Newcastle legend on owners' meeting, Ginola response, and 'no-brainer' Shearer decision

It is a little over a decade since Warren Barton's offer to help his beloved Newcastle United was met with an 'emphatic no'. The ex-captain had just completed his UEFA Pro Licence in 2008, and suggested scouting on behalf of the Magpies in the USA having made the move stateside.

Barton's initial conversation with then-director of football Dennis Wise was met with a firm refusal, and a second approach received the same response. It was arguably among the first of many decisions which saw the Mike Ashley regime slowly ostracise itself from club legends and the entire fanbase.

But Tyneside is a much happier place now, and Barton is one of several cult heroes who has already received an invitation to St James' Park on behalf of the new owners. The former full-back was in attendance for Newcastle's shock FA Cup defeat to Cambridge United in January, and met briefly with part-owners Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Amanda Staveley following the full-time whistle.

It is six months to the day since the protracted takeover saga reached a remarkably quickfire resolution, and the feel-good factor of the 'Entertainers' and Sir Bobby Robson eras are back. There is a long road ahead, but fans' favourite Barton could not be fulsome in his praise of the new owners' almost immediate impact.

He told ChronicleLive: "When an ownership comes in, it looks to have an impact in the football club. What this ownership has done is rejuvenated the city as a whole.

"Fans are excited about what's going on, they're pleased about the way the six months have gone. Even a small detail such as cleaning the stadium, St James' Park is the heartbeat of Newcastle and the heartbeat of the football club is the fans.

"It's the first time in 14 years you've had everyone