By PAUL REES

STEVE Diamond will be putting young players on long-term contracts to protect Newcastle from the greater spending power of every other club in the Premiership.
The Falcons are spending little more than half the £6.4m salary cap as they look to get into the black and owner Semore Kurdi is looking for a buyer having controlled the club since 2012 and pumped in more than £20m.
Newcastle lost academy graduates Louie Johnson, Phil Brantingham and Guy Pepper to Premiership rivals in the summer and 21-year old Argentina lock Pedro Rubiolo, who moved to the north-eas...