The trouble at Newcastle United continued on Sunday when owner Mike Ashley finally gave in to fans’ protests and put the club up for sale. That decision will delight a lot of Geordies, maybe, but has Ashley really been that bad?

Ashley would seem to fit the owner profile many supporters want. He wears the club colours and stands with the fans on matchdays. On taking over he quickly stoked the desire for silverware among the supporters by indicating that he shared their ambition. He was one of them.

One of his first moves was to organise the return of Kevin Keegan. Back as manager, ‘King Kev’ caused pandemonium among the fans and Ashley enjoyed the instant adulation as the man who made it happen.

Ashley also decided that Keegan’s track record for spending lots of money with little return meant that a technical director, responsible for overseeing transfers, was needed and ex-Chelsea player Dennis Wise was duly appointed.

Was that such an absurd move on Ashley’s part? Keegan spent a lot of money during his first spell at Newcastle, and later at Manchester City, but did not bring in trophies in return.

Keegan’s strengths have always been in coaching, in being able to get a team to play for him and Ashley recognised that. Since Wise’s appointment the club have dealt well in the transfer market. Fabricio Collocini looks to be a valuable acquisition, as does Jonas Gutierrez.

Perhaps where Ashley did go wrong was by fuelling the fans’ desire for success upon his arrival, when ultimately his plans were more realistic and centred on reducing the club’s levels of debt, not bankrolling a title bid.

Is it not a touch sad to see a man who spends over 240 million pounds of his own money in little over a year at the club be so swiftly forced out? Perhaps it’s a sign of just how delirious English football has become.

PHOTO: Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley leaves after the annual general meeting of Sports Direct in Shirebrook, central England, September 10, 2008. REUTERS/Darren Staples