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Ashley's Magpies motive "crystal clear", claims Allardyce

07/10/2008

Former manager Sam Allardyce has claimed owner Mike Ashley only wanted to buy Newcastle United in order to sell the club on "for a vast profit".

Allardyce was sacked by Ashley less than six months into his tenure after a poor start to the 2007/08 season, leading to the reappointment of Kevin Keegan as manager in January.

However, the club has since been plunged into turmoil after Keegan resigned, citing irreconcilable differences with the owner and the rest of the board.

Allardyce has now spoken out against Ashley, who is desperate to sell the club as quickly as possible, saying his reasons for buying Newcastle United were obviously only financial.

"It is crystal clear now what the motives were for Mike Ashley," Allardyce told radio station TalkSport.

"I think that he did buy the club in the hope that he could quickly sell it on for a vast profit."

Allardyce described the uncertain situation on Tyneside as "going from bad to horrendous", adding: "There is part of me that thinks I'm glad I'm out of it."

"I thought Kevin was going to get the money I didn't get - but the continuous sales and players moving in and out over the summer obviously caused him to conclude the job was untenable and the club was thrown into chaos," Allardyce concluded.