Moat promised a showdown following the resolution of Kevin Keegan’s FA arbitration hearing, claiming he had the money to back up his boasts.
But Moat is still well short of the £100m asking price, and Ashley KNOWS he cannot raise the rest of the shortfall.
Ashley, of course, does not have to sell if he does not want to and Dennis Wise’s comments made it clear the sports shop retailer was considering holding on to the club in the hope promotion back to the Premier League can be secured.
Significantly, though, Ashley knows Moat is holding out for the Toon boss to drop the price by £25m and "enough is enough".
Ashley has steadfastly maintained over the summer – or rather managing director Derek Llambias has on behalf of his boss – that he will not lower his asking price.
Alan Shearer was to be appointed manager if Moat succeeded, but we hear Chris Hughton will be given a full-time contract ... starting from next week.
Ashley remains as unpopular as ever on Tyneside and it was difficult to see how he could possibly look forward to the prospect of holding on to the club when there is so much anger directed at him ... but he always insisted "I won't be held to ransom".
Ashley always claimed he bought Newcastle to "enjoy himself", but now his motives seem different. He wants Newcastle back in the Premiership .... THEN THE PRICE GOES UP!