Gary Hoffman, the Premier League's chairman, is reportedly close to stepping down from his role just 18 months after taking charge - in the wake of the backlash sparked by Newcastle's takeover by a Saudi-led consortium.
A number of top-flight clubs have been angered by the handling of the high-profile change of ownership at St James' Park, and reports last month indicated that the majority of the teams believed Hoffman should leave.
And, as claimed by Sky News this evening, Hoffman is on the brink and close to finalising his departure. An announcement may even be made in the coming days, one executive at a club is understood to believe.