Newcastle United Owner Mike Ashley has said that the club "is not for sale and he will not be leaving until some silverware has been won," according to Douglas Beattie of REUTERS. Before the club's 2-0 home win over West Ham, which secured its Premier League status in the final match of the season on Sunday, Ashley said that "he could not have foreseen the relegation dogfight the Magpies found themselves in." Ashley:
"I can't have imagined it (the club's predicament) from Christmas. I probably didn't anticipate the club to be anywhere near this situation. After the last couple of weeks I'm a little bit shocked where we are today."
Newcastle Manager John Carver "has been under severe pressure." However, asked who was to blame, Ashley said "responsibility stops at my door," but added, "I'm not going anywhere until we win something. That includes getting a Champions League place. I won’t be selling it (the club) until I do. Not at any price."
He also said that "he would play no direct part in deciding who would be in charge of the team next term." Ashley:
"Managing director Lee Charnley and the football board will make a decision about any new manager. I will not be picking the next manager" (REUTERS, 5/24).
