Former Newcastle United chief Dennis Wise has defended club owner Mike Ashley.

Ashley's purchase of House of Fraser department store chain for £90m on the eve of the Premier League season did little to appease Newcastle fans, following a transfer window where the club had made a profit.

"Unfortunately whatever he does, he will constantly take stick. It's as simple as that," said Wise, who spent just over a year as an executive director early in Ashley's tenure at St James' Park

"There are a lot of people out there that don't help the situation. They want to bring it onto him.

"People complain about them not spending enough money but if you trade well at a football club and you're able to bring players in and take players out and make money, I don't see what the problem is with that."