Mike Ashley is the "one constant factor" in all of the recent failed takeover bids at Newcastle United.
That's the view of Magpies legend Rob Lee, who questions the Frasers Group magnate's desire to end his turbulent 14-year stay on Tyneside.
Newcastle fans have been the subject of numerous false dawns in recent years, with the likes of the Bellagraph Nova Group, the Bin Zayed Group and Peter Kenyon all failing in their attempts to takeover at St James' Park.
The Magpies remain locked in legal proceedings with the Premier League following the breakdown of the agreement struck with the consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund last year.
A High Court ruling and subsequent club statement earlier this month reiterated Ashley's desire to push through a deal ahead of an arbitration hearing.
However, any talk of a takeover is understandably met with scepticism by the club's fanbase, and former midfielder Lee has questioned whether the United owner truly wants to sell.
Lee told Football Fancast: "Something I see is people wanting Newcastle to go down because they think Ashley will then sell the club. I wouldn’t want that at all, I want the club to stay in the Premier League.
"If they do, then I just hope that somebody who wants to take the club forward buys Newcastle.
“There always seems to be one thing that goes wrong with these takeovers, always.
"The one constant factor in all of this is Mike Ashley, he’s involved in every failed takeover. So it makes me wonder how much he wants to sell the club.”
