Former Newcastle United and Republic of Ireland player John Anderson joined The Football Show to discuss the potential sale of the club and the legacy of Mike Ashley.

While quick to note that the sale to a Saudi-led consortium fronted by Amanda Staveley is not guaranteed to go through, Anderson believes that the situation is so bad at the club that supporters would back any owner, regardless of human rights abuses.

"He hasn't been forthcoming with the funds to bring better quality players to the football club and the majority of supporters have had enough of him now," said Anderson.

"They want to see someone come in that has a little more ambition, that wants to take the club forward. There might be a mixed reaction to [the news that the new owners are from the Saudi regime] but the majority would be quite happy with it."

The question of the potential sale raises concerns about moral ambiguities among fans as to which owners they accept, and at what cost.

This is not a question that concerns Anderson, personally-speaking.

"I would like to see what they would like to bring to the table. There has been a lot of talk about it.

"We have got to wait and see whether this deal is going to be done or not. But I would like to see somebody else come in - Mike Ashley has had his turn with 13 years where he hasn't done a great deal.

"It has gone backwards. If the Saudis come in, and Amanda Staveley has a hands-on role, then I have no problem with it at all."

As to the legacy that Mike Ashley would leave. Anderson was damning in his assessment.

"People coming to St James' Park always used to comment on the atmosphere and how difficult it was to come here. But he just seemed to kill the life of supporters.

"He killed the fire in their bellies; took it all away.

"He stopped the tea and the little bit of grub that the media used to get, and when Rafa Benitez came in then that reappeared.

"Everything about the whole stadium was flat. You used to get such a buzz from going to the games - now everything is flat, there is no atmosphere.

"People have just had enough - they have had 13 years of it."

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