Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is standing by his transfer management team.

The Telegraph says Ashley will remain loyal to under-fire managing director Lee Charnley and chief scout Graham Carr as they draw up plans for a risky January overhaul of the first-team squad.

Rather than dismiss the two most powerful men at St James' Park and bring in new people to run the club in his absence, Ashley is determined to show he will not be swayed by public pressure or media criticism and will sanction more signings in the January window.

Carr, though at 70, could be replaced in the summer.