Mike Ashley's thrifty handling of Newcastle's finances will be thrust further under the microscope after his personal fortune rose by a wallet bursting £1.45 billion in the last 12 months. Our tight-fisted owner has clearly benefitted from his refusal to relinquish a single penny towards a permanent transfer in the last 18 months after his wealth grew to an estimated £3.75bn, according to the Sunday Times Rich List which is published next week. Ashley places 23rd in the annual league table - one spot above Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson - that comprises the 104 billionaires now based in the United Kingdom and is certain to ruffle the feathers of Toon supporters fed up with his austere running of the club. What we'd give for Branson and the Sports Direct mogul to swap positions in the boardroom at St James' Park! Rumours that Ashley will hand Alan Pardew a £60 million transfer war-chest this summer have been instantly dismissed and it would come as no great surprise if we make it through a third transfer window without making a cash purchase. On one hand Ashley is deserving of praise for repairing Newcastle's finances in the aftermath of relegation but his reluctance to heavily invest in the playing squad isn't conducive with his expectation of a top-10 finish every season. It's little wonder we're marked as 7/1 favourites to be relegated from the Premier League next term.
