Former Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan believes the club "can never go anywhere" under the stewardship of Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias.
Alan Pardew was confirmed as Hughton's successor on a five-and-a-half-year contract on Thursday, and while Keegan, who quit as Newcastle boss in September 2008 because of interference from the board in his transfer dealings, wished the new man well he was pessimistic about the club's prospects while Ashley remained as owner.
Keegan wrote in a blog for ESPN: "Chris Hughton's shock departure has once again demonstrated Newcastle United need some stability, but you will never get stability when you have Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias running the club.
"Ashley has made no secret he wants to sell Newcastle, and the best day will come when someone buys it from him and runs Newcastle like that club should be run. The club can never go anywhere under Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias.
"When a man buys a club like Mike Ashley did, and he knows as little about football as he does, he is likely to make these sort of mistakes and these sort of judgments, and still think he is doing okay."
The club said Hughton was removed in order to bring in someone with more experience, but Keegan felt Pardew did not necessarily fit the bill on that score.
He added: "Alan is not vastly experienced. He has managed for 17 months in the Premier League. But Alan's a good lad. I know him well - he is very dedicated and he works very hard.
"The fans would be wrong to pick on Alan. If results don't go well then they may start to voice discontent but Alan is just the meat in the middle of the sandwich.
"Ashley wants to sell but also wants to make money and in the current financial climate that will be difficult. Newcastle are in a bit of a corner."
