The Chronicle reports the Toon owner’s winter break in Barbados has not held up Newcastle’s move to appoint Alan Pardew’s succesor.
The six-day delay in United confirming Pardew’s exit was down to issues at the Crystal Palace end during their talks with the Londoner.
Now, though, Ashley has entrusted Charnley and chief scout Graham Carr to make the appointment of new manager.
United have a shortlist of six or seven names for the job.
That list is thought to include Remi Garde, currently out of work, and Christophe Galtier of St Etienne.
Galtier is still under contract at the Ligue 1 club and said he would be staying at the club until the end of the season.
The big decision facing Charnley is whether to wait until Garde or Galtier are available at the end of the season or bring in a new head coach now and give them the last 18 games to get their feet under the table.
John Carver has been asked to take the team for the start of the week as they prepare to take on Chelsea.
The Geordie coach will continue to be assisted by Peter Beardsley and Steve Stone and will attend United’s FA Youth Cup tie at Middlesbrough this week.