Under-pressure Ashley has angered Newcastle fans with his refusal to sell the club and an apparent lack of ambition after failing to renew the contract of former boss Rafa Benitez.
However, he insists he is working within strict constraints because they are unable to compete with their Premier League rivals on a financial level.
Ashley gave a candid interview on Saturday in which he discussed the possibility of not going to their opening game of the season against Arsenal.
He was also told that Tottenham had just signed a £45m sponsorship deal and then revealed what he has heard about Liverpool and it could be excellent news for Reds boss Jurgen Klopp as they go in search of targets to bolster their bid for the title in future.
“Er, OK,” Ashley told the Daily Mail when informed about Spurs’ new deal.
“That is many, many times what Newcastle can get. We’re not anywhere near that – nobody is, outside the top six. And I’m being told Liverpool could get £100m for the same deal.
“So just on technical kit sponsor alone, we could start more than £90m behind them, in one year, on one sponsorship.
“Now add the rest of it up and you’re starting £300m behind Liverpool, or £400m behind Manchester United.
“To keep up with that? It would wipe me out. I’d be gone. I wouldn’t even be able to afford a season ticket – and it wouldn’t take long.
“It is so much bigger than when I got involved. I thought at the time I could put in £10m, £20m and it would make a big difference. And it would have done. Now – it’s nothing.
“Put in £10m and it’s a joke. OK, that’s how the market is. But it’s not something I can afford, and it’s not something Newcastle can afford while I own it.
“The over-riding reality is that I am just not wealthy enough to own Newcastle.
“I genuinely believe you need £1billion. People say £500m but I’d bet anyone that these days you can’t do it for that. Not to compete at the very top.
“Manchester City can afford to have an ageing team; they can afford to just write players off.
“How can we do that? It’s not possible. Therefore you have to go for the best young players and hope they develop that little bit and become world-beaters.
“That is our principle and it hasn’t changed for many years. But to compete, I need someone to take Newcastle off me who literally wants to put in £1billion.”
