Ashley lacking 'acceptable' offer for Newcastle

Last October, Ashley's lawyer appeared on 'Sky Sports' to announce the club was ready to be put up for sale: "I think there's a view that over the years there has been a considerable investment, perhaps a feeling that all that can be done has been done. So, it is probably just a recognition that it might be time for a change".

Ashley had aimed to sell the 'Magpies' by last Christmas, but no "acceptable" offers have been made despite interest from Amanda Staveley's camp last year and also from a group of Saudi Arabian investors. 

Last month, former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon was rumoured to be readying a takeover bid alongside a consortium, though this did not come to fruition. 

Newcastle currently sit in the relegation zone, without a win in the Premier League this season.