Journalist claims Mike Ashley has had a major change of heart at NUFC - Huge news if true

According to the Shields Gazette's Miles Starforth, Mike Ashley is ready to lower his asking price in a bid to finally sell up at St James' Park - with it now claimed that he will consider bids in the region of £300m.

After rejecting a series of bids from PCP and Amanda Staveley, it had became clear that Ashley had moved to goalposts, demanding around £380-£400m for the club, but it looks as if he may have reconsidered if these new reports are to be believed.

Fans will always take these things with a pinch of salt after years of lies and deceit, however we must continue to protest and hold onto the hope that Ashley really is wanting out - with The Chronicle also claiming today that Ashley IS ready to drop his asking price.

Here's a snippet from Miles' piece for the Shields Gazette today:

"Mike Ashley is prepared to lower his asking price for Newcastle United – as fans step up their protests against him.

"The billionaire – who is focused on his Sports Direct empire – had indicated that he was looking for upwards of £380million.

"However, the Gazette understands that Ashley is ready to revise his expectations and consider bids closer to £300million.

"Ashley broke off takeover talks with financier Amanda Staveley in January.

"Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners had lodged an offer of £250million, which was rejected by Ashley.

"An associate of Ashley labelled talks with Staveley as a “complete waste of time”.

"Ashley has had no success in finding an alternative buyer up to now."

The last line could be telling, perhaps explaining why he has been forced to consider - with our poor start to the season, Rafa's failure to sign a new contract and the protests all likely to have Ashley a little rattled.

People will be sceptical (and I don't blame them), but this may just be the first of a few important steps to finally get him out of our club.

The sticking point so far has been his greed and buyers unwillingness to match his extortionate asking price , so news that he may just be willing to reconsider could be the breakthrough we were hoping for.

As guest writer Chris Ozdronez said in his piece last night (read it here), the 'fear of loss' may have finally overtaken Ashley's 'desire to gain' when it comes to NUFC.