Well we thought that.
But Mike Ashley didn't use it in the January transfer window when we needed to strengthen the team.
Now the Newcastle owner is back from the States, where he has been on holiday for three weeks, he has walked straight into a storm about Alan Pardew's future.
Newcastle are right in the middle of a nose-dive and Pardew doesn't seem to have any answers to it.
Will Ashley kick him out? Although that seemed unlikely a month ago, it is highly possible in the recent climate.
But it's that ridiculous eight-and-a-half contract that hangs over the club.
It will be down to seven years, come the summer, and with Pardew picking up £3m a year in wages, he will expect a pay-off MORE than we picked up for Cabaye.
That contract is still a mystery. Surely no businessman as clever as Ashley would offer it without there being a get out clause.
Some suggest the deal is a year-to-year roll-on deal from June to June, which would be the obvious deal. But Ashley refuses to be drawn into talking about it, and it COULD be a £21m pay-off.
Pardew kisses Ashley's arse daily, and he sure as God made little apples, he won't walk away without a VERY BIG CHEQUE.
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES THIS WEEKEND
Saturday April 26
12:45 Southampton v Everton
15:00 Fulham v Hull City
15:00 Stoke City v Tottenham
15:00 Swansea City v Aston Villa
15:00 West Brom v West Ham United
17:30 Man Utd v Norwich City
Sunday April 27
12:00 Sunderland v Cardiff City
14:05 Liverpool v Chelsea
16:10 Crystal Palace v Manchester City
Monday April 28
20:00 Arsenal v Newcastle United
NEWCASTLE 1 SWANSEA 2
NEWCASTLE
1. Tim Krul
8. Vurnon Anita
6. Mike Williamson
2. Fabricio Coloccini
36. Paul Dummett
15. Dan Gosling 81'
24. Cheick Tiote
9. Papiss Cisse 21'
18. Luuk de Jong 40'
11. Yoan Gouffran
23. Shola Ameobi
Subs
13. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa
14. Loic Remy 40'
19. Massadio Haidara
21. Rob Elliot
26. Mathieu Debuchy 21'
27. Steven Taylor
43. Adam Armstrong 81'
SWANSEA
1. Michel Vorm
22. Angel Rangel
2. Jordi Amat
6. Ashley Williams
33. Ben Davies
8. Jonjo Shelvey
7. Leon Britton
20. Jonathan de Guzman
11. Pablo Hernandez 81'
15. Wayne Routledge 90+4'
10. Wilfried Bony
Subs
56. Jay Fulton
3. Neil Taylor
12. Nathan Dyer
25. Gerhard Tremmel
27. Kyle Bartley 90+4'
54. David Ngog
57. Marvin Emnes 81'
Wilfried Bony's injury-time penalty snatched a vital 2-1 victory for Swansea as Newcastle fell to a fifth successive Barclays Premier League defeat.
The Ivorian, who had earlier cancelled out Shola Ameobi's opener, struck from the penalty spot in the second minute of stoppage time after substitute Marvin Emnes had been tripped by Cheick Tiote.
Bony's double secured just a second league win in 10 attempts and could hardly have been more timely with the Swans sitting just three points clear of the drop zone before kick-off.
But defeat piled further pressure on Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, whose side has lost seven of its last nine home games and 12 of its last 17 anywhere.
They took the lead against the run of play as Ameobi ended their six-hours-and-23-minutes-wait for a goal.
However, Bony struck from a Ben Davies corner in first-half injury time and then completed the job from 12 yards at the death.
It was perhaps no more than Garry Monk's side deserved after enjoying the better of the game for long periods, and Pardew's critics among a crowd of 51,057 were predictably less than impressed.
Life is rarely dull at St James' Park and a week which has seen Pardew come under intense pressure ended in eventful fashion.
Pardew was able to recall leading scorer Loic Remy and full-back Mathieu Debuchy to the bench after injury, but was forced to use both before half-time as two of the three strikers in his starting line-up, Papiss Cisse and Luuk de Jong departed prematurely.
However, they were not the only men to head down the tunnel sooner than expected with referee Chris Foy, who was knocked over just seconds into the game after Newcastle skipper Fabricio Coloccini blocked Jonjo Shelvey's shot into his face, was replaced by fourth official Anthony Taylor.
There was also some football played during the opening 45 minutes, the more progressive of it by the visitors, who characteristically retained possession and attempted to create opportunities for Bony.
But despite the best efforts of midfielders Hernandez and Jonathan de Guzman, they were unable to create much of note other than a series of set-pieces, and that ultimately was to provide them with a way back into the game.
The Magpies, who had not scored a single goal since Cisse's late winner against Crystal Palace on March 22, were initially ponderous, and it was not until Debuchy's arrival as a 21st-minute replacement for Cisse, which released Vurnon Anita from full-back into midfield, that they started to pose a meaningful threat.
But when the opening goal arrived two minutes later, it did so by the direct route.
Ameobi climbed high to head keeper Tim Krul's clearance down to De Jong, who in turn slipped the ball back into the striker's path and looked on as he held off his man before shooting left-footed on the turn past Michel Vorm, his first league goal since December 2012.
