Keegan And Ashley Set For Summit - With Wise In The Corner?

Questions were asked, mainly about Joey Barton, and the owner of the club ALLEGEDLY made it known he did NOT share KK's desire to keep Barton on Newcastle's books.

The topic will no doubt sufface today, along with Michael Owen's proposed contract, and Aston Villa's interest in James Milner.

But what alarms me is the appearance of 'executive director of football' Dennis Wise, in this three-man summit.

Because Ashley calmed the anger of the "invited party", who suggested Wise was a cuckoo in the nest just waiting to take over from Keegan, by saying Wise was there to bring in young prospects ... and had NOTHING to do with Keegan's transfers.

So why the hell is he invited to the table to talk over Keegan's proposed transfers?

Ashley claims it is a progress report on the efforts of Wise and his recruitment team in providing Keegan 'help'.

The club owner's attempts at improving his PR are certainly not going down too well with the fans, as he only answers the questions he puts to himself.

He again refuses to face the media, and we still wait for this "WOW" signing he promised those at his invitation dinner party, and in his "self-penned" interview with himself.

There has been talk all summer that Ashley will not sanction wholesale spending, and it is perhaps significant that the fees they have handed over for their three captures to date - Jonas Gutierrez, Fabricio Coloccini and Danny Guthrie - remain undisclosed.

There has also been intense speculation over a series of targets, some more realistic than others.

Keegan has already had his disappointments with efforts to sign Jonathan Woodgate and Luka Modric.

The names keep coming as many predict 'Mr Wow Signing', but Ashley knows only too well the 5,000 or so empty seats and vacant executive boxes show many supporters are not convinced by him or his side-kicks.

Keegan could have his hands full today, and watch this space for developments.