Joe Kinnear's “D-Day” meeting with Mike Ashley, originally planned for the immediate aftermath of tomorrow's Barclays Premier League match away to Chelsea, has been postponed, with Newcastle United's interim manager claiming yesterday that “the goalposts have been moved” in relation to the club's prospective sale.

While negotiations with two American parties - at least one is understood to be in the process of due diligence - are continuing, the financial conditions mean that progress has been slow and there is now less urgency for Kinnear to discuss the club's future with their present owner.

Kinnear, who will press for his contract to be extended until the end of the season in the event of Ashley remaining in control, admitted that the situation was “frustrating more than anything”, an emotion that will be shared by supporters.

With the January transfer window fast approaching, Newcastle's squad is threadbare - Steven Taylor will consult a specialist on Monday about a groin injury that is proving reluctant to heal. Kinnear's authority is undermined by the temporary nature of his month-to-month contract and the position at St James' Park remains fluid, transitory and unhelpful.

The Irishman has compiled a “hit-list” of potential signings for January, but still has no idea whether he will be in place to present it to Ashley. Kinnear has identified “two top-class players [who] would come here on a loan basis. They're both worth £10million and neither are in their sides”. Cover at centre half and full back is required.

Kinnear has contributed to the confusion on Tyneside with contradictory statements regarding the length of his deal. Having allegedly been appointed on a fixed-match arrangement, Newcastle then specified that the 61-year-old had agreed a monthly rolling contract; Kinnear said recently that it expired after the Chelsea game, but has now named the match away to Middlesbrough tomorrow week as its conclusion. He is expected to hold talks with Ashley after that match.

Kinnear has criticised Giovanni Trapattoni, the Ireland manager, for suggesting that Shay Given, the Newcastle goalkeeper, is “good enough for a strong team in Italy”. Trapattoni added that he had recommended Given to “two or three big managers - [to] tell them he can play for you”, an intervention that has annoyed Kinnear.

“It's disrespectful to the club,” he said. “Shay has got 2 years left to run on his contract and he's very happy here. He's a top-class player and one of the last that we would want to lose. Why on earth [Trapattoni] would want to say that, I don't know.”