Moat expects to hear a decision by the middle of the week, setting in motion the move to end Ashley's horror period at St James' Park.
Barclays, however, showed massive losses the past year and are themselves not in a healthy situation.
But helping bail out Newcastle could give the bank a healthier outlook ... certainly on Tyneside
If Moat and his backers, who form Seymour Pierce’s preferred bidders, get an agreement from Barclays they expect to appoint Alan Shearer in time for the trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday – and provide him with assurances that his squad will not be further depleted.
Can Moat stop the sale of key assets Steven Taylor and Jonas Gutierrez before the end of the transfer window?
He seems to have arrived on the scene too late to stop Damian Duff moving to Fulham ... but the former Chelsea winger wants a transfer ... so let him go.