Shay Given reveals how Newcastle United and owner Mike Ashley 'held a gun to his head' over 2009 contract talks that led to his Man City move

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Shay Given was unable to fulfil his wish to finish his career at Newcastle United because of Mike Ashley's cost-cutting.

The former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper spent 12 years at St James' Park before joining Manchester City in 2009.

In his new book 'Any Given Saturday', he reveals how Newcastle offered him a contract worth less than his existing one.

Shay Given has revealed that Newcastle United offered him a reduced contract during negotiations in 2009 that led to the goalkeeper moving to Manchester City

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley's cost-cutting apparently extended to Given's new contract

Given and his lawyer Michael Kennedy met with owner Ashley and assistant Derek Llambias for contract negotiations in 2009.

'I went out of the room soon after the meeting had begun and returned to the car,' Given writes in the book serialised by the Chronicle.

'Michael was back out, sat in the passenger seat, soon after. "We're not staying",' he said. 'That was not a serious offer in any way, shape or form.'

'I was prepared to stay for the rest of my career but, ultimately, I was in my prime, a potential Premier League-wining team wanted to sign me and Newcastle did not give any impression they wanted to chase silverware.

'How much did they really want to keep me though? How much did they want to be challenging? Did the boardroom care about keeping their most loyal players? In a word, no.'

The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper made 462 appearances for Newcastle over 12 years

Given says he wasn't offered any indication of Newcastle's ambitions during contract talks

When Given turned down the contract worth less than his existing one, Newcastle tried to make it seem as though he'd been trying to force through a move.

Given continues: 'In the end, with me unhappy at what was going on and the lack of ambition shown by the club, a gun was put to my head.

'They said they would not allow me to leave unless I signed a transfer request. By making me hand in a formal written request, it meant they could waive 10 per cent of the fee I otherwise would've picked up after moving.

'With the fee being around £6million-£8m, it effectively meant I was waiving £600,000 to go.

Ashley this week put Newcastle United back in the market and wants a deal by Christmas

'They made it sound like I was holding them to ransom and that poor little Newcastle were being stitched up by just another greedy footballer when, in actual fact, I wanted to stay.

'But only if Newcastle gave me a competitive contract and, by doing so, proved the club had big plans for the future.'

Given, who made 462 appearances for Newcastle, duly signed for Manchester City and spent three years there before rounding off his career at Aston Villa and Stoke City.

Ashley, who took over at Newcastle in 2007, put the club up for sale this week and is hoping to conclude a deal by Christmas.