason they are in the Premier League is because Benitez is one of the best managers in Europe. Take away Benitez and Newcastle will drop like a stone.