Newcastle United chiefs will settle for Premiership survival next season.

Though rumours persist that owner Mike Ashley will once again put Newcastle up for sale again now the club's value has soared, the ­sportswear magnate and managing director Derek Llambias have mapped out a strategy for the next three years.

And their business plan is very much a ­step-by-step path towards re-establishing the club at the highest level. It is a policy born out of reality rather than idealism, says the Daily Star.

Sources close to the pair say they have ­already written off Newcastle's chances of ­challenging the Premier League's top eight.

Indeed, they accept that a mid-table finish could even prove beyond them.

But Ashley and Llambias believe that Hughton has already demonstrated enough managerial know-how this season to ensure Newcastle can be best of the rest next term.