The home side briefly threatened to take the game by the scruff of the neck, but succumbed in stoppage time when Bony rose above Mike Williamson to head the latest in a series of inswinging Ben Davies corners beyond Krul.
Newcastle returned in determined mood with Dan Gosling forcing Vorm into a 48th-minute save with a volley from Paul Dummett's cross and Anita scuffing harmlessly wide from distance seconds later.
But the pattern of the first half was largely repeated with Swansea playing the more cohesive game, although Remy might have made more of Gosling's determined 56th-minute run and pull-back.
With Remy occupying a position wide on the left and Debuchy doing much the same on the right, the Magpies started to pose a greater threat and Anita flashed a left-foot volley across the face of goal.
Remy curled an ambitious effort from distance over the bar with 62 minutes gone and the drilled another dipping attempt into Vorm's midriff.
However, De Guzman curled a 78th-minute shot on to the roof of Krul's net and the Dutchman had to come from his line to deny Bony one-on-one five minutes later as the Welshmen pushed for a winner.
Krul had to be alert once again two minutes from time to keep out Shelvey's well-struck drive at his near post, but there was nothing he could do to prevent Bony from claiming victory from the spot.
Relegation run-in
SUNDERLAND (Pts 29)
Apr 27 - Cardiff H
May 3 - Manchester United A
May 7 - West Brom H
May 11 - Swansea H
CARDIFF (Pts 30)
Apr 27 - Sunderland A
May 3 - Newcastle A
May 11 - Chelsea H
FULHAM (Pts 30)
Apr 26 - Hull H
May 3 - Stoke A
May 11 - Crystal Palace H
NORWICH (Pts 32)
Apr 26 - Manchester United A
May 4 - Chelsea A
May 11 - Arsenal H
WEST BROM (Pts 33)
Apr 26 - West Ham H
May 4 - Arsenal A
May 7 - Sunderland A
May 11 - Stoke H
SWANSEA (Pts 36)
Apr 26 - Aston Villa H
May 3 - Southampton H
May 11 - Sunderland A
ASTON VILLA (Pts 35)
Apr 26 - Swansea A
May 3 - Hull H
May 7 - Manchester City A
May 11 - Tottenham A
HULL (Pts 36)
Apr 26 - Fulham A
May 3 - Aston Villa A
May 6 - Manchester United A
May 11 - Everton H
Premier League
1 Liverpool 80
2 Chelsea 75
3 Man City 74
4 Arsenal 70
5 Everton 69
6 Tottenham 63
7 Man Utd 57
8 Southampton 49
9 Newcastle 46
10 Stoke City 44
11 C Palace 43
12 West Ham 37
13 Swansea 36
14 Hull City 36
15 A Villa 35
16 West Brom 33
17 Norwich 32
18 Cardiff 30
19 Fulham 30
20 Sunderland 29
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2013/14
PREMIER LEAGUE
NEWCASTLE 1 SWANSEA 2 (Shola Ameobi)
Krul, Anita, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Gosling (81' Armstrong), Tiote, Cisse (21' Debuchy), de Jong (40' Remy), Gouffran, Shola Ameobi
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor
STOKE 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, S Taylor (61' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, Coloccini, Anita, Gosling (73' Gouffran), Tiote, Dummett, Cisse (74' Armstrong), Shola Ameobi
Subs: de Jong, Haidara, Bigirimana, Elliot
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN UTD 4
Elliot, Santon, Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Tiote, Gosling, Anita, de Jong (61' Ben Arfa), Gouffran (85' Shola Ameobi), Cisse
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, S Taylor, Dummett, Alnwick, Armstrong
SOUTHAMPTON 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Yanga-Mbiwa (45' Santon), Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Tiote, Ben Arfa (45' de Jong), Sissoko (78' Dummett), Gouffran, Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Shola Ameobi, S Taylor, Alnwick
NEWCASTLE 0 EVERTON 3
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa (75' Marveaux), Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Gouffran (90+1' Shola Ameobi), de Jong (58' Ben Arfa), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 1 CRYSTAL PALACE 0 (Cisse)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko (88' Marveaux), Tiote, Anita, Gouffran (76' Shola Ameobi), de Jong (59' Ben Arfa), Cisse.
Subs: Gosling, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor.
FULHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Tiote, Anita (81' Marveaux), Gouffran, de Jong (86' Armstrong), Cisse (71' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Gosling, Haidara, S Taylor, Alnwick
HULL CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 4
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Dummett, Sissoko, Tiote, Anita, Gouffran, de Jong (90' Gosling), Remy
Subs: Cisse, Haidara, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, S Taylor, Alnwick
NEWCASTLE 1 ASTON VILLA 0 (Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Cheick Tiote (89' Gosling), Anita, Gouffran, Remy, Cisse (72' de Jong).
