Newcastle United

Joey Barton: 'Mike Ashley will want to control new Newcastle United manager'

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 30 December 2014

Joey Barton believes that Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley will appoint a new manager whom he can "control" after giving Alan Pardew permission to speak to Palace.

Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton believes that Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley will appoint a new manager whom he can "control".

The Magpies are expected to lose current boss Alan Pardew, who has been given permission to speak to Crystal Palace after the two clubs agreed a compensation fee.

Barton, who spent four years playing for Newcastle before moving to Loftus Road in 2011, believes that Tony Pulis would be a good option, but has concerns that the former Palace boss will turn it down due to Ashley's "control" over transfers.

The 32-year-old tweeted: "Seems the inevitable is about to happen. Pardew to leave NUFC. Suits both parties. Think they will both realise what they have lost in time.

"Wouldn't even be able to hazard a guess as to who Ashley will appoint at the Toon. You would think logically it must be Tony Pulis. But he will no doubt appoint somebody who he can control and that will accept transfers being out of their control. Pulis won't have that."

Despite Barton thinking that Pulis is the 'logical' choice, reports have claimed that the 56-year-old is wanted by West Bromwich Albion, who sacked Alan Irvine on Monday night.