If there's any truth in Ashley wanting to sell up completely, or sell a stake, it wouldn't surprise me if getting that sorted is prioritised over transfers, tbh.
Been looking into it. Frankfurt's a bit of a pain to get to, but you can get a train from Amsterdam in less than four hours. The party boat might be an option...
Rundown* on every single one of his signings.
*One sentence, in which they fail to state whether it was good or bad.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-recruitment-under-graham-11100770
That's egg and my face firmly in alignment.