Controversial Newcastle owner Mike Ashley makes first appearance at a match in almost 18 months

Controversial Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley was at his first match in almost a year-and-a-half to see his side take on Crystal Palace.

Newcastle fans began singing ‘get out of our club’ upon hearing of Ashley’s attendance at Selhurst Park, his first match since May 2017.

He was in the directors box along with managing director Lee Charnley, and his trusted allies Keith Bishop and Justin Barnes.

Supporters have campaigned for Ashley to end his 11-year ownership and the club was listed for sale for a fee reported to be close to £400m in 2018.

Ashley has been criticised for not spending money in the transfer market by fans and the manager, Rafa Benitez; the club reportedly made a net profit of £24m in the summer transfer window, the most of any Premier League side.

The owner was said to be unhappy that he has not been invited to the training ground by Bentiez, but the Spanish manager said that he is always welcome. ““The owner is the owner and he is always welcome here,” Benitez said. “We are a professional club who are open to anyone. He can come here whenever he wants. We have no problems.”

Benitez’s contract expires at the end of the season and the popular manager has repeatedly expressed his dismay at the lack of transfer funds available to him from the owner.

“We have to be realistic, maybe sell some players and buy some players. It’s normal for us to think we have to be like that. The point for us is we have to adapt,” Benitez said in July.

“That is the situation. Are we happy with that? Obviously not 100% but we try to do our best to be strong enough and we can compete.”