HABIB BEYE and Jose Enrique have become the latest players to criticise the ongoing confusion at Newcastle United, but with takeover talks stalling because of the size of the club’s overdraft, it increasingly looks as though Mike Ashley will still be in control at the start of next season.

And with the current owner refusing to appoint Alan Shearer as permanent manager, Chris Hughton is likely to be in charge when the Magpies travel to West Brom on August 8.

Beye claims things are “going from bad to worse” as Ashley refuses to reduce his £100m asking price to reflect the size of the club’s debts, while Enrique has offered to take a pay cut to secure a return to his native Spain.

Investment broker Keith Harris continues to claim that talks with interested consortia are “ongoing”, but with the start of the Championship season 23 days away, the prospects of a summer sale are receding fast.

The bids received are believed to include clauses relating to Newcastle’s current overdraft that would effectively mean Ashley pocketing less than £100m, and he sees none of them acceptable.

The bidding consortia have also raised serious concerns about the size of Newcastle’s wage bill – the annual expenditure on salaries still stands at around £62m.

The lack of progress is frustrating supporters, staff and players with Beye, who played in the first half of the friendly at Shamrock Rovers, voicing his discontent.

“I’m really upset by what has, or rather has not, been going on this summer,” said the full-back. “It was hard enough dealing with the disappointment of being relegated but things just seem to be going from bad to worse.

“I’ve spoken to Alan Shearer and I know how much he wanted to get Newcastle back to the Premier League. He is a top man and someone the players believe in.

“This cannot go on, it really can’t. I feel for the good of my career I have to get away because it is dragging me down.”

Enrique has expressed similar frustrations, and even offered to take a pay cut in order to sever his St James’ Park ties.

“If an offer came in, I would have to study it,” said the leftback.

“Being disillusioned makes me want to return to Spain.”

■ Newcastle’s game at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, October 17 now kicks off at 5.20pm for Sky TV coverage.