Alan Pardew reveals Mike Ashley's ambition for Newcastle United

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew is confident that club owner Mike Ashley is determined to establish the Magpies as a force in the Premier League.

Ashley, who has been heavily criticised by the club's supporters in the past, witnessed Newcastle narrowly miss out on a Champions League spot last season.

"Mike, sensing it in him, wants to give it a real go," Pardew told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle. "He got excited about what we did last year. We got very, very close to the Champions League and I think it has egged him on to really give it a go."

Meanwhile, the club have denied that striker Demba Ba has agreed a move to Rubin Kazan.