Timeline of Mike Ashley's ownership of 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.