Compulsive spending doesn't exactly come easy to Mike Ashley, as we've learned to our collective misery in recent years, but the Newcastle owner is mounting pressure to finance a major summer rebuild at St James' Park. When the financial year ends on June 30th it will depict the Magpies as one of the most solvent clubs in the Premier League following the injection of £33 million in TV money last season and the currently untouched £19m received from the sale of Yohan Cabaye. Ashley's thrifty steering of our finances has left him sitting on a £60m surplus of cash, according to the Mirror, that could transform an ailing squad bereft of pace and creativity if the money is reinvested in the right areas. Namely a playmaker and two new strikers. But the chances of that occurring are virtually nil with Ashley reluctant to sanction bids above £8m while remaining content to push ahead in the hunt for bargains and cost-effective additions that will ultimately yield a profit when they're sold in the future. Not exactly a plan conducive to the success that we so badly crave. More an indication that Newcastle will be treading water in the top-flight for another year. Such a substantial dividend could also be underwritten by Ashley to shave off another chunk of the £140m interest-free loan (now understood to down to £129m) he gave to the Club in a move that will be tough to stomach for Toon supporters.