Ashley looking for help at Newcastle, but not from Bin Ladens

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Newcastle owner Mike Ashley says he needs fresh partners to help the club, who discovered on Thursday they will be without Joey Barton until August 13.

Ashley, who bought Newcastle for £133million last year, has announced profits from his Sports Direct shops halved to £85m. He denied he is trying to sell the club but accepted he is feeling the pinch in the credit crunch.

The family of terrorist Osama bin Laden have been linked with a buy-out and stories said the club had been offered to New York finance company InterMedia Partners for £420m.

But Ashley said: 'That is not true. I am keen to have partners in Newcastle. That's a very expensive seat I sit in but I think I'll start with people from Newcastle, not in some cave in Afghanistan.'

Meanwhile, Barton was told on Thursday he will not be released early from prison on a tag, eight weeks into a six-month sentence for beating up two people outside a McDonald's in Liverpool.

Dean Dolman, 28, who was released from Strangeways on Thursday, said Barton had been giving inmates autographs in exchange for Mars bars.