Ashley wants Champions League football

Alan Pardew has revealed that Mike Ashley has urged the team to seize the moment and capture Champions League football.

Newcastle currently sit in 4th place in the table, three points ahead of 5th place Tottenham Hotspur and three points behind 3rd placed Arsenal.

With a trip to relegation threatened Wigan tomorrow on the agenda, Pardew and Co will be looking at gaining another three points ahead of a tough run of fixtures that will see them play Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton.

However three points at the DW Stadium tomorrow, where the away side will be cheered on by 4,500 Newcastle fans, will ensure that we keep our Champions League destiny in our own hands and will edge us a bit closer towards finishing in 4th - a place that Mike Ashley is determined that his players push for.

"Mike Ashley is determined for us to push for the Champions League so we are obviously going to go for that. He's been very good to us. He’s been very supportive, and we’ll try to do that for him," Pardew said in his pre-match press conference.

Of course there is still a possibility that 4th place may not be enough for Champions League football although that depends on how Chelsea do in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich. If they win it and finish outside of the top four then 4th place will only be good enough for the Europa League. What does Alan Pardew make of that though?

"That's the rules. So we will get on with it," he concluded.

It would be unfortunate if we did finish 4th and such a situation occurred, but then it would be pointless getting angry or bitter about it because, as Pardew says, the rules are the rules.

To me it's a good thing that Mike Ashley wants us to pursue Champions League football. Maybe he isn't just happy with us sitting in mid-table like some have suggested?

There have been stories regarding Mike Ashley returning to drink in the pubs and clubs in Newcastle recently so maybe he is getting a buzz out of this season? Surely an owner on board and wanting a successful NUFC is a good thing, and if he feels that he can enjoy himself once more perhaps we could see the benefit of it?