As Diamond works to try and make Newcastle competitive, he knows "hawks" are trying to recruit his players for next season.

But he admits that he would be doing the same if the Falcons were in a stronger position.

As it is, the north east club are already four points adrift at the bottom of the table and facing a fight to avoid a relegation play-off at the end of the campaign.

"The hawks are picking on us at the moment," he said.

"I am getting several calls this week about 'can I buy X player off you'. Once I tell them how much I want, they seem to go very quiet on the phone.

"It's business. We would do the same if we had the resource to do that. But I am amazed where some of the clubs who have approached me get their money from. You think they would be capped up."