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Gary Neville has likened Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley to the Glazer family that run Manchester United, declaring that neither have managed to connect with the local communities around their respective clubs. Ashley, who has been in control of Newcastle since 2007, has endured an unpopular spell with the Magpies and has been urged to sell up by supporters for some time.
A Saudi-backed consortium tried to buy the club from Ashley earlier this year but were denied after the move was blocked by the Premier League.
The 57-year-old billionaire's reign at Newcastle has been characterised by mediocrity and a distinct lack of progress or ambition, with fans growing increasingly frustrated in the wake of the failed takeover attempt.
There were murmurs of an organised protest on social media ahead of Friday evening's clash with Leeds United at St. James' Park, a match that was of huge importance with under-fire boss Steve Bruce looking for his first win of the season.
However, the 60-year-old was unable to finally get off the mark, with Newcastle eventually forced to settle for a disappointing 1-1 draw.
The Tyneside outfit have failed to secure a top-half finish in the Premier League for three years and look set to flirt with relegation once again this time around.
Neville has compared Newcastle owner Ashley to the Glazer family (Image: GETTY)
Neville, who was covering Friday's game for Sky Sports, suggested before kick-off that Ashley is not too dissimilar to the Glazer family in the way he runs Newcastle.
The former United right-back pointed out their shared reluctance to engage with supporters, claiming that Ashley's hands-off role is sapping the energy out of the club at an alarming rate.
"I think the first problem you have as an owner is if you have to apologise to the fans," said Neville.
"The fact they feel the need to justify their business model and their football idea I think is a problem in itself.
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The Magpies were held to a draw by Leeds on Friday evening (Image: GETTY)
"There are clubs in the Premier League like Southampton and Burnley that live within their means but they've got an identity. It's not quite clear what the football idea is here [at Newcastle].
"It feels a bit reactive, a bit off the cuff. There has to be a clear idea and a communication line to fans. Mike Ashley does not communicate with the fans or talk to them.
"He can't resonate with them. Of course it's run as a business, but football clubs cannot just be a business. They're more than that.
"You have to connect with the fans and the people in the city. Mike Ashley does not connect with the people in this city. That is a massive, massive problem in any club.
Ashley has often struggled to win over the fans at Newcastle (Image: GETTY)
"It's the same with the Glazer family at Manchester United, the same with some other clubs. They don't connect with the people of Manchester or Newcastle.
"If there was a bad performance or a poor year you'd get away with it if the fans and the manager and the owner were connected. There isn't that spirit or energy at Newcastle."
Newcastle have failed to win a major trophy since their last FA Cup triumph in 1955, while their most recent appearance in a European competition was back in 2012.
The Magpies signed just one player in the summer transfer window despite a sub-par campaign last season, with former loanee Joe Willock returning on a permanent basis from Arsenal.