Sam Allardyce will be given just one season to prove he is the man to lead reclusive billionaire Mike Ashley's proposed £400million Newcastle revolution.

The former Bolton boss will find himself in the same "shape-up-or-ship-out" situation that faced Claudio Ranieri when Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003.

Ashley, now the largest Toon shareholder after buying Sir John Hall's 41.6 per cent stake, is "supremely confident" he will quickly pass the 50 per cent mark as his first step in taking complete control in a £133m takeover.

And the sportswear magnate plans to spend another £250m-plus on an ambitious five-year plan designed to make Newcastle Premiership champions by 2010 and serious Champions League contenders by 2012.