Timeline of Mike Ashley's ownership of Newcastle

Owner Mike Ashley has presided over an eventful decade at Newcastle

Mike Ashley's tenure as Newcastle owner has been nothing if not eventful.

Here, Press Association Sport takes a look at the landmarks during his often controversial reign.

May 23, 2007 - Ashley buys a 41 per cent stake in the club, finally completing a £134.4million takeover in July.

Jan 9, 2008 - Sam Allardyce, the manager appointed by then chairman Freddy Shepherd just days before Ashley launched his ownership bid, is sacked less than eight months into his reign.

Jan 16, 2008 - Ashley and new chairman Chris Mort pull off something of a coup by persuading Kevin Keegan to return to St James' Park as manager.

Sept 4, 2008 - Keegan resigns over the club's transfer policy and later wins a £2million pay-out for constructive dismissal.

Sept 14, 2008 - Ashley puts the club up for sale for the first time amid a furious backlash over Keegan's exit.

Sept 26, 2008 - Newcastle appoint interim manager Joe Kinnear, who has been out of the professional game for almost four years.

Dec 28, 2008 - Ashley announces the club is no longer for sale.

April 2, 2009 - Former Magpies striker Alan Shearer is handed eight games to spare the Magpies from relegation with Kinnear recovering from heart surgery.

May 24, 2009 - The Magpies are relegated after a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa. Six days later, the club is up for sale again.

Oct 27, 2009 - The club is taken off the market and caretaker manager Chris Hughton is appointed on a permanent basis.

April 5, 2010 - Promotion is secured when Nottingham Forest fail to beat Cardiff and Newcastle go on to win the title a fortnight later at Plymouth.

Dec 6, 2010 - Hughton is sacked five weeks after a 5-1 derby win over Sunderland with the club 11th in the Premier League table.

Dec 9, 2010 - Alan Pardew is appointed as Hughton's replacement.

Jan 31, 2011 - Striker Andy Carroll is sold to Liverpool for £35million.

Nov 9, 2011 - The hierarchy sparks fury by announcing St James' will be re-named the Sports Direct Arena.

May 13, 2012 - Despite a final day defeat at Everton, the Magpies finish fifth in the Premier League to qualify for European football for the first and only time under Ashley.

Oct 9, 2012 - The club announces a controversial shirt sponsorship deal with payday lender Wonga.

June 18, 2013 - Kinnear returns to St James', this time as director of football. He resigns the following year amid fallout over the sale of m idfielder Yohan Cabaye.

Dec 31, 2014 - Pardew leaves for Crystal Palace amid frustration over transfer spending. Assistant John Carver is appointed as his replacement.

May 24, 2015 - The sportswear magnate vows not to sell the club until he has won a trophy just hours before the Magpies secure their Premier League status with a 2-0 final day victory over West Ham.

June 10, 2015 - Former England boss Steve McClaren is named manager. He lasts just 10 months.

March 11, 2016 - Rafael Benitez is unveiled as McClaren's successor.

May 11, 2016 - The Magpies are relegated as a result of Sunderland's victory over Everton.

May 25, 2016 - Benitez agrees to stay.

April 24, 2017 - A 4-1 victory over Preston secures the club's passage back to the top flight and the title follows on a dramatic final day.

April 26, 2017 - Managing director Lee Charnley is arrested and later released without charge amid allegations of tax irregularities.

Oct 16, 2017 - Ashley's decision to put the club back on the market is announced.