Supermac slams Ashley and gang

Never one to hold his tongue, Malcolm Macdonald has come out an administered a verbal beasting to the club over the total ability to organise any level of contract talks with Michael Owen. As our jewel in the crown and record £17m signing gets set to pack up his shackles and spring off to the North West again, Macdonald blasted:

'Even if Newcastle bust a gut to find someone to take him in January he will just say 'no' and they can't force him to go. He will just see out his time. It's fair enough for him to do that because Newcastle United have allowed him to get into that situation. All is fair in love, war and business.

Michael wouldn't feel as though he has loyalties to the club. He will want to get away as quickly as possible and leave the madness behind him What wouldn't be understandable is if he was prepared to stay.

The whole thing was badly tainted when he was injured playing for England at the last World Cup. That spoilt the whole situation. If that injury hadn't taken place before he had hardly kicked a ball for Newcastle I think there might have been a different situation. He started off on the wrong foot and kept on going on the wrong foot. It's hopped along on the wrong foot for about three years now and I think it's time to say goodbye, I really do.

In the first place, he didn't leave Real Madrid in the best situations and Newcastle were almost foisted upon him. He had three choices 'Newcastle, Newcastle or Newcastle.'

Last weekend Michael Owen got a brace against Stoke to give them a two-goal lead and he must have been scratching his head saying well they can't even hold a two-goal lead when I get them one. That will be a factor in him making his decision if it's not already made.

He'll be thinking of a major pay-day as well. It will be a case of 'thanks you very much' - Newcastle a load of disorganised, absolute sheer nonsense and I'm better off out of it'.

Somewhere back across in Cheshire way nearer home and I'm laughing and I will be able to stick another 20 million quid in the bank over the next three years without all the travelling across country.'

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.