Ashley is determined to punish the midfielder, and he knows he has disappointed a lot of people who wanted to see Newcastle take a tougher stance ... even sack the player!
United are understood to want to renegotiate the 25-year-old's contract, inserting several new clauses regarding his future conduct, as well as reducing his wages.
But Barton, who is one of the best-paid players at St James's Park on £65,000 a week, has already rejected one approach from Ashley to reduce his pay packet while he was still in jail.
Newcastle could (and many believe SHOULD) have taken a moral stance and sacked the player after he attacked two people in a drunken rage over Christmas while on bail for assaulting his former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo,
Keegan's reputation is on the line as a result of his willingness to hand Barton yet another chance.
Should Barton remain a Newcastle player after today's meeting, he will be asked to stay on Tyneside and train while the rest of the squad flies out to Spain to play in the Mallorca Summer Cup.