Monday 25 May 2015 08:15, UK
Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley says he will not sell the club until he has won a trophy.
Ashley was speaking ahead of Newcastle's last game of the season, against West Ham, with United still in danger of being relegated from the Premier League.
Ashley admits he is still in shock that the club has found itself in danger, having been comfortable in mid-table at Christmas.
“I didn’t anticipate we would be anywhere near this situation. After the last couple of weeks I’m still a little bit shocked about where we find ourselves today," he told Sky Sports News HQ.
Asked where the responsibility for their slump down the table lies, he said: "At my door."
"I will continue the policy of investing in the football club. We’ve got the club on a very sound financial footing. So we are able to spend, and punch above our weight."
And Ashley was clear about his main ambition for the club: “Now it’s to win something – and by the way, I won't be selling it until I do. Not at any price. And when I say win something, if we ever get in a position where we get a Champions League place, that also qualifies as winning something.
”From this day forward, we will definitely be making our own luck. To be catagorically clear, I'm not going anywhere until we win something."
Ashley insisted however that he would not be involved in the decision about whether John Carver will be managing the club next season - or a new boss.
"It's Lee Charnley and the football board that make those decisions - as it was Derek Llambias who brought in Alan Pardew," he said. "I will not be picking the next manager - it's not what I do. My job is to make sure they have the maximum amount of financial resources. It's there job to get the best pound for pound value out of those resources."
