Former Newcastle United boss Jim Smith has slammed the club's owner Mike Ashley.

The Bald Eagle told Sky Sports News: "It originally happened and the guy went in with all of that money and we all thought 'this is it, this is a tremendous opportunity for Newcastle to hit the big time'.

"They are a big-time club and they're a fantastic team with fantastic support.

"But obviously he went in there with no plan, no professionalism and it's gone downhill ever since. It's a crime.

"Hopefully the right owners can come in and sort it out because everybody knows Newcastle should be in the Premier League and challenging for honours."