George Caulkin explains the big Mike Ashley conundrum now £300m is on the line - A no-brainer?

George Caulkin has warned that the cost of getting relegated to the Championship is greater than ever - insisting Mike Ashley is desperate to sell to the Saudis and can NOT afford to see us go down a third time.

This comes from his latest appearance on The Athletic's brilliant 'Pod on the Tyne' podcast, which sees him discuss why the landscape is very different this season when it comes to the NUFC owner protecting his £300m asset.

Calls for Steve Bruce to be sacked have been greater than ever over the past 48 hours following Tuesday night's unacceptable display at Sheffield United - but Mike Ashley's history shows we've become anything but a sacking club, highlighting the crossroads he's now arrived at.

Here's what he's had to say on all of the above, insisting that "grown up conversations" need to be had on how things improve, with the thought of relegation and the loss of a potential sale to the Saudis incomprehensible for Mike Ashley this season:

With all of the above in mind, it should be a no-brainer for Mike Ashley at this point to sack Steve Bruce.

Frustratingly, widespread reports claim the NUFC boss still has his backing, however it's hard to see that stance remaining should we continue to slide closer and closer to the bottom three.

Ashley has never been quick to pull the trigger, but that could soon change if our form doesn't. After all, the one thing he truly cares about is money and there's hundreds of millions on the line here - with or without the Saudis!

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