WE ASKED the Three Legends, what did you make of Mike Ashley’s three big announcements this week?

Handing Chris Hughton a permanent contract, taking the club off the market and his intention to sell the naming rights to St James’ Park.

BERNIE SLAVEN

ON THE show this week, we’ve been having a laugh at the expense of Malcolm and the Newcastle fans, so we’d like to thank Mike Ashley for that. We got nearly 500 texts from people suggesting what St James’ Park should be called.

It’s a ludicrous idea and, if Ashley thought he was unpopular before this announcement, then I can’t wait to see what reception he gets at the next home game.

I played with Chris for the Republic of Ireland and I think he is a great guy, a decent man. He has done very well at Newcastle considering he’s been messed about for the last couple of years. He’s been totally abused – swapping from manager to coach, manger to coach – it’s an absolute joke! I am delighted to see him get the job.

Is he the right man for the job? Well I’m not a Newcastle fan so it’s not up to me. Obviously the owner thinks he’s the man. I think he’ll get them promotion but I think the ginger one (Gordon Strachan) down at Boro will get us up too.

I am bored with the whole, will he won’t he sell the club? saga so I’m delighted that is over.

MICKY HORSWILL

TAKING the club off the market? I am not sure it was ever actually on the market.

He has lost a lot of money and he’s supposedly tried to recoup as much as possible.

But if he’d really wanted to sell it then surely he could have.

Renaming the stadium would be taking a massive liberty. Whether you love Newcastle United or hate them, their supporters have been so loyal and brilliant for the club – he is insulting every single one of them by selling the naming rights.

The fans know the ground, treasure it and have loved it since they were kids. It’s been there more than 100 years and its another slap in the face from Ashley. It’s motivated by money, which makes it totally out of order for all of the people who have stood on those terraces over the years. He has no right to do this.

As for Chris being given the job, for me that is also a money-saving exercise. In the Premier League last year, he took over twice and proved he couldn’t hack it in the top flight.

Now they look to be going back into the Premier League at the end of the season. Chris may be OK for them in the Championship, but I cant see him succeeding next season.

You could put a man in the street in charge of that squad and they would probably get Newcastle promoted.

The players are so much better than what else is in that league. Good luck to him, he’s done a decent job.

But his contract means he will lead them in the Premier League and I can’t see him being able to do that.

MALCOLM MACDONALD

AS USUAL, I am coming at this from a different angle. I don’t think that Mike Ashley has any intention of renaming St James’ Park.

He is just causing the people who have booed him to have palpitations at least and heart attacks at worst.

I think he’s just thought I will stitch them all up. He’s put people up a height. I am not sure he could rename the stadium anyway. In my view it won’t happen.

As someone who played there, I would be horrified if it went ahead but I can’t see it. Manchester United would sell their grandmother but the one thing they would never touch is the name of their ground. It’s sacrosanct.

Arsenal only did it because they moved to a new ground that needed a name, it was a commercial project and I understand that. And Arsenal only get £3m a year for it, in Newcastle’s current situation they wouldn’t get anything like that amount, maybe half a million a year. It wouldn’t be worth the upheaval.

My view on Chris has never changed in that coaches should never become managers. It’s a wonderful opportunity for him. Jose Mourinho is the only exception to the rule that springs to mind but in my view, coaches don’t make good managers.

Will Chris Hughton do a decent job of it? No. They might get promotion but there is an awful lot more to it. You have to negotiate with the owner about budgets. If I were Chris Hughton I would say I don’t want any money until we get promoted.

LISTENERS’ SUGGESTED NAMES FOR ST JAMES PARK: The Tynemouth Stadium – because Ashley has sold the club down the river The Viagra Stadium – the only way they will get up The Specsavers Stadium – nobody saw this coming Fantasy Island, Fawlty Towers, The Temple of Doom, Cockney Crackpot Stadium.