The delayed £300million takeover of Newcastle United does not include any allowance for relegation given the Saudi-led consortium expected to be in control long before the season's resumption.
Sportsmail has been told that the deal Mike Ashley agreed with the prospective new owners does not include any clauses which relate to the possibility of relegation or, equally, European qualification.
Sources close to the takeover have explained that never did they imagine the process would still be ongoing by the time the Premier League returned after its Covid-19 suspension.
The delayed Saudi takeover of Newcastle United does not include any allowance for relegation
Steve Bruce's side are currently eight points clear of the Premier League's bottom three
The terms of the buyout were struck in early April and are locked in at £300m, with a non-refundable £17m deposit having already been paid to Ashley.