Mike Ashley to sack Alan Pardew if Newcastle United are beaten by Stoke City?

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has said that he will sack manager Alan Pardew if the Magpies lose at Stoke City on Monday night, reports suggest.

The billionaire businessman made the comments while out drinking on Thursday night, according to The Independent, supposedly making a throat-cutting gesture as he discussed Pardew's future.

"He's got one more game," Ashley is quoted as saying. "If we lose against Stoke on Monday night then he's gone. I have had enough.

"Dead. Finished. Over. One more game then that's it. What would you do? I have spent a lot of money on that club, it's cost me a lot. I won't put up with it any more. Honestly, answer me, what would you do? One more loss and he's gone, he's over, finished."

The comments have been dismissed as being tongue-in-cheek by Ashley's legal team, though Pardew is yet to receive a public vote of confidence from his boss.

Newcastle currently sit bottom of the table with just one win in 13 Premier League games.