Newcastle owner Mike Ashley sat down with Sky Sports today for an interview which was broadcast before their opening game of the season against Tottenham Hotspur.
Ashley bought a 41.3 % stake in Newcastle 10 years ago and initially, his take over of the club was welcomed by fans as he showed up to the home matches donning the club's colours, sitting in the stands with the fans and drinking beer.
Sam Allardyce was in the hot seat when he took over the club, and Ashley today accepted that he was too naive and hasty in getting rid of the former England manager so soon after he bought Newcastle, even though it was a popular decision at the time with the fans.
Chris Hughton got the club promoted from the Championship at first time of asking in 2009/10 but was surprisingly sacked mid-way through their next season as the club were in no apparent danger of being relegated, but Ashley held his hands up that it was a mistake and unfair to get rid of the former Irish international:
I thought I was very unfair on Chris Hughton who got us promoted and everything else, I don't think I gave him enough time.
He accepted as well that he should never have changed the name of St. James' Park to the Sports Direct Arena, a decision that proved to be the start of what has been an extremely fractious relationship with him and the fans.
Not to mention the fact that Ashley has gone through eight managers in 10 years at the club, including a short stint for Alan Shearer who could not save them from relegation in the 2008/09 season.
Watch Mike Ashley discuss his regrets with some of the managers he employed at the club below:
