Newcastle United chief Lee Charnley has confirmed he turned down a bonus due him this year.

He is the lowest-paid Premier League chief on £150,000 a year — a staggering £1million less than Martin Bain was on at Sunderland as he oversaw back-to-back relegations.

Yet Charnley shunned a share of the £9.9m bonus Ashley had set aside for manager, players and club staff.

He said: “I accept my share of the responsibility for us going down — Steve McClaren was my appointment. I decided before the season that, given the owner's approach in terms of what he was going to do, in terms of supporting the manager, me and the club, in terms of trying to get out, it just didn't fit. It wasn't the right thing to do."