NEWCASTLE chiefs are sticking with their policy to reduce the wage bill and the average age of their squad.
Toon fans were stunned last week when club captain and 12-goal top scorer Kevin Nolan left for Championship side West Ham.
The midfielder turns 29 on Friday and St James' Park bosses, led by chairman Derek Llambias, will limit deals for any players approaching their 30s.
A source said: "There's no way the club would offer long deals to players who are 28 or 29.
"There was no way they would contemplate bettering the deal West Ham offered. He was on £40,000 a week and they offered £10,000 more.
"The club is on the way to being in far better health financially."
This summer the Toon have already crossed the Channel to pick up midfielders Yohan Cabaye and Sylvain Marveaux, as well as landing West Ham striker Demba Ba on a free.
And they will carry on with their policy of picking up bargains around Europe as they look to make the club self-sufficient by next summer.
That would give them a head start on their rivals with UEFA's financial fair play rules set to be implemented over a three-year period.
The initial break-even assessment will cover the financial years ending 2012 and 2013, which will be assessed during 2013-14.