Newcastle United are confident they will not face any sanctions from the Football League despite recording losses of more than £90m on their way to winning the Championship title a year ago.

The EFL have confirmed to Telegraph Sport that Newcastle are not under investigation for breaching financial fair play rules at this stage, but the scale of the losses illustrate how vital it was that manager Rafael Benitez led the Magpies to an instant return to the Premier League.

Telegraph Sport understands that, had Newcastle not spent only one year in the second tier, they would have had to dramatically cut costs at St James’ Park in order to comply with FFP, with several of the biggest earners put up for sale in order to slash the wage bill.

Although Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has been criticised for failing to allow Benitez to spend more money in the last three transfer windows, the figures released by the club make toe-curling reading and offer some context for the reluctance to sanction a more extravagant recruitment policy last season.

Newcastle received around £50m in Premier League television money in July last year and another £50m at the end of January, when the winter window was about to shut.