Ashley's latest gamble further tightens purse strings; Trying to function without a transfer budget is folly given the threadbare nature of Newcastle's squad, argues Mark Douglas.

THE problem with the Football League's fit and proper person test is the fact it does not go far enough. Under the rules set out by the football authorities, Mike Ashley has done nothing to prevent him from retaining control of Newcastle United.

However, his latest folly exposes the fact he is anything other than a 'fit and proper person' to oversee the club's attempts to bounce back into the Premier League at the first attempt.

Ashley is a gambling man and his latest risk is deciding that, in the event of him not finding a suitable buyer, United will function until the end of the season without a transfer budget.

While other clubs have begun preparations for the January transfer window, United remain stuck in the starting blocks. The reason for their inactivity is not an oversight on the part of Chris Hughton or satisfaction with the current resources - it is because there will be no cash available.

Agents have been told not to bother offering players to United if they will command a transfer fee. Apart from loan players - and United are only allowed to field five in their line-up at any one time - there seem unlikely to be any new arrivals at St James's Park any time soon.

The Journal spoke to one agent, who had talked to Alan Shearer before his short time as Newcastle United manager came to an end about a highly-rated League One player, who is now being told by the club the modest transfer fee his client would demand was too much.

That was after finding out who to talk to about transfers at St James's Park - even to those who are dealing with the club on a regular basis it is not immediately apparent who is handling comings and goings.

It is a wholly unsatisfactory situation, the as United's and further evidence of the lack of footballing nous among the men Ashley trusts to run the club.

plunge.

It is understandable belts are being tightened with United's financial state still frighteningly precarious. Ashley can not afford to plunge millions of pounds into the club and few would expect him to suddenly loosen the purse strings at a time when the club continue to shed jobs to make ends meet. But if that is having of the case, Ashley needs to sell as soon as possible or risk United's promising start disintegrating as the temperatures plunge.

There is a suspicion among many who are well-placed at the club that United's excellent start has prompted a rethink from Ashley on selling the club.

Having witnessed how straightforward the division is, and having been rescued by the determination of Hughton and a band of committed senior players, Ashley appears to be stalling in his efforts to sell the club.

If that is the case, he owes it to the supporters and the players to at least be honest with them about his intentions - although the Kevin Keegan tribunal proved the notion of truth is an elastic one at St James's Park.

If that is his intention, a modest investment is desperately needed to give United a squad capable of maintaining their momentum.

The Championship is an endurance test and United's existing players are being WILD THROW OF THE DICE The idea of operating without a transfer budget until the end of the season could jeopardise Newcastle United's promotion chances. Above, Magpies owner Mike Ashley with managing director Derek Llambias. Inset, top, central defender Fabricio Coloccini is one of several injury concerns for caretaker manager Chris Hughton, along with, bottom, United's loan signing Marlon Harewood. men. remains players with someone Shola before given being asked to be marathon men. Their brittle squad remains threadbare and two key players have already been ruled out with long-term injuries. The odds on someone else joining Joey Barton and Shola Ameobi in the treatment room before January are short - especially given the number of players with chequered fitness records at St James's Park.

The likes of Alan Smith and Nicky Butt have coped admirably with the strains of a division which regularly schedules two games in a week, but the season is only a quarter of the way through. Already Marlon Harewood, a player who many clubs turned their nose up at before he joined United, is nursing a knock which looks set to rule him out for the weekend.

the top their With Steven Taylor ruled out of Saturday's trip to a useful Nottingham Forest side - and Fabricio Coloccini touch and go - United are facing the prospect of pairing loan men Zurab Khizanishvili and Danny Simpson in the centre of defence.

the It is a rookie partnership, but it may have be good enough. Should anything befall either of them, Tamas Kadar and Ben Tozer are the next cabs off the rank - and their performances in the Carling Cup suggest they are not ready for the cut and thrust of second-tier football.

Make no mistake, Newcastle are top of the Championship - but their occupation of the division's summit is precarious. Scratch away at the season so far and it is obvious their campaign has been far from flawless.

Even with their full-strength side they have been made to work by limited off in opponents, and there have been several acknowledgements by senior players that more manpower is required to get United over the line.

It makes it even more crucial that the long and unwieldy takeover process finally reaches a satisfactory conclusion before the January transfer window opens.

they Those close to the deal are continuing to make optimistic noises about firm progress over the next fortnight, but it has been that way for over a year now with no sign of Ashley's grip on United loosening. An indication of the confusion that continues to cloud the process is that the latest foreign consortium to declare an interest has bypassed Seymour Pierce and gone straight to Ashley to talk sums.

o While they continue to dawdle, United's good start is under threat. Hughton has already sacrificed the club's Carling Cup ambitions for fear of suffering further injuries - it is unlikely his attitude to the FA Cup will be any different. It is a small price to pay for league success - but Ashley's latest gamble means there are no guarantees on that front either.

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