Mike Ashley: Newcastle owner takes part in rare interview with Sky Sports - 'I won't sell until we win something'

Controversial Magpies' owner insists he won't be selling as he takes the blame for club's plight

Newcastle remain £129m in debt to owner Mike Ashley (Getty Images)

Mike Ashley took part in a rare interview today ahead of Newcastle's vital match with West Ham.

The controversial owner of the Magpies spoke candidly about his club's troubled season, admitting the blame lay at his "door". The Sports Direct owner though insisted he would not be selling the club and that he wanted to see the them win a trophy or qualify for the Champions League.

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With protests expected after today's game at St James' Park, Ashley replied to a question about where the blame lay for Newcastle's dreadful campaign with: "My door".

He continued: "I didn't envisage us being in this position at Christmas. Obviously, after the last couple of weeks I'm still a little bit shocked at where we find ourselves today.

"(But) I will continue the policy of investing in the football club.

"We have got the club on a very sound financial footing, so we are able to spend and punch above our weight thanks to the current financial situation the club finds itself in.

"We may have the cart, financially, but we now need to bolt the horse on, and we are going to."

Ashley, who has invested little in the playing side of the squad over the last 18 months despite key players being sold, was then asked what his future intentions for the club were.

"To definitely win something and, by the way, I won't be selling (the Club) until I do.

"(The club is not for sale) at any price. And when I say 'win something', if we ever get into a position of being in a Champions League place, that also counts as winning something.

"From this day forward we will be making our own luck."