Mike Ashley: The most deluded man in Football

Astounded. That is the word that most Football followers would use on a day like today. News of Mike Ashley's incredible decision to sack Chris Hughton from his position as Newcastle manager has left most people shocked and many angry.

Hughton, aged 51, was given the news of his dismissal following his sides 3-1 loss away to West Brom at the weekend. Currently positioned in 11th, Newcastle and Ashley will now begin the search for his replacment to supposedly stop the club from falling back into the Championship.

It seems that the owner has missed some of Hughton's achievements as manager of the club so I will list them here in an factual manner:

2009/2010 Season

Appointed permanent manager of Newcastle United Football Club

Championship Manager of the Month: August, September, November and April

Newcastle complete promotion in April 2010 and finish 1st in the league.

Newcastle unbeaten at home (including cup competitions) for the 2009-2010 season.

Newcastle lose only 4 games out of 46 in the Championship

2010-2011

Newcastle return to the Premier League

Newcastle complete wins over Aston Villa, Arsenal (at the Emirates), West Ham and Everton in the league.

Newcastle beat Sunderland 5-1 in the Tyne-Wear Derby

Newcastle draw with Chelsea in the league.

Newcastle beat Chelsea in the Carling Cup (at Stamford Bridge) before being knocked out by Arsenal

When Hughton is sacked, Newcastle sit 11th in the Premier League ahead of Liverpool.

These are the facts, now I will have my say.

Not only did Chris Hughton return United to the Premier League at the first time of asking, he did it in record time, he did it with the same 'hopeless' group of players that were relegated and he did it in an incredibly short space of time.

Following promotion, Hughton wasn't given outrageous investment (only signing Tiote, Ben Arfa who is injured and Campbell and Gosling on free transfers) and for the most part kept the same squad that were successful in the Championship

To then have Newcastle mid-table in their first season back in the top-flight, along with wins over Arsenal and the thrashing of Sunderland at home, is an outstanding achievement and has been completely overlooked by the short-sighted and deluded Ashley.

Hughton, has been instrumental in resurrecting the careers of Kevin Nolan and Jose Enrique, developing Andy Carroll to a point where he has been selected for England and introducing the talented young Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Hughton hasn't been given a huge transfer kitty, he didn't inherit many 'Premier League' standard footballers and yet he was able to completely turn the side round.

If Newcastle honestly believe that sacking Hughton is a positive step in fighting for survival then they are incredibly mistaken. The irony is that their chances of survival have just dipped quite considerably following Hughton's dismissal.

Unless Mike Ashley has Jose Mourinho or Pepe Guardiola's signature already down on paper, then this represents the strangest and most ridiculous footballing decision from recent memory.