Darren Bent has defended Mike Ashley and Newcastle United for their lack of response to calls for refunds to tickets.

Supporters have been contacting the club to enquire about being reimbursed following the decision to play the rest of the Premier League season behind-closed-doors.

Many other clubs within the English football pyramid have already laid out plans for how they will refund supporters who will not being about to get their money's worth out of season tickets, but the hierarchy at St James' Park have been particularly quiet.

The wheels have been put in motion regarding a potential takeover of the Magpies with a Saudi-based consortium said to be closing in a £300million deal to purchase the club, but so far there's been no confirmation of a deal.

That has left many supporters feeling agitated at the lack of communication from the club's hierarchy.

Bent, who enjoyed a spell at arch rivals Sunderland, has expressed his sympathy towards the fans who are enduring such uncertain times, but insists that the lack of contact is probably down to the amount of effort being put in to complete the sale.

Speaking to Football Insider, Bent said: "I don’t think it’s a lack of leadership, I just think at the minute the club’s in such an awkward position with the takeover, no one knows what’s going on.

“I just think at the minute, I don’t think they’re doing it on purpose and thinking they don’t really want to give the money back, I just think right now they’re trying to get this takeover over the line, they’re throwing absolutely everything at it to get it over the line.

“Unfortunately, maybe the whole season ticket issue is getting swallowed up in that because they just don’t quite know.”

GIVEMESPORT'S Phil Spencer says...

While patience is obviously key during such uncertain times, you can hardly blame the Newcastle United fans for growing restless.

For many, a potential announcement of a full takeover is exactly what they’ve been wishing for several years while enduring a turbulent reign under Mike Ashley.

The Sports Direct owner has been a hugely unpopular figure on Tyneside, and that’s why talk of interest from the Saudi-based consortium is such a hot topic of conversation.

But Newcastle fans must still be cautious.

If anyone knows what it’s like to see their club owned by an unpopular figure, it’s Newcastle United fans.

That’s why they must remain patient – after all, the last thing they want is to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire.