Former Newcastle United and England defender Steve Howey says the club has become a "laughing stock" under Mike Ashley.

He told the Evening Chronicle: "I felt sorry for Kevin Keegan then and Alan Shearer now.

"When Ashley first came in I heard he was a recluse and didn't like the limelight.

"But then I saw him on telly in the middle of all the fans and I was thinking 'what are you doing?'

"To see him swigging pints back in the away end at Arsenal really looked bad.

"And I know the talk in football is that he has hardly any respect from fellow clubs for turning up in boardrooms wearing jeans and t-shirts.

"We have been reduced to a laughing stock."