No regrets for Ashley

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley insists he has no regrets about buying the club, despite no longer feeling welcome at St James’ Park.

Ashley is looking to sell the Barclays Premier League club he bought for £134.4m (€149m) in May last year.

Fans turned on Ashley, and his executive director (football) Dennis Wise, following the resignation of Kevin Keegan earlier this season. Keegan walked out in protest over the club’s transfer policy and Ashley and Wise bore the brunt of a furious backlash from supporters.

“I’ve made mistakes, sure,” Ashley told the News of the World. “But do I regret buying Newcastle? Absolutely not. I had a fantastic year owning a fantastic club. It really was like someone fulfilling their boyhood dream.

“Up to a point, I enjoyed every minute of it.”

Ashley is struggling to find a buyer for the club and reported interest from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, China, Qatar and Nigeria has failed to materialise.

“I have not had a single credible bid,” Ashley added.

Asked about rumours of a Pini Zahavi-led group being keen to enter into negotiations, Ashley said: “Someone told me they had been interested in Portsmouth and West Ham.

“Why would we be third on the list? We are a much bigger club than those two.”