Ashley Is No Angel And Neither Is Michael Owen

Spiky sharp thing inserted into backside of United's billionaire owner! Hmmm, now there's a thought which may have flashed across the minds of most Newcastle supporters during this winter of discontent.

This is going to be a difficult Festive period for Newcastle in a difficult season, particularly if they lose at Portsmouth this weekend. Newcastle have not won away in the league since the 4-1 destruction of Tottenham back in March, but they desperately need to get something from the long trip to the south coast after the draw with Stoke.

With Tottenham and Liverpool to visit St James's Park over Christmas, sandwiched either side of a trip to Wigan on Boxing Day (another Newcastle bogey ground) it is impossible to look at any of the games and say they should yield three valuable points.

With the transfer window due to open on January 1st, Joe Kinnear's side must make the best out of a bad situation, battle and scrap their way through the next four games and hope they are still above the relegation zone when the wheeling and dealing gets underway in the New Year.

Kinnear has indicated this week that money will be made available to him by the board, but I still wonder about that. It wouldn't surprise me if the only new arrivals at St James's Park are loan signings. As far as we know, Ashley is still looking to sell, which will mean Kinnear has no long term authority, which may mean temporary signings are all that are available to him.

We shall just have to wait and see. I don't really have to say it again, but I will anyway, if Newcastle do not strengthen the squad in January relegation beckons. They might just about cling on - as long as they get some better luck with injuries - but, from past experience, it's best not to rely on good fortune whenever Newcastle are concerned.

What annoys me - and I'm sure it's the same for the rest of you - is that, despite the continued uncertainty and troubles, nobody other than Kinnear has given us any sort of indication as to what is happening with the sale of the club, whether it is still going ahead and what will happen if it's not going to go through in the next few weeks or months?

The silence, as ever, with Ashley's regime is deafening, despite an appeal from the Newcastle United Supporters Club (NUSC) for information and a sensible dialogue about the situation.

The mood has not been a particularly angry one in recent weeks, but if the necessary measures are not taken in January, that will change very quickly indeed...

As for Michael Owen, the little striker apparently accused me of spinning a story last weekend when I said he would not sign a new contract because he had other options in January. Seven days later and Kinnear has admitted he will not because, as I said last weekend, he has other options.

Kinnear had already hinted as much at his pre-Stoke press conference and my sources have been telling me for months that Owen had no intention of signing a new contract - not that one had been offered mind.

But, while United's other out-of-contract players are due to sign next week, according to Joe, Owen will not be because he has other clubs interested. I don't blame him for wanting to abandon ship, but there is so much spin in modern football it makes you dizzy.

I'm off work next week so Stuart Rayner will be doing the webchat on Monday. I'm back for the Spurs game though so will be in touch again then.