Mike Ashley rarely does interviews but, leaning against the wall of The Golden Lion in Soho's Dean Street, the billionaire businessman is spotted by a journalist from the Independent who introduces himself to the Newcastle owner.

Ashley allegedly goes on to say that if the Tyneside outfit are beaten by Stoke then Alan Pardew will pay with his job., external The next day Ashley's lawyers go into overdrive to try to repair the damage. It is claimed his remarks were a "joke".

I'm sure Pardew saw the funny side!

The date is 21 October 2007. Newcastle owner Mike Ashley gives an interview to the now defunct News of the World where he explains why he has bought the club. "I want to have fun and win some trophies," he says.

Fast forward seven years and it has not quite panned out like that. Which might perhaps explain the events that unfolded outside a London pub last week.

Next to bottom in the Premier League table. Five top-flight wins in the whole of 2014. One victory and nine defeats in the last 13 league games. No league away win for the Toon Army to celebrate for almost seven months.

The statistics make painful reading for all at Newcastle United. Now even Alan Pardew's boss appears to be losing patience.

They said he was a dead man walking, external after following up a shocking end to 2013-14 with a bad start to the current campaign. He's still standing.

Image source, Reuters

They said he sounded like a broken man. He's still fighting.

Image source, PA

They labelled his team clueless., external He's still the boss.

Image source, Getty Images

He's survived a fresh wave of fan protests, but can Alan Pardew survive a late September night in Stoke?

Image source, Reuters