So if Llambias doesn't know the state of play - and he's got Ashley's hand up his arse as a glove puppet - what IS the truth?
Because rumours coming from London suggest the Newcastle owner is going to wait until the transfer window is closed before selling the club ... leaving the club with ten-to-twelve players who are resigned to leaving ... while replacements will not be found.
We have spoken to Tony Taylor, who is well known in Mike Ashley's financial circles, and he says: "I would not be surprised if Mike holds out until September or October because I think he has taken enough of the flak from the Newcastle fans, and his heart is not in it any more."
Taylor: "I think Mike sees this as 'pay back time'.
"The ball is in his court, he can sell the club to whoever he wishes, at whatever price.
"But I'm sure he has an axe to grind. He was a highly successful business man two years ago, and in the two years since he bought into Newcastle the world has fallen in around his ears.
"He was a highly respected man. Now he is seen as the man who destroyed a Geordie dream, and is without doubt a hated man on Tyneside.
"His business dealings recently have been horrendous, and he is a man on the back foot.
"If he sells Newcastle for £100m, and they get promoted, the value of the club will double - at the very least - and he will look a failure once again.
"Do you think he WANTS Newcastle to get promoted? Personally ... if I was put on the spot ... I'd say I very much doubt it.
"He has pressure from all angles - the players are up in revolt, Alan Shearer wants the job but is getting no indication he will get it, and the fans want to run him out of town.
"He's a hunted man, probably because of his own doing, but he isn't the sort of man to take it on the chin and walk away.
"Ashley has the final say on the future of Newcastle United ... and THAT my dear friend ... is very worrying for Newcastle fans.
"It's not so much 'going down with the ship' ... I wonder if he WANTS to hit that iceburg."