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Newcastle United are by “every definition a big club”, according to David James.

But given such a long-standing dearth of silverware on Tyneside, not to mention the current lack of ambition for any, he also has the Magpies down as a “white elephant”.

The conundrum? Mike Ashley, obviously.

Yet while James – who enjoyed some magical encounters against the Toon, most memorably while at Liverpool – accepts such ownership entitles said owner to the freedom to act as he pleases, he says it is vital to “get the right people to make the right decisions”.

And though the former England keeper is keen to stress he is “not suggesting that Alan Pardew shouldn’t be there”, he believes it is time Newcastle delivered “some sort of success”.

“You’re looking at a manager of a big side possibly to do more,” said James, who briefly played under Pardew at West Ham, in late 2003.

“You’ve got the support there, 52,000 capacity. You can see it (St James’ Park) from all around.

“So it’s a big-pressure job, and I don’t know how long he’s got left on his contract, I’m not suggesting that he shouldn’t be there.

“But when you look at the turnaround of managers in the Premier League – was it 10 last season from nine different clubs, because in part they want to stay in the Premier League? – they want more from their teams.

“Look at the likes of Manchester United. They want a big name in there to get success.

“Well, with all due respect, I think Newcastle need to be getting some sort of success.”

Of Pardew, James added: “He’s done some terrific stuff.

“With West Ham, he had some success, the FA Cup Final. At Newcastle, he’s had spells.

“But again, as a fan, you look at Newcastle and I think this is almost like a white elephant, in a sense, that they’ve been around for so long and they’ve been massive for so long.

“I mean, I’ve played them in the Premier League, I’ve played them in what was Division Two the year that Newcastle got promoted, in fact.

“You think, when people talk about big clubs, it’s a cliched term now. If a team’s got 20,000 fans for some reason they’re a big club.

“Newcastle have the third largest attendance in the Premier League, and that is by every definition a big club.”

Now a commentator for BT Sport, James – who recently declared himself bankrupt – added: “Obviously, there’s an issue where the owner, and Cardiff City are probably a good case in point, wants to decide who comes in and when they come in, and whatever else.

“(They) have too much say, unless they know something about football.

“My counter-argument to that is that if it’s his money and he owns the club, he’s entitled to do what he wants, just as you would if it was you.

“So it’s not to say that they shouldn’t do that but, ultimately, unless the owner is in that sort of position, then it’s getting the right people to make the right decisions.”