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Newcastle were bought by a group comprising Saudi Arabia's
Public Investment Fund, PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports &
Media, ending years of uncertainty to the delight of fans.
Ashley, the owner of a sportswear chain alongside other
businesses, had long ceased to be a fan favourite over what most
saw as a lack of investment. The club were relegated twice
during his 14 years in charge before immediately bouncing back.
"I would like it to be known that I received a higher offer for
the club than the one that I accepted. It was from another
reputable bidder who made a credible case," Ashley told the Sun
newspaper in an interview published on Tuesday.
"But I felt the bid that we accepted from the current new owners
would deliver the best for Newcastle United. Money wasn't my
only consideration. There were times when I stepped in
financially to keep Newcastle United afloat.
"We ensured the wage bills were paid when we went down in order
that we could bounce straight back up. Nobody was happier than
me when we achieved immediate promotion."
Ashley said he was not in the same "financial league" as the
consortium, and selling had been the best option.
"It's hard to compete at the highest level in football with
certain clubs that have almost unlimited resources," he said.
"I've known for some time now that many Newcastle fans were
frustrated by the situation and were in favour of a change.
"I therefore felt that I owed it to the fans to fight tooth and
nail over the last 18 months or so to make this happen."
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Kevin
Liffey)
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