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Shola Ameobi, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 0 SPURS 4
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (45' Dummett), Anita, Sissoko, Gouffran, de Jong (63' Ben Arfa), Sammy Ameobi (71' Marveaux), Cisse
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Gosling, Elliot, Shola Ameobi
CHELSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy (40' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, S Taylor, Dummett, Anita (84' Marveaux), Santon, Ben Arfa (64' Gosling), Sissoko, Sammy Ameobi, de Jong.
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Shola Ameobi, Armstrong
NEWCASTLE 0 SUNDERLAND 3
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (64' Dummett), Anita (74' Marveaux), Tiote, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Sammy Ameobi (45' de Jong), Shola Ameobi.
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Armstrong
NORWICH 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon, Anita, Tiote, Ben Arfa (75' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Sammy Ameobi (87' Haidara), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Gosling, Elliot, Dummett, Armstrong
WEST HAM 1 NEWCASTLE 3 (Cabaye 2, Remy)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (74' Dummett), Tiote, Anita (60' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran, Remy (78' Ben Arfa)
Subs: Cisse, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa (82' Ben Arfa), Williamson, S Taylor, Santon, Anita (73' Cisse), Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran (82' Haidara), Remy
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi
WEST BROM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini (65' Yanga-Mbiwa), Santon, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (45' Ben Arfa), Sissoko, Remy, Shola Ameobi (76' Haidara).
Subs: Anita, Cisse, Elliot, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 1
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita (74' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Sissoko (79' Haidara), Cabaye, Gouffran (62' Ben Arfa), Remy
Subs: Cisse, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 5 STOKE CITY 1 (Remy 2, Gouffran, Cabaye, Cisse pen)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (61' Haidara), Anita (45' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gouffran (72' Cisse), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor
CRYSTAL PALACE 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Cabaye, Gabbidon og, Ben Arfa pen)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita, Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye (79' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Remy (75' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Cisse, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 1 SOUTHAMPTON 1 (Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (78' Haidara), Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Gouffran (73' Ben Arfa), Shola Ameobi (61' Cisse), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
MAN UTD 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cabaye)
Krul, Debuchy (83' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (78' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Remy, Gouffran (57' Ben Arfa).
Subs: Cisse, Gutierrez, Elliot, Obertan
SWANSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson (77' Yanga-Mbiwa), Coloccini, Santon (56' Haidara), Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi (67' Obertan), Remy
Subs: Anita, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 2 WBA 1 (Gouffran, Sissoko)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Sissoko (90+5' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi, Remy (84' Anita)
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 2 NORWICH CITY 1 (Remy, Gouffran)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye (68' Anita), Gouffran (83' Ben Arfa), Shola Ameobi (74' Cisse), Remy.
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
TOTTENHAM 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (85' Obertan), Remy (75' Cisse), Shola Ameobi (60' Anita).
Subs: Coloccini, Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 CHELSEA 0 (Gouffran, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote (53' Anita), Gouffran (85' Obertan), Shola Ameobi (62' Cisse).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Tavernier.
SUNDERLAND 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Debuchy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Dummett, Santon, Sissoko (45' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran (86' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Remy (70' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 LIVERPOOL 2 (Cabaye, Dummett)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Cabaye (78' Sammy Ameobi), Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko (45' Dummett), Remy, Ben Arfa (78' Anita).
Subs: Cisse, Elliot, Obertan, Dummett.
CARDIFF CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye (86' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Sissoko, Remy (71' Gutierrez), Cisse
Subs: Anita, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
EVERTON 3 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cabaye, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa (46' Williamson), Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Anita (69' Cisse), Ben Arfa (46' Cabaye), Sissoko, Gouffran, Remy
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 2 HULL CITY 3 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy (86' Tiote), Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (62' Gouffran), Anita, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cisse (73' Marveaux), Remy
Subs: Williamson, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ben Arfra, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Anita (74' Tiote), Cabaye (88' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Remy (63' Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, S Taylor, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 1 FULHAM 0 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita 65' (Cabaye), Marveaux 74' (Remy), Shola Ameobi 65' (Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 0
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita, Marveaux 66' (Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi, Cisse 72'
Subs: Gosling, Bigirimana, Elliot, Vuckic, Dummett
MAN CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Sissoko, Tiote, Gouffran 45+4' (Dummett), Ben Arfa 65' (Sammy Ameobi), Gutierrez 44' (Anita), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Obertan
LEAGUE CUP
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2 (AET)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara (45 Dummett, 80 Ben Arfa), Anita, Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko, Shola Ameobi (66 Cabaye), Cisse
Subs: Remy, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 2 LEEDS UTD 0 (Cisse, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Gouffran (90' Vuckic), Anita (80' Gosling), Tiote, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Cisse (71' Obertan).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Bigirimana, Alnwick
MORECAMBE 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi)
Elliot, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Good, Dummett, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux 88' (Sissoko), Vuckic 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi, Gouffran 71' (Ben Arfa)
Subs: Santon, Anita, Alnwick, Streete
FA CUP
NEWCASTLE 1 CARDIFF CITY 2 (Cisse)
Elliot, Santon, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Sissoko (85' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Anita, Gouffran (63' Obertan), Ben Arfa, Cisse (85' Remy).
Subs: Williamson, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett, Alnwick