Toon sale close as pre-season begins

Newcastle's players returned for pre-season training on Wednesday amid hopes that a breakthrough off the field could be just days away. Aside from a handful of players given extra time to recover from international commitments, as well as the out-of-contract pair Michael Owen and Mark Viduka, those members of the squad who failed to keep Newcastle in the Premier League reported back the club's Darsley Park training headquarters for a 10am start. They did so to be greeted by coach Chris Hughton, who has once again been cast in the role of caretaker manager with Alan Shearer still waiting for news on his chances of returning to the helm. However, it is understood that owner Mike Ashley is hopeful that there could be significant developments by the end of this week as he attempts to push through a sale. At least four consortia... [read full story]                    

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