It seems our er, beloved owner, Mike Ashley had a few pints too many down Soho way in

Beer Talking

London town and made his mouth go a bit.

This is from The Independent,

Ashley:’‘He’s got one more game. If we lose against Stoke on Monday night then he’s gone. I have had enough.’Dead. Finished. Over. One more game then that’s it. What would you do? I have spent a lot of money on that club, it’s cost me a lot. I won’t put up with it any more. Honestly, answer me, what would you do? One more loss and he’s gone, he’s over, finished.’That’s all I’m prepared to say about it and now that I’ve said it, it’s out there. You can do what you want with it. There’s only so much I can take.’

Subsequent to Ashley’s words being made public, this statement has been issued by’Ashley’s lawyer: “Mr Ashley responded, tongue in cheek, that Mr Pardew had two more games before being sacked.’ To put this into perspective, over the past few weeks certain reporters have stated that they believe that Mr Pardew has two more games before being sacked. Mr Ashley was therefore ‘humouring’ your reporter.’

The full account of the journalist’s meeting with Ashley is here

Pardew has responded with these words: ‘Sometimes things are taken out of context. If it was a sit down interview done in a serious manner, I’d be a lot more concerned than I am today, that’s for sure. I’ve not seen to him, I’ve spoken to him this week. He’s obviously keen for us to get victories, that’s what he’s about. That’s what we’re about ‘ winning. I’ve been made aware of his comments in the paper, I’ve been under pressure at this club for a number of weeks now. All I can focus on now is the team and that’s what I’ll do.’

Well, as ever when Ashley is talking about Newcastle United, he can’t help mentioning money but as we all know, he’s caused a lot of the financial problems the club has experienced on his watch (notwithstanding the terrible financial state United was in when he bought it from Hall and Shepherd) but it seems Pardew’s days are definitely numbered. Not many give this team or this manager much of a chance at Stoke on Monday night.

I think we can put the subsequent statement from Ashley’s lawyers dowjn to damage limitation.

As for Pardew, as we all know Ashley does not, has not and is unlikely to give the kind of interview he has described, so this is as good as it gets.

He’s a dead man walking.

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