Despite what Sam Allardyce says in reports today, his position at Newcastle United remains in the balance.
Ashley wants a "feel good factor" manager that the Toon Army approve of, rather than the dingbats previous chairman Freddy Shepherd plucked from a hat.
Ashley wants a lift on Tyneside, similar to the day Kevin Keegan was appointed Newcastle manager, and that will only come with a man who is either top of his profession ... or Alan Shearer.
Benitez For Toon? Ashley Set To Swoop?
Informal talks were held with Shearer earlier in the season about his plans for the future, but he was not in the mood to step into management.
This past week has seen a swing, what with him being very critical of Steve McClaren and Newcastle's current plight. And perhaps he is set to do something about one of those positions.
Jose Mourinho was allegedly sounded out by Ashley when he quit Chelsea, but his pay-off at Stamford Bridge included a clause saying he couldn't take another job in the Premiership for a year.
Rafa Benitez is on borrowed time after a further breakdown in his relationship with the club's owners over the weekend.
The Times suggests that owners Tom Hicks and George Gillet have lost faith in Benitez, and his sacking is a case of 'when' rather than 'if':
'In the best-case scenario, he may yet see out the remainder of the season before being sacked or leaving by mutual consent, but the word from within the club is that the American tycoons have lost all trust in him after recent challenges to their authority and that, despite his popularity with supporters, his dismissal is only a matter of time.'
Benitez has been unhappy about the perceived lack of a transfer activity at Anfield as he chases targets in the January transfer window.
The Liverpool boss has complained that Hicks and Gillet 'do not understand' the transfer system in Europe.
He said after Saturday's 3-0 win over Newcastle: "They need to understand how difficult it is to sign players.
"I was trying to explain, now we try to keep focus and win games. If they understand what the market means they will understand we are trying to do the best for the club."
The Guardian claims that Benitez could be on his way before Hicks and Gillet arrive in England for a meeting in the middle of December, and that could interest Ashley.