The upcoming release of Newcastle United's annual accounts could explain Mike Ashley's gamble on Steve Bruce, writes Mark Douglas.
Elsewhere, Northern Ireland could take a 'risk' to play Jamal Lewis against Italy on Thursday night despite a groin problem.
Here is your 4am Newcastle United Digest.
Summer transfer strategy
If you wanted the clearest insight into why Newcastle United haven't already acted decisively to clear the complications piling up at their manager's office door, the financials which will drop with thudding urgency in a few weeks might clear it up.
Mike Ashley's Steve Bruce gamble is that the manager retains enough support in the dressing room and has the personal determination to keep Newcastle's collective heads above water.
That way, the club can collect another round of desperately needed Premier League TV money while avoiding the ugly business of paying out to sack him, replace him and answer any pressing questions that any halfway competent replacement would have of their future plans.
Newcastle are not alone in facing a serious financial crunch after a year without fans in the stadium. January's quiet transfer window spoke volumes about the worry in Premier League boardrooms about underlying numbers and it's understood Newcastle could have lost as much as £40 million from a season of "ghost" games at St James' Park.
That figure - and what is contained in the upcoming accounts - tell you so much about why Ashley isn't acting.
Lewis 'risk'
Northern Ireland could take a 'risk' on Newcastle United defender Jamal Lewis ahead of their opening World Cup qualifier against Italy.
The left-back has missed training this week with a groin problem, and is considered a major doubt to play in Parma on Thursday night.
It is an injury complaint the 23-year-old struggled with before his international call-up, and Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough is weighing up whether to take chance on the defender's fitness.
Dressing room concerns
Newcastle United are lucky to be outside the relegation zone as Steve Bruce clings to his job at the club.
The head coach appears, for now, to have been afforded more time to turn things around at United - despite just two wins in the last 20 games.
The defeat to Brighton on Saturday left many believing Bruce would be sacked by Mike Ashley but it looks like the former Manchester United captain will be in the dug-out for the game against Tottenham on Sunday week.
That game at St James' Park kicks-off a couple of hours before Fulham face Aston Villa - with Newcastle still two points above the relegation zone.
However, our chief sports writer Lee Ryder believes that United are fortunate to be above Fulham - and that view only goes to show why a change in the dug-out is needed.
