The Newcastle United owner has made it known he is in no rush to bring in a new manager because he won't be spending a penny in the transfer window.
He knows as well as anyone, bring in a new manager and he will want to bring in his own players, but Ashley doesn't work like that.
The Magpies are still without a manager after Alan Pardew quit for Crystal Palace a fortnight ago, and Ashley will be able to keep his money in his arse pocket.
John Carver has been in caretaker charge for the last three games – a home draw against Burnley and defeat at Chelsea in the Premier League, and the FA Cup loss at Leicester City.
Newcastle’s exit from the cup competition means they have a fortnight’s rest after the home game against Southampton on Saturday, before they travel to Hull City on January 31.
Managing director Lee Charnley has already held provisional talks with a number of candidates, including bookies favourite Remi Garde, and is set to step up the process over the next couple of weeks.
The problem is ... none of the "big name" foreign managers want to work under Ashley's rules of having no say in players coming in or out!
Former Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg and Stuttgart manager Bruno Labbadia has been strongly linked in Germany with the head coach job at St James’s Park, while ex-Spurs chief Tim Sherwood is also believed to be in the frame.
Carver is still the only person to have publicly stated he wants the position – with EIGHT so far saying "no thank you".
Highly-rated Real Madrid No2 Paul Clement last night ruled himself out of the running.
The English coach said: “Newcastle are a fantastic football club and I’m very flattered to be linked with them, as well as other great clubs in England.
“But I’m enjoying my experience in Madrid and I think it’s best for me to stay here in the near future, to gain more experience working with these great players at this great club.”