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Shay Given believes Newcastle can compete at the top end again…If Mike Ashley leaves

6 years ago
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Shay Given wasn’t impressed by Mike Ashley a decade ago and nothing has changed his mind since.

After a brilliant decade of service to Newcastle United, even Given couldn’t stand any more of life under Mike Ashley, despite having stayed season after season as United generally underachieved under the Hall/Shepherd ownership.

The former keeper says he was forced into leaving as the club were ‘selling their best players’ and that Mike Ashley was happy to just see NUFC ‘float along’.

Despite being very happy to see Newcastle United back in the top tier, Shay Given thinks nothing has changed when it comes to how Ashley runs the football club.

Like the rest of us he does see some light at the end of the tunnel but only if Mike Ashley sells up, Given declaring ‘If they get the right owners, they can be challenging at the top of the Premier League.’

Here’s hoping.

Everything crossed that Premier League safety can be achieved quickly and then the club to really move on in the summer under new ownership.

Shay Given speaking to EIR Sport:

“They (Mike Ashley and his minions)) put out in the media that I asked for a transfer and there was nothing they could do to keep me, that was all just a smokescreen.

“The reason I put a transfer request in, is because Mike Ashley wanted all of the money for me.

“I had so many family and friends in Newcastle, and I didn’t really get the chance to even have one last game to say thanks, because I loved my time up there.

“The club was being run really badly and they were selling their best players.

“They are (still) happy to just run the ship and let it float along.

“That comes from the top with Mike Ashley and I don’t think it has overly changed much since.

“Great to see Newcastle back in the Premier League and hopefully…

“If they get the right owners, they can be challenging at the top of the Premier League.”

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