Former Newcastle United star Jose Enrique believes the 'time is right' for Mike Ashley to leave the club.
The Magpies have edged closer to a new takeover deal after the Premier League began assessing the credentials of a new chairman.
News emerged on Tuesday that PCP Capital Partners' takeover bid for the club has reached the Premier League's Owners and Directors' Test stage.
The bid, spearheaded by financier Amanda Staveley and also involving the Reuben brothers, Simon and David, is backed by the mega-rich Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
It feels as if Newcastle are now within touching distance of a future without Ashley at the helm - something Enrique would welcome.
During his four years on Tyneside, Enrique became a fans' favourite at St James' Park and was voted the club's Player of the Season in 2009/10.
And although he has 'nothing against' Ashley, Enrique feels change is needed to take the club back to 'where they should be'.
"I have nothing against Mike Ashley – he is a nice guy and when I was at Newcastle he was always good to me," Enrique told the Guardian. "But for sure it is the right time for him to leave the club.
"Change is needed because Newcastle are not where they should be. They are a top club who should be in the top six and have a top manager.
"The current manager, Steve Bruce, has done a good job but he is not Rafa Benítez, who had won things. He left because he was not given the money and control he needed to do his job properly, which was a big shame for Newcastle and showed Ashley was not doing a good job as owner.
"It looks like the new owners will give the manager – whoever that is – money to spend. That is needed just to make sure Newcastle stay in the Premier League because if you look at clubs like Aston Villa, they are spending £100m just to survive. The new owners need to go beyond that to ensure Newcastle are competing for the top six and even higher."
