Mike Ashley is warned: No more transfers

Aug 19 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

MIKE Ashley flew into Newcastle United’s training ground yesterday to dire warnings that sanctioning any further player sales will decimate the club’s chances of bouncing back into the Premier League.

In full view of the watching media, Ashley paid a flying visit to Darsley Park in his private helicopter yesterday to talk to caretaker boss Chris Hughton and sign paperwork relating to the £4m sale of Damien Duff to Fulham.

Flanked by managing director Derek Llambias, Ashley spent less than an hour at the training ground – with Hughton adamant that the issue of the club’s future ownership was not discussed.

But Ashley’s appearance is certainly intriguing in a week that is being regarded as potentially crucial to the reviled owner’s hopes of brokering a sale. Llambias admitted yesterday that Barry Moat is in advanced negotiations to buy the club, and The Journal understands there were more meetings between the two camps yesterday.

The Newcastle businessman is set to learn today whether Barclays have given him the green light on a loan which would move the deal closer, but sources close to the takeover process are sounding increasingly pessimistic about whether a buy-out can be agreed.

If a sale can not be negotiated, it is understood that Ashley will take the club off the market on Friday.

To add to a confused picture, yesterday afternoon saw another interested party emerge, with former Spurs, Glasgow Rangers and England defender Graham Roberts appearing on television to claim his little-known group ‘Fans 401’ had the backing of a mystery business willing to pour £100m into their vision of turning United into a fans-run club along the lines of Barcelona. He admitted, however, that he is yet to talk to investment bankers Seymour Pierce – and their chances appear very slim.

In the meantime, United’s depleted but unbeaten team have another home game against Sheffield Wednesday tonight. Another victory would confirm Newcastle as one of the division’s early promotion contenders, but losing any more players would dent their chances of staying among the early pace-setters, Hughton believes.

He maintains that no more new signings are imminent – but the club are interested in Sol Campbell and re-signing Peter Løvenkrands. “It was very much a flying visit,” Hughton said. “He came to say hello and speak to a few of the players. But the conversation I had was about Saturday’s result and about (him) not being here for the Sheffield Wednesday game – that was all.

“Mike is still very supportive and passionate about the team. We’ve spoken about possibilities of who to bring in – that’s normal.

“The club are aware that come the end of the transfer window we have to be in a position to compete. Those concerns have been heard. Things have been made easier for us because we haven’t had any injuries, but if we did have it would be another matter entirely.”

Those calls are being echoed in the dressing room, where Danny Guthrie feels that it would be ‘unfair’ for the club to rely on the band of youngsters who currently constitute the club’s first reserves.

“It is unsettling, no one wants to see one of their best players leave and Damien Duff was one of our best but we have to move on,” he said. “Hopefully it gives me a better chance to play but I think the squad is already small enough and we need more players in rather than any more being allowed to move out.

“That is something that needs to be addressed. We know that it will be a long season so it’s only logical that we need more players than we had last year. If we had one or two injuries we’d have to rely on the young lads and it’s just not fair on them.”