Hedging their bets, the Mirror back-pedals and says: "Tyneside businessman Barry Moat is set to have his £80million takeover of the club ratified this week."
The Mirror: "But even if that deal falls through, current owner Mike Ashley is ready to loosen the purse strings after the constructive dismissal case with Kevin Keegan ended up with the former manager being awarded £2million in damages."
Hughton has had to work without money to spend and has signed non-contract Danish international Peter Lovenkrands and brought in loan players Danny Simpson, Marlon Harewood and Zurab Khizanishvili.
A brave effort to cover up the cracks left by Ashley selling some of our top players.
The fact remains, if Moat moves in, we hear he WILL appoint Alan Shearer as boss.
But Houghton could well be his number two, rather than Ian Dowie.