Mike Ashley is close to conceding defeat in his effort to sell Newcastle United with none of the interested parties able to fund a deal.
Sources close to the Magpies owner say he has not heard from the consortium headed by Peter Kenyon in recent weeks, nor has any other group attempted to progress their interest.
It means Ashley is now making plans for the immediate future on the assumption he will remain owner of the club.
That could potentially be good news for manager Rafa Benitez, should the threat of relegation force Ashley to spend this month.