Crisis-hit Newcastle face up to life in the Championship

NEWCASTLE: If Newcastle thought they had hit rock bottom when they surrendered their 16-year stay in the Premier League on the final day of last season, they couldn't have been more mistaken.

After the events of the ensuing 10 weeks that timid defeat at Aston Villa, which sealed Newcastle's relegation, was clearly far from the lowest ebb for a club spiralling out of control.

The close-season problems have stemmed from the inability of the owner Mike Ashley to find a buyer willing to meet the 100 million pounds asking price to end his nightmare two-year reign.