Temuri Ketsbaia has slammed Newcastle United for a lack of ambition - insisting football's big names now want to play elsewhere.
The Georgian legend rubbed shoulders with some black and white greats during his stay at St James' Park but he is now concerned that the club are drifting back to a state of mediocrity.
Ketsbaia famously scored the goal that helped Newcastle qualify for the Champions League after scoring against Croatia Zagreb to secure a place in the group stages.
Without that goal, the famous clash with Barcelona wouldn't even be in the history books - but Ketsbaia is deeply saddened by the way Newcastle have been allowed to languish in the bottom half of the Premier League.
He told the Chronicle: "I made many, many friends back then.
"Rob Lee, Alan Shearer, Duncan Ferguson, Nobby Solano and Shay Given.
"There were so many greats in that team.
"It was a good time for the players to choose to come to Newcastle.
"Now I don't see too many stars coming to the club.
"Which players can make the difference?
"There doesn't seem to be money to spend and the people who run the club are not able or don't want pay the money."
The silence from Newcastle's top brass is the worst part of it in the eyes of Ketsbaia.
He said: "They never tell us.
"Things are not so well at the club.
"They have been relegated twice under the current owner.
"Yes, they came back and were promoted but they aren't in a good position now.
"Two teams have gone down and there's only one team left but hopefully they will get the points to avoid going down.
"I don't think they'll go down.
"But this situation is not what the fans want, they want to see their side fighting for something, and to play for something.
"Unfortunately, for many years now they are not able to win anything or at least play to win."
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