The intriguing prospect of Kevin Keegan working as an employee of the bin Laden family, or talk of Newcastle United being run from the iconic Chrysler Building in New York, have been strongly rejected by the club, who insist that Mike Ashley remains a fully committed club owner.

Newcastle responded yesterday to speculation over their future by issuing a firm denial about claims that Ashley is keen to sever his ties only 14 months after finalising a £137million takeover. Suggestions that the Saudi Binladin Group, which is headed by Bakr, the half-brother of Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader, is preparing to bid £300million for the club, or claims that InterMedia Partners equity fund, based in Manhattan, has been sounded out regarding its willingness to pay more than three times the sum Ashley invested in May last year have been dismissed as “nonsense”.

“At a time when everyone at Newcastle United is working hard to prepare for the new season, it's annoying that we have to continually correct inaccurate stories,” Derek Llambias, the managing director, said yesterday. “Whoever's putting these stories around is clearly trying to destabilise the club and you wonder what their motives are.”

Ashley has taken a more hands-on approach since the arrival last month of Llambias, after the departure of Chris Mort as chairman. Llambias said: “By putting a new management structure in place, by investing in new signings at first-team and academy level and by introducing cheaper tickets for younger fans, the long-term commitment and vision for Newcastle United is there for all to see. Those actions speak louder than any words and I'm sure supporters see these stories for what they are - utter nonsense.”

Hopes that Joey Barton retains of an early release from a six-month prison sentence for assault have failed to materialise and the midfield player was not among those who reported for pre-season training yesterday.