Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is ready to end his controversial reign after putting the Premier League club up for sale on Monday. Ashley has been a polarising figure at Newcastle since taking over at St James' Park in 2007 and the sports retail tycoon has decided now is the time to step down. Newcastle have been relegated from the Premier League twice in the Ashley era, with the 53-year-old angering Magpies fans with his failed managerial appointments and his decision to sell naming rights to the club's historic stadium.
Ashley has frustrated current Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez by failing to back the Spaniard in the transfer market. Benitez has publicly complained about Newcastle's spending on several occasions since leading them to promotion from the Championship last season, with Ashley responding that he doesn't have the cash to compete with superpowers like Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United.