Newcastle United are internally adopting a 'business as usual' mantra as takeover speculation intensifies on Tyneside.
The Magpies have so far opted against releasing an official statement, despite claims from Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan's representatives that the member of the Abu Dhabi royal family has "agreed terms" with Mike Ashley to buy the club.
Contract talks with manager Rafa Benitez - whose current deal expires on June 30 - remain on-going, even if the Spaniard is believed to be seeking clarity on the future ownership of the Magpies, while everyone else at the club is carrying on with their day-to-day jobs as normal.
Senior officials were surprised when the news broke alleging that the club had already been sold on Sunday night - something which has since proven to be inaccurate - and there have been suggestions that Ashley was out of the country on business over the Bank Holiday Weekend.
Employees at St James' Park and at the club's Benton Training Centre have not been briefed that a takeover is imminent, and the reality is that they would only be told such information if, and when, any new owner is put in place.
As things stand, Newcastle are not planning to release a statement confirming or denying the rumours - and are only likely to do so if anything substantive happens.
Contrary to some conspiracy theories offered up by understandably cynical supporters, Sheikh Khaled's interest did not leak out from the Newcastle side, nor from the Ashley camp; rather, it is believed to have emerged from the Middle East.
While Newcastle sources have been able to confirm that Sheikh Khaled has held discussions with Ashley and is interested in buying the club, those inside St James' Park cannot at this stage verify the veracity of the statement released by the group on Monday .
What's more, because only Ashley and his closest confidantes know the exact nature of where takeover discussions stand with the respective parties who are interested in acquiring the club, Newcastle cannot provide background information on Sheikh Khaled, either.
There have been claims and counter-claims concerning whether he is a relative of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour, and also how much the Dubai-based Sheikh Khaled is worth, though nobody at St James' Park has been able to clarify these points.
For now, as is so often the case with takeover speculation, those inside the club are continuing to operate as normal.
Like supporters, club employees will only find out that the club has been sold if, and perhaps when, a deal is actually finalised with Ashley .
