Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has officially put the club up for sale and wants a deal done by Christmas.
It has been known since the summer that Ashley wants to end his 10-year association with the Magpies but, after a series of ploys failed to yield any serious interest - including a leaked story of potential Chinese investment - he has taken the step of releasing a statement confirming his intentions.
In a bid to speed up the process, the sports retail tycoon has offered any potential buyers the chance to defer payments and we understand the asking price remains in the region of £400million.