Despite reports to the contrary, no decision has been made by the Magpies over Barton's future, nor will it be until the troubled midfielder is released from Walton Prison.

That is expected to be in the next three to 10 days, after the 25-year-old was handed a four-month suspended sentence.

Barton is currently serving a six-month sentence for a drink-fuelled city centre assault in December and is expected to be released soon with an electronic tag.

New managing director Derek Llambias is expected to be at the meeting, along with manager Kevin Keegan, who is one of the England international's few allies.

Newcastle's players are due to report back from their summer holidays on Monday and it remains unclear whether the 25-year-old will be able to join them.

If the Magpies try to sack him, Barton's legal team would almost certainly argue their motivation was financial, not moral.

Bolton Wanderers are reportedly ready to offer a solution, though it seems unlikely to appeal to Newcastle.

The Trotters are said to want to take Barton on a season-long loan, but only if United pay half his wages. That would involve his current club forking out £30,000 a week on the player without either having use of his services or acting in a way that would help repair their reputation.

But even that seems to have been put on the back-burner, as Bolton have seen the flak Newcastle have taken for trying to defend a man who obviously doesn't deserve chance after chance.

We hear from Bolton today ... they don't want him.