I think Ashley will stick to the original plan of the club being self-funding, which means Rafa will get all the available profits to spend as he sees fit. Should be a dramatic improvement on chancers like Pardew being handed players he hasn't got a clue how to use with no discernible long term plan in place.
I think you are right. My gut feeling is Ashley has just said to charnley and Rafa- get on with it, I will put nothing in or take anything out, with the squad we had to off load- that should stand us in pretty good order, if we get back up.