A sports law specialist has described Newcastle United's takeover statement as the latest 'skirmish' with the Premier League.
Elsewhere, the Soccer Saturday panel dissected a turbulent week on Tyneside.
Here is your 4am Newcastle United digest:
Takeover statement
The Premier League views Newcastle United's ongoing legal action over the failed takeover as a 'source of embarrassment'.
That's the view of sports law specialist Peter Nunn, who believes this unease led the Premier League to take the 'unusual' step of attempting to block the publication of the High Court's decision.
The Magpies released a lengthy statement on Friday morning, detailing a setback in their bid to remove Michael Beloff QC from the arbitration panel due to a suspected 'bias'.
However, Mike Ashley insists he will still 'fight tooth and nail' to push through the sale to the Saudi Public Investment Fund-led consortium.
Nunn is a legal director at London-based law firm Mishcon de Reya's, and he has described the statement and ruling as the latest 'skirmish' in the ongoing row between Newcastle and the Premier League.
The sports law specialist believes the "ultimate decision" from proceedings may never be made public.
Soccer Saturday analysis
The leak in Newcastle United's camp will be a huge worry for Magpies' boss Steve Bruce heading into the business end of the Premier League relegation battle.
That is the verdict of Sky Sports' Gillette Soccer Saturday panel of Ally McCoist, Joleon Lescott, Tim Sherwood and Paul Merson who have urged Bruce to use it to adopt a siege mentality heading into a vital stage of the Premier League season.
In what has been a turbulent week for Newcastle United, reports in the national media emerged on Wednesday evening that Bruce and winger Matt Ritchie were involved in a training ground bust-up.
The report also suggested there was a 'growing feeling of resentment' towards the United boss from his players and while Bruce has confirmed his 'bust-up' with Ritchie did take place, he has labelled the rest of the report 'absolute rubbish'.
Bruce was left to bat away those suggestions in Friday's pre-match press conference and, understandably, the rift in the Magpies' camp, as well as a potential leak in the squad, has garnered a lot of attention ahead of Sunday's trip to West Brom, in what is a huge clash at the bottom of the Premier League table.
Newcastle head to the Hawthorns just three points clear of the bottom three after a run of just two wins in their last 17 matches. Indeed, the 19th placed Baggies can move within six points of Newcastle with a win on Sunday.
So after a chaotic week on Tyneside, the Soccer Saturday panel were left to discuss the situation at Newcastle, the Ritchie fall-out, player leaks and how it will affect them in the relegation battle.
Savage on unlucky Newcastle
Robbie Savage believes luck has dealt Newcastle United and Steve Bruce a 'devastating hand' so far this season.
The Magpies have nosedived into a battle for survival following a run of just two wins in their last 17 matches in all competitions.
Steve Bruce has come under increasing pressure in recent months, and has been forced to respond to allegations of dressing room unrest in the build-up to Sunday's crunch clash at West Brom.
Fans and pundits have identified the upcoming three fixtures against the Baggies, Aston Villa and Brighton as an opportunity for Newcastle to pull themselves clear from immediate danger.
However, Bruce will have to negotiate this run without key attackers Miguel Almiron, Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson, with the trio all ruled out until at least April.
Liverpool's struggles with injuries so far this season have been well documented, with the Premier League champions now struggling in their bid to remain in the top four following Thursday night's defeat to Chelsea.
But Savage believes it is Newcastle who have suffered the most with 'lengthy absences' to key players in a campaign which has also included a Covid-19 outbreak.
