Newcastle United fans were buzzing when it was announced back in October that Mike Ashley, the club’s unpopular owner, wanted to sell the club after 10 years in charge.This was the news they’d been waiting ages for - and this time it seemed there was a realistic chance of it actually happening.But the same long-suffering supporters were brought back down to earth with a bump this week when it was announced that Ashley had ended talks with businesswoman Amanda Staveley over a takeover that was poised to be worth around £250 million.BBC Sport quoted a Newcastle source as saying: "Ashley was unhappy with their approach and feels discussions have been a waste of time but the club remains up for sale."A slight glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel, perhaps, but many Newcastle fans understandably feel they’re now back firmly at square one.It’s unclear how this latest news will affect the future of the club’s popular manager Rafael Benitez, who is acutely aware that his team requires strengthening this month in order to avoid relegation back to the Championship.The Magpies, with 15 matches of the campaign remaining, are currently 15th in the Premier League table, just three points above the drop zone.

What Dennis Wise said on Sky Sports

Newcastle fans, sick to the back teeth of Ashley, have been left outraged by comments made by the club’s former Executive Director Dennis Wise on Sky Sports’ ‘The Debate’ show on Wednesday night.

Here’s what he said…

“People have to realise what Mike Ashley is about…and I don’t think they do,” the former Chelsea midfielder, who recently appeared on ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’ commented. “He won’t allow that football club to go to (just) anyone.

“I think he wants to know that the next person who takes over that football club is going to take it forward.

“He could probably do a deal with someone really cheaply, get rid of it, get rid of the hassle that he gets time after time, or he can make sure that it goes to someone who he thinks will move that football club forward.

“That’s Mike for you, he’s that type of person.

“You have to realise he put money into that football club when it had quite a bit of debt, I think a quarter of a billion pounds he put into that football club to make sure there was no debt and buy it.

“He put his money where his mouth is there, he runs it in a structured manner because he doesn’t want the football club to get in the same situation as it did before, where it owes money.

“The fans don’t accept him, he knows that, but one thing he will not do is allow that football club to go to someone he doesn’t think will be able to take that forward.”

Newcastle fans are fuming on Twitter

Wise’s comments defending Ashley have, needless to say, infuriated Newcastle fans.

Here are just some of the tweets slamming the retired midfielder…

Meanwhile, an article has been written up on ‘The Mag’ which claims: “Dennis Wise has zero integrity or respect when it comes to talking about Newcastle United”.

Ouch.