Sky Sports presenter makes astonishing claim about Mike Ashley - This really is unbelievable

Speaking on talkSPORT, Jim White has insisted that the blame lies with Rafa Benitez and the players and NOT Mike Ashley - claiming the NUFC owner has 'nothing to do' with our worst start to a season since 1898.

To say Ashley has nothing to do with our current on-field problems is an absolute joke quite frankly.

Don't get me wrong, Rafa Benitez has made mistakes and the players have not performed, but I honestly feel that you haven't been paying attention if you don't see Mike Ashley as the biggest root of our problems.

People may not like some of Rafa's fourth choice signings and they may question some of his substitutions, but isn't that like bickering over the colour of the carpets when your house is falling down?!

Here's what Jim White has had to say on talkSPORT - proving that he's yet another figure in the media who doesn't get it:

"This is about Rafa Benitez and the players and the blame lies at their door.

"This is nothing to do with Ashley."

https://twitter.com/talkSPORT/status/1054326830688280577

• He's pocketed more money out of the club over the summer than he spent on a singe player (£10m).
• £100,000 net spend since promotion in 2017 - compared to £86m from Brighton and £74M from Huddersfield.
• MINUS £21m net spend over the summer, with no proven goalscorer signed, no number 10, no left-back.
• LIED to Rafa Benitez about giving him 'every penny' generated by the club to spend - which is no doubt a major part of why Rafa is refusing to sign a new deal (something which continues to leave a cloud over the club and the players).

We've been relegated just four times in 117 years before Ashley, yet he could be part of our THIRD relegation in 10 years if he doesn't pull his finger out and back Benitez in January.

https://twitter.com/PeteGravesSky/status/1054315497494380544