Source: Daily_Mail
Shearer waits in wings but backers must find £10m to buy out Ashley
Mike Ashley has given Newcastle's prospective buyers 24 hours to increase their offer by £10million or he will pull the plug on the takeover.
Sources close to the process believe Tyneside businessman Barry Moat and his backers are still more than £10m short of the valuation that has been set by Ashley, who originally demanded £100m for a venture that has already cost him in excess of £200m.
If the takeover happens, Moat intends to appoint Toon legend and fans' favourite Alan Shearer as manager but, if Ashley stays, he is expected to turn to David O'Leary.
Tomorrow is understood to be D-day for the deal and one source close to the negotiations told Sportsmail last night that 'the odds are starting to look like they are against a deal being done'.
If that is the case Ashley, who has now returned from Hawaii, will instruct his lieutenants to step up negotiations with O'Leary and have him in place by the weekend.
Ashley is said to be insulted by Moat's offer and, while risky, might yet commit totrying to rebuild the club and his investment.
But conflicting reports over the weekend suggested a deal was close, with talk ofNewcastle blocking the sale of two players in the belief a takeover was imminent.
