Mike Ashley is to directly address Newcastle United supporters for the first time since seizing control at St James’ Park 14 months ago, reacting to growing uncertainty among fans by reiterating his long-term commitment to the club. In a wide-ranging interview to be published in a new club magazine at the weekend, the billionaire owner will again deny reports that he is looking to sell-up.

While Ashley has been a visible presence since buying Newcastle – wearing replica strips and sitting with fans – he has never explained satisfactorily his motivations or ambitions. Although there have been some welcome innovations during his spell on Tyneside, from wiping out a perilous debt to investing heavily in the Academy, decisions have not been clarified nor achievements trumpeted.

Silence at the top of the club has allowed speculation to flourish, with the appointment of a new acquisition department, with a brief to sign young and hungry players, portrayed as a threat to Kevin Keegan rather than a help. At the same time, the suggestion that Ashley is receptive to potential buyers has never been dismissed comprehensively, adding to a sense of drift.

Reversing that process began in Majorca last weekend, when the sportswear retailer said he was “loving it,” and “really looking forward” to the new season, an important, if brief, contribution in the light of another round of takeover talk. While he is still open to the prospect of attracting additional investors to the club, he hopes to bring an end to any destabilisation.

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This week there have been denials that Reliance Communications, an Indian Company, are in talks to buy Newcastle and the Profitable Group followed suit yesterday. “We are hoping to be a strategic partner of Newcastle United in the Far East,” Steve McMahon, who is a consultant for the Singapore-based company, said. “I can categorically say I am not involved in buying the club.”

Keegan has confirmed that Joey Barton, who was recently released from prison, is “four or five weeks away” from being considered for selection. The midfield player has until August 13 to request a personal hearing over his Football Association charge of violent conduct following his training ground assault on Ousmane Dabo, his former Manchester City team-mate.

“Joey’s fine but he won’t be featuring in any games until we get him match-fit,” the manager said. “He came back in for training last Wednesday as we flew out to Mallorca. There is no way that he can regain match fitness between now and the start of the season. There’s no way it would be sensible to give him a game at the moment.

“Normally you need a month to five weeks to get match-fit and that’s why we bring the players back for pre-season training five weeks before and then we play some games. The hard part for the people like Joey and the lads who have been injured is that the games have gone now and you almost have to do it all in training.

“Joey has been working very hard on a fitness programme and he is just getting his head down, which is what he has done ever since I came back into this club. His training and everything . . . his attitude has been excellent while I’ve been at this club. I've spoken to him and know he just wants to get back to playing football – it’s as simple as that.

“He is a fairly naturally fit lad but he is four or five weeks away from a game. And you have to monitor that. That’s if he doesn’t have any set-backs.” By that stage, it is feasible that Barton could already be serving a lengthy suspension.

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