19 Things We Learned From Steve McClaren's BBC Radio Newcastle Interview

15. Steve Has Confidence In Mike Ashley

"Making that statement before the West Ham (United) game I think he ignited a lot of things, especially within Newcastle, and in any fan, and the club, and the whole area. For the owner to come out and say that I think it was a breath of fresh air and shows the ambition of the club. "From the outside I've always thought Mike Ashley (laughs)... He took over the club in a financial mess. It's stable, so stable in fact that he's put us in a position that we can so far this summer spend near £40 million which is what he wants, it shows his ambition and shows what we want the club to do."

Steve, Newcastle United had more than £34 million sitting in the bank at the end of the last financial year that they have the opportunity to cash-in on this summer, plus the riches that another season of Premier League TV money brings... Mike hasn't spent as much as you think. This would have been music to Ashley's ears